Some of the most talented young performers in the island will take to the stage this weekend to show that they have what it takes to be the next big thing on the Isle of Man.

Organised by the youth development charity, Junior Achievement, ’The Next Big Thing’ features 13 different acts which vary in genre and styles, from solo singers to choirs, a contemporary dance group to traditional Indian dance and cellists and folk fiddle players through to a full-on teenage punk band.

The largest group of performers is the Platform Theatre Vocal Ensemble.

The 12 members of the group attend the Platform Theatre School, led by Kristene Sutcliffe, and are currently part of the touring show of ’M is for Manx Cat: The Musical’.

They will be joined by the contemporary dance group Aspire.

The group was put together by nine friends who perform with several of the island’s dance schools, who perform spectacular dance set-pieces and acrobatic lifts.

The loudest act on the bill will undoubtedly be the Scrubs.

The four-piece rock and punk group have come up through the ranks of the Soundcheck youth music project and have already several gigs under their belt.

At 10 years old, fiddle player Frank Joughin is one of the youngest members in the competition. He comes from a musical family and has already taken part in many folk music festivals, either playing his violin or dancing with the group Skeddan Jiarg.

The second 10-year-old taking part is singer Naiya Myrie, who will be singing a song inspired by the Disney film ’Moana’.

Musicals fan Eve Puzzar is following in her big sister’s footsteps, after elder sibling Kizzee Puzzar appeared in the 2018 competition, and fellow singer Kirree Craine, a pupil of music teacher Mandy Griffin, is making her first appearance on a big stage.

A more experienced stage presence is Cory Corkill.

To date, Cory has appeared in 10 shows, including Jesus Christ Superstar and Les Miserables and, most recently, in the Christmas panto ’Peter Pan’ as John Darling.

Solo singer Megan Boardman is a member of the Stage One drama school and was once a member of the Ballacottier School choir, and Ella Jones hopes to put her experience of winning her school talent show, ’Balla’s Got Talent’ to good use when she steps onto the Gaiety stage.

Jess Christian will sing and show off her skills playing the ukelele.

And the classically-trained cellist Grace Templer will also perform, offering her own interpretation of the Billie Eillish song ’I Don’t Wanna Be You Anymore’.

The final contestant is the traditional Indian dancer, Linette Joseph. Linette has been training since she was four years old and has danced many of her intricate routines at the Our Island: Our World festival.

The Next Big Thing competition is now in its eighth year and is open to anyone aged up to 18 years old who wants to show off their particular talent.

Tickets for the show are priced between £16 and 18, and are available online from villagaiety.com

More details are available from thenextbigthing.im