Episode 10 School for Stars

Millions dream of fame, success and a life in the spotlight.

But few realise what it takes to make it to the top.

You have to actually kiss her, otherwise this isn't working.

We're back inside one of the most famous stage schools in Britain...

# The music feels better With you... #

..London's Italia Conti Academy Of Theatre Arts...

# The music feels better With you... #

..where, for some pupils, dreams of a career on screen and stage really can come true.

# The music feels better With you... #

This is what life is like for those seeking the big-time.

Stretch, look up. It should hurt.

This is the School For Stars.

# The music feels better. #

Previously on School For Stars,

it's been all about preparing for the end of year show.

Having struggled with confidence,

Ella's taken on a massive performance.

It's you that I've chosen, because you need to be challenged.

But after a horrendous slip on stage, can she get back up

and show everyone what she's capable of?

I'm just really scared that I'll let everyone else down and myself.

After five years at school, it's time for Reece's final curtain.

I just want to go out on a bang and end in a high.

But can he wow the crowd one last time,

or will it all be too emotional?

It's just literally come to a dead stop.

And sadly Niki's time at the school is also at an end.

Can she make her final trip down the yellow brick road magical?

The summer term's at an end,

and where mayhem and madness used to reign, all is quiet.

But it wasn't always like this.

The past year has brought its ups...

..and its downs.

That is not acceptable for ballet.

It's gotten to the point that I'm crying, and I never really cry.

-I went over on my ankle.

-Oh, dear me, and I thought dancing was dangerous.

There's been success...

You've been offered the role.

SHE SQUEALS

-We will definitely love to represent you.

-I can smile!

-They're going to sign me.

-'Oh, wow!'

We just broke the record!

There's been disappointment.

You move and I will send you home.

I can't believe what just happened. That was the hardest thing.

I love this school to pieces. I'll miss it loads.

But in a school like this, there's one rule that everyone lives by -

the show must go on.

# And we gonna let it Burn, burn, burn, burn

# We gonna let it Burn, burn, burn, burn

# Gonna let it Burn, burn, burn, burn

# We gonna let it burn. #

And after weeks of hard practice,

it's finally time for the end of year show.

# May your hearts be full Like your dreams tonight

# May we sing and dance Till we lose our minds...

At a theatre in central London the countdown has begun.

# Tonight we own the night. #

Everyone's preparing for the performance of their lives.

And for Sadie, having been at the school for just one year,

this is her first ever end of year show, and it's a big one.

I'm in four numbers tonight.

I'm quite scared, it's very important for me

to make sure that I get everything spot-on because

if I don't then I'll be really upset with myself.

It's not very good, but it'll do.

From negotiating timetables to mastering the splits,

Sadie's first year has been full of ups and downs.

I don't know where I'm going!

But tonight is her biggest challenge yet.

Everything could possibly go wrong.

I couldn't come on stage, I couldn't come off stage,

I could panic and have the wrong costume on and I could be rubbish.

My whole family's here tonight, so I'm really scared!

So it's not just going to be one person who sees it go wrong,

it's going to be about six.

But nerves aren't just for the inexperienced.

Kedar's a senior and still gets anxious before going on stage,

although today he has good reason as he's opening the show.

The opening of the show is a James Bond theme piece.

We've been rehearsing the fight scene loads

so I think that everyone is pretty ready for it.

He may think he's ready, but Kedar has struggled with his fitness all term.

And tonight he has to be fighting fit.

I've improved stamina-wise, which is good

because obviously the show is quite high-energy.

Before I couldn't really breathe, and now I'm bearable.

An hour before curtain-up

and with record-breaking temperatures in London,

backstage is steaming.

The atmosphere is crazy. Everyone's so stressed out, it's really hot,

everyone's running about the place, it's absolutely loony.

But everyone's just getting excited because of the show.

Front of house, the audience are finally being let in...

ANNOUNCEMENT: 'Ladies and gentlemen the doors are now open,

'the house doors are now open, please do not walk across the stage.'

..and expectations are high.

This is massive, for me to come and watch Sadie here tonight. It's huge.

My whole family are so excited.

It's the big show tonight, it's the one. Ella's doing her bit

tonight with Luca, so I'm really looking forward to seeing it.

I didn't realise she was going to be on the front page of the programme

so, yeah, I'm really excited about it.

