Carrick-on-Suir stage school's stars shine at All-Ireland variety show contest

More than 100 young performers from Mala’s Stage School in Carrick-on-Suir showcased their singing, dancing and acting talents in style at the All-Ireland Variety Showcase Showdown in Dublin and brought home three awards.

This was the first competition Mala’s had entered since the National Community Games Variety finals in the late 1990s, early 2000s.

For the contest, 104 members of the renowned Carrick-on-Suir stage school, aged between seven and 22-years-old, staged a 30- minute show as did two other schools at the O’Reilly Theatre in Belvedere College on Saturday, November 2.

Each school director was given the task of choosing the Star of the School from an opposing school.
Mala’s Star of the School winner was Oisín Murphy, who played the part of Harry Potter and also sang, When I Grow Up, from Matilda.

Another Mala’s performer, Keeley Power, was awarded Best Solo Performance for her singing of Naughty from Matilda.

The stage school’s third award was won by Amy Brady, Caoimhe O’Shea and Liadhain O’Shea.

The trio received the Best Group Singing prize for their rendition of Idina Menzel’s version of Seasons of Love from the smash hit musical, Rent.

The show also featured a tap dance number to, One Singular Sensation, from A Chorus Line as well as a colourful Hawaiian Rollercoaster Ride featuring the hugely popular Stitch.

How far I’ll Go from Moana and a beautiful lyrical performance to, He lives In You, from The Lion King were also performed.
Competition was fierce and the electric atmosphere among the audience reflected this.

Mala’s Stage School will next perform in Disneyland Paris on February 3. This trip will be followed by the staging of the school’s summer show Frozen in June next year. 

Oisín Murphy with the Star of the School award he won for his performances at the All-Ireland Variety Showcase Showdown

Keeley Power with the Best Solo Performance award