THE WINNER of Rugby’s Got Talent 2019 was crowned as the curtain came down on this year’s Rugby Festival of Culture.
A full house at Rugby Theatre saw vocalist Paul Sammon beat seven other acts to the £600 prize and opportunities to perform at the town’s major events over the coming year.
Paul gripped the audience and judges alike with his raw rock version of Simon and Garfunkel hit The Sound of Silence.
Runner was young soul singer Caitlin McCarthy, 17, who impressed with an emotive rendition of And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going from Dreamgirls.
David Head, Trustee at Rugby Area Talent Trust and one of the show organisers, said: “All eight acts delivered a fantastic show which has highlighted yet again the sheer talent we are nurturing here in Rugby.”
Head Judge Mike Folly said: “What impressed me most, after the extraordinary talent on show, was the camaraderie created among the contestants. They were supportive of each other, encouraged each other and hopefully will have made some new and lasting friendships.
“I am confident they will all make enormous progress in the coming year as a result of their involvement”.
THE FESTIVAL of Culture’s closing week featured a number of highlights.
Rugby violinist Andy Rackham entertained an admiring audience in the John Lees Hall with a number of light classics including Arrival of the Queen of Sheba by Handel, Tango by Albeniz and a virtuoso performance of the theme from Schindler’s List, composed by John Williams.
Mad scientists provided a fun evening filled with Victorian style drama, real scientific experiments and explosive thrills at Macready Theatre, when duo Morgan & West presented a pre-Edinburgh festival showing of their show Unbelievable Science.
Rugby Operatic Society laid on a sing-a-long for fans of Gilbert and Sullivan, 1940s standards and Hollywood musicals.
And members of the Writers Cafe introduced their group, in which authors talk about writing and exchange ideas in the Thirteen Bells Cafe in St Andrew’s Church every other Friday (next meeting Friday July 19).
All photos by Patrick Joyce.
