Vauxhall Scouts Britain's Modelling Talent

Girls dreaming of getting a chance to strut their stuff on the catwalk should look out for the Vauxhall Style events taking place across the UK in April and May, where Vauxhall, sponsors of Britain's Next Top Model on LIVING will be searching for the Face of Tigra 2009.

Participants will receive invaluable tips from top industry professionals and take part in couture fashion shows, under the watchful eye of Britain's Next Top Model judges, Lisa Snowdon and Huggy Ragnarsson.

The tour supports the return of Vauxhall's sponsorship of the Next Top Model franchise on LIVING with the new series of Britain's Next Top Model launching in April.

This year will see Vauxhall expand its Vauxhall Tigra partnership to encompass its 'small car collection' a stylish trio of cars consisting of the Tigra, Corsa and Agila. These supermodel cars exude both style and design, making them the most fashionable motors on the road.

The lucky Face of Tigra winner in each region will be fast tracked into Britain's Next Top Model series 6 AND get to work the catwalk at London Fashion Week in September 2009.

As well as talent scouting activities at each event includes top fashion and modelling tips from fashion industry experts; hair and makeup demonstrations from Toni & Guy and Benefit; goody bags with great stuff from Toni & Guy, Benefit and more for competition winners and catwalk shows with some of the UK's hottest new talent.

The Tour Dates are (London) 25th April, at Westfield Shopping Centre; (Manchester) 2nd May, at Manchester Arndale; (Newcastle) 9th May, at the MetroCentre; (Birmingham) 16th May, at the Bullring in Birmingham. Registrations for the Face of Tigra competition will begin at 9.30am and fashion shows are scheduled to start at 11am.This activity will also be supported by the launch of a new website http://www.vauxhallstyle.co.uk

Staged Auditions

A whole new set of future stars get the chance to audition for a new stage school due to open in south London – with stars from stage and television in attendance.

The Pop School & Stage Academy (PSSA), the acclaimed dancing, singing and drama school flings open the doors of its new Wandsworth Academy to audition children aged between 8 – 18 years for places at the new school when it officially in April 2009.

Stars from Chicago (Ian Kelsey), Eastenders (Charlie Brooks, Michael Greco) and X Factor (Brenda Edwards), as well as The PSSA's accredited teachers will be looking for potential stars of the future at the audition and two scholarships to the Academy are being offered, one for a student aged 8-13 years and one for an older student aged 14-18 years.

A spokesperson for PSSA said, "Those auditioning are advised to wear whatever clothes feel comfortable; to have a pre-prepared one minute monologue about yourself - it's up to you what you want to say. And be prepared to sing the verse and chorus of any song you'd like to perform for us, as an Acapella."

The lucky winners will be chosen from this audition. The scholarships are for one year at The PSSA Wandsworth, worth approximately £900 per student.

Ian Kelsey, currently starring as notorious lawyer Billy Flynn in Chicago and a Patron of The PSSA, said, "I'm particularly looking forward to seeing local young people show off their talents, their passion and enthusiasm for acting, dancing and singing. It's exciting to be opening the third branch of The Pop School and Stage Academy, in Wandsworth."

The PSSA has strong links into the major players, including no less than the Disney Corporation for whom they recently cast in London.

The auditions are designed to be fun, giving local young people the chance to show off their artistic talents and learn more about what The PSSA will offer when it opens its first Academy south of the river Thames, building on the success of existing branches in Chiswick and Stone, Staffordshire. The PSSA schools promote a vibrant, energetic and fun approach to performing arts training, helping youngsters who are serious about their hobby to progress, whether they want to pursue a professional career or just want to have fun learning new skills and meeting like-minded people.

At the audition, potential students will be taught a dance routine to perform before the judges run a quick Q&A session. Candidates will then be split into small groups and asked to deliver a short, pre-prepared monologue about themselves, followed by the chance to perform as an Acapella, the verse and chorus from a song of their choice, before performing the dance routine they learnt earlier in the day.

Within two weeks of the audition, the two scholarships will be awarded, as well as secondary awards of theatre tickets to see either 'Wicked' or 'Chicago'. Everyone who participates in the audition will receive a letter to confirm whether they have won a place at the school when it opens on Saturday 25th April 2009.

In addition there is a celebrity guest workshop each term hosted by an industry professional. The workshops give students the chance to talk to a range of experienced professionals including actors, producers and singers, and listen to their advice first-hand. It is also a little something extra and exciting to look forward to each term.

The open audition for 8-18 year olds, Sunday 15 March 2009 At 11am on Sunday 15 March at ALRA, Studio 1, The Victoria Patriotic Building, John Archer Way, SW18 3SX. Doors open: 11am. To sign up or for more information call: 08000 827828 or email: info@pssa.co.uk

London Gets Set for 2012

Londoners can sample a sneak preview of what will be on offer at the 2012 Olympics when the Get Set London road show rolls into town.

In what will hopefully be a much less controversial promotion of the Games than this year's Olympic torch run for Beijing 2008, this July sees the start of London's Olympiad and with it an enticing road show.

The events are designed to showcase exactly how the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will benefit jobs and skills, culture, sports, business and regeneration in the capital, as well as interactive sporting equipment, free workshops and a great opportunity to learn about some of the lesser known Olympic sports.

Tony Ally, former Great Britain Olympic Diver, said: "The road show is a great way to raise the profile of various sports that will be part of the 2012 Olympics and encourage take up at all levels.  I'm delighted to be working with the games organisers and will be sharing my Olympic experiences with the visitors to Lewisham People's Day on 12th July."

The road show will take in three different venues over three days; it will kick off at Islam Expo, Olympia on the 11th July, with visitors having the chance to meet local sports stars from Westside Basketball and music from the Ebony Steel Band; then it moves to Lewisham People's Day on the 12th July with the London Youth Rowing Club appearing, before finishing at the Rise Festival in Finsbury Park on the 13th with Boxing London in attendance.

To find out when the Get Set London road show will visit your area go to: www.london2012.com/roadshow.

By Joe Henegan

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