Gareth Gates' Grand night out

Gareth Gates joined forces with youngsters from Dudley schools to perform show stoppers from musical theatre at the Grand Theatre.

Gates, who celebrated his 25th birthday last weekend, has reinvented himself as a stage star.

He was the undoubted draw last night, but there was plenty of other talent on show to impress.

Host Christopher Key opened the show perfectly with Willkommen from Cabaret, then handed over to a talented group of Year 11 students who performed a medley from Mama Mia.

The 14-piece band belted out hit after hit from favourites including a Grease medley, West Side Story and Wicked.

Six young ladies pulled off a great version of The Cell Black Tango from Chicago in style and the second half of the show saw a stunning performance of Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Lauren Soley and Lucy Cound, with magical guitar playing by Lizzie Parkes.

Friends and family aside, it was Gareth that a large part of the audience had come to see and he did not disappoint, with amazing performances from Joseph and Aladdin, an emotional version of Why God, Why? from Miss Saigon and of course Empty Chairs and Empty Tables from Les Mis.

Christopher Key's beautiful performance of Bring Him Home and a rousing version of One Day More resulted in a standing ovation.

All in all a wonderful evening's entertainment with talent and abilities right across the scale.