Next month, 30 singers, musicians, dancers, and magicians will battle it out to find out who will win the top spot of a prestigious island talent competition.

The final line up of the Next Big Thing 2018 has been released, featuring 14 acts, who will appear at the Gaiety Theatre in two weeks time.

A team of 15 acrobatic stunt dancers, from the Unity Dance school, based in Laxey, will perform alongside break dancers J Breakers, comprising dancers Junior Fernando and Jackson Katz, and duo Molly Bowman and Alicia Schofield.

There are eight singers, also taking part. Returning for second time to the competition is Emma Bowker, who last reached the finals of the Next big Thing in 2016.

She will be appearing alongside Kaylee Kinley, Mary Teare, Kizzie Puzzar, Cameron Lace, Lisa McGhee and this year’s youngest contestant, Leo Dixon.

There will also be two finalists fro the same family appearing with Jasmine Colligon going up against younger brother Zac Colligon.

Finishing the line up of this year’s competition are two magicians, Oscar Boveniser and Giles Beaumont, who is already a member of the Magicians of Mann.

There are prizes on offer for the top three acts, decided on the night, and there is an additional prize on offer to the winner of the public vote, which will be decided by votes cast by the audience on the night.

The Isle of Man Steam Packet is sponsoring the first prize of £500, with Manx Professional and Educational Services Ltd sponsoringthe £250 prize for the runner-up.

The Platform Theatre School are behind the £150 prize for third place.

The People’s Choice award is sponsored by Lloyds Bank International in memory of Soundcheck youth worker Paul Cooper.

Now in its seventh year, the competition is organised by the Manx-based charity Junior Achievement, and CEO Sue Cook said that, this year, even selecting the final 14 acts proved difficult.

’When I watch the auditions I am always amazed by the amount of young talent that the Isle of Man has to offer,’ she said.

’This year’s grand final promises to be a fantastic evening of family entertainment. We have a great line-up of acts. Selecting the 14 finalists was a real challenge.

’The Next Big Thing, though, is much more than just a talent competition and great community event.

’The work of our charity is empowering young people to succeed and about giving them the confidence to try new things.’

The Next Big Thing final takes place on Saturday, February 3, from 7.30pm.

Tickets are £13 for under-16s, £15 for adults, and are available from the Villa Marina box office, or from villagaiety.com.

Former winner, violin virtuoso Tabitha Templer, who won the show in 2016, will open the show.