It's been a long journey getting here. Hopefully we'll have a really good show.

I can't do any more, it's all over to them now,

so all the performance, all the rehearsal is there.

Let's just get on stage and do it.

ANNOUNCEMENT: 'Ladies and gentlemen, this is your 15-minute call.

'You have 15 minutes, thank you.'

There's a lot of pressure because there's a big audience.

I feel really under pressure.

The pressure's a little bit on, I think.

-The show's started?

-No, it hasn't.

The theatre's packed with parents and casting agents.

After months of rehearsals, this is it - show time.

On one of the hottest days of the year, can Kedar keep his cool?

Everyone's got their costumes on now,

were about to go up for the opening number.

But nerves are definitely running high at the moment.

PERCUSSIVE MUSIC

APPLAUSE

-Kedar's hard work has paid off.

-My fitness did hold out, to be fair.

Doesn't really seem it at the moment, but I'm feeling good.

I could be a lot worse, to be fair. I couldn't really breathe when we started rehearsing.

It's a fantastic start to the show.

For Sadie, though, she has it all to come.

Juniors should be right down the bottom, please.

I didn't really expect so much panic, rushing about, everything like that.

Juniors keep against the wall, spread yourselves out.

Move down quickly.

It's not just her first ever end of year performance,

but also the biggest crowd she's danced for.

# So make it yours, go for broke Holy smoke you're not alone

# Who's laughing now? Who's laughing now? #

But along with Tilly and Amy, she's going for it.

# Who's laughing now? Who's laughing now? #

-So come on, how was it, Sadie?

-It was so good!

It may be Sadie's first time,

but for Reece it's a very different story

as tonight is his very last show for the school.

I am quite upset, it is going to be an emotional time.

But everything has to come to an end eventually

and unfortunately my end is tonight.

Today's my biggest solo I've got and I get to open up the number

so it's definitely going to be a big high for me

but it's a lot of pressure and I just hope I do it well and do it justice.

Reece's final performance is the Saturday Night Fever Medley,

which also involves the school's golden couple of dance, Luca and Ella.

I'm very excited that I'm in the show,

cos obviously I hurt my foot and it didn't look promising.

I'm now allowed to dance, so I'm going to be doing it

and I'm really hyped up about it.

He's had his leg in plaster for most of term,

so Luca and Ella have not been able to practise much.

That's better, good.

But she's hoping their chemistry will get them through.

I think we have a really good relationship in real life

and I think when we dance together sometimes

we don't always show it cos we're nervous we'll get

the steps wrong. I think if we just forget about the steps

and just try and dance together it will be really nice.

It's not going to go wrong, but I always get nervous before I go on stage.

-I'm really excited as well.

-You'll be all right.

Whilst Ella and Luca get their groove on, Reece is digging the disco.

But for everyone else, things are not so funky.

-Saturday Night Fever, you should be down.

-Why?

Rushing, rushing, rushing.

-Oh, we're actually going!

-Oh, yeah we've gone, OK.

Saturday Night Fever, come on!

I just want to go out on a bang and end in a high

and hopefully it goes good.

# Night fever, night fever

# We know how to do it

# Gimme that night fever, night fever

# We know how to show it

# Here I am Waiting for this moment to last

# Living on the music so fine... #

Reece has opened fantastically,

but now it's Ella and Luca's dance solo,

featuring Jade and Mia singing.

Will Luca's foot hold out?

# If I can't have you I don't want nobody, baby

# If I can't have you Oh-oh-oh

# If I can't have you I don't want nobody, baby

# If I can't have you Oh-oh-oh. #

APPLAUSE

It's flawless, and they've got the theatre rocking.

Even Max is grooving.

But in a high pressure performance like this,

disaster can strike at any time.

# Burn, baby burn We're burning from our soul

# Burn, baby burn... #

Ella's slipped, and right at the front of stage.

Ever the professional, she's carried on till the end.

But she's devastated.

I've never really proper properly fell on stage before.

I always strive for perfection and then I feel bad

if I don't reach that perfection.

But I'm my own worst enemy, so I only have myself to blame.

She still has a big number to perform tonight,

so Ella really needs to compose herself

and put this mistake behind her.

I'm just really scared that I'll let everyone else down, and myself.

Are you OK?

The pressure's also on for Sadie.

In her next performance, she's on stage with Chelsie, Jordan

and Tommy