IT is difficult to think of an occasion on which such a wide variety of talents would occupy the same afternoon on the same stage as was the case on Sunday.
The Jersey Eisteddfod celebrated its centenary year festival with a closing gala concert at the Opera House which featured not only some of the class winners from this year’s event but a number of those who have made the Eisteddfod such a success in the past.
Following the concert the president of the Jersey Eisteddfod, St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft, said: ‘I was blown away by the talent and exuberance of the Island’s young people. It really is amazing what extraordinary ability such a small Island has got in terms of the performing arts.
‘It is often said that Jersey punches above its weight economically but it does so in cultural terms as well.’ In his introduction to the concert, Mr Crowcroft said that the event was testament to the hours of practice which all of those who would appear on stage had put into their performances.
He said that the concert, which was opened by the Jersey Big Band, was a celebration not only of the talent that Jersey’s young people have to offer but the commitment and effort of all those who took part in the many areas of the performing arts.
Singing, dancing, singing and dancing, dancing and drama, acting, mime, verse-speaking and a wealth of musical talent made up the acts which had won classes over the preceding weeks.
Those who took the prizes in their classes for verse reading proved again on Sunday that it is possible to remember your lines, smile and provide the correct intonation and animation to bring poetry to life in a variety of different languages. French, English, Italian and Jèrriais were all chanted fluently from the stage in front of an audience of parents, grandparents and invited guests, including the Bailiff, Sir Philip Bailhache.
All those who took part were excellent examples of the ability of the Eisteddfod to encourage young talent and produce extraordinary performances every year.
Among the dancing groups who provided colour, skill and elegance were St Ouen’s School of Dancing and First Tower School of Dancing. The dancers, both solo and in groups, showed their skill in ballet, modern and tap disciplines, the latter providing the highlight of Jonathan Labey and his performance I can do that.
Beaulieu Big Band provided an exciting and lively start to the second half, bringing the stage to life with music and movement. In the second half humour came in the shape of Hillbillies by Josh Le Cornu and Edward Barnes from Victoria College Prep. The act provided some of the best bad jokes that stage can have seen in a while.
Proving that a joke can be a matter of facial expression and movement, Alice Murray and Gigi Neil also received good bouts of laughter for their mime of Pass the Baton which saw two athletes in slow motion moving from elation to anger as a race is brought rudely to an end with the dropped baton.
In many ways it seems unfair to pick just a few from the many acts which were on the stage on Sunday because each were examples of way the Eisteddfod plays such a vital role in the Island’s cultural life.
• Words: Anna Plunkett-Cole • Pictures: Tony Pike
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