GUEST COLUMN: Festival will show county's got talent, by Coun Liz Plant

Showcase 2016 will feature performances from young people across the county and the project will feature everything from hip hop to rock and pop, street dance, contemporary dance, drama and comedy, all weaved together to entertain.

It’s Nottinghamshire’s answer to Britain’s Got Talent meets X-Factor!

The annual music, film, dance and drama extravaganza is organised by our county youth arts team with three evening events at the Palace Theatre in Mansfield and the Royal Concert Hall in Nottingham. The County Youth Arts Showcase project works with more than 400 young people each year for several months in preparation for the show with initial auditions taking place in the autumn.

This is one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the calendar for us to showcase the talents of young people across the county who excel in music, film, dance and drama. Showcase 2016 will once again be a great programme with high quality entertainment which everyone will enjoy.

Here are more details about each of the three events:

· Unity Showcase – Thursday February 18, at 7.30pm at the Palace Theatre, in Mansfield

This event is a large music ensemble with solo acts. It will be a creation of music spanning the seven districts of Nottinghamshire featuring different groups and performers to produce an ensemble performance. This year the music is an original composed piece with Angus McLeod and Mark Allsop as composers/facilitators, and assisted by Sam Jones and Bru-C working with young people working at the Old Library in Mansfield. There will be a documentary style film shown during the evening with a variety of other performances on the night.

Tickets are £3.50 or £2 from Palace Theatre Box Office on 01623 633133.