Stars of the future will be mixing with a Coronation Street star when Manx charity Junior Achievement stages the Next Big Thing 2015 Grand Final at the Gaiety Theatre on Saturday February 28th.

Kym Marsh, who plays Michelle Connor in the long-running ITV soap, will be on the judging panel for the grand final of Junior Achievement’s annual talent competition for young artists aged between 10 and 17.

Now in its fourth year this fantastic evening will find who among the 15 finalists performing live will take away the title Next Big Thing 2015 and a cash prize of ?500 donated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. The runner-up will receive ?250 in cash donated by Manx Professional and Education Services and the third place will leave with ?150 donated by Hartford Homes.

Junior Achievement CEO Sue Cook said: ‘In the run up to the final we’ve auditioned 130 acts and, as in previous years, we’ve seen some amazingly talented young artists.

‘The Next Big Thing isn’t just about a great night out, though. It’s about providing a platform – in this case the stage of the magnificent Gaiety Theatre – for young hopefuls to have the unique opportunity to perform live to what’s always a packed house where the audience is willing everyone of them to shine. 

‘What’s also special about this competition is that it has a life beyond the final, with many of the finalists going on to perform at other events with new-found confidence.

‘We’re very grateful that once again Paragon Recruitment and Energy FM have generously agreed to sponsor the show and are delighted to have Kym Marsh from Coronation Street as one of our judges to ensure the Next Big Thing will be “streets ahead” of any other talent competition.’

The 15 acts which have made it through to the finals are:

Nialls Wilson, Jacob Brand, Chess Warren, Intensity Blue dance group, Ebonie Tate, Jenny Hill, Hezekiah Tacardon and Ashenafi Ashenafi (duo), Shay Marsden, Hamish Fargher, Sian Beale and Efreleen Cantero (duo), Elina King, Streets of Style dance group, Luke Oldfield, Christian Cooper and Becci Salmon.

Special guest on the evening will be Mae Challis, winner of the Next Big Thing 2014, and the Manx Operatic Society will performing numbers from their forthcoming production of Westside Story.

The Next Big Thing Grand Final is on Saturday February 28th at 7.30. (Doors open 7pm).

Tickets, priced from ?10.20 per person, are available from the Villa Marina box office, villagaeity.com, 600555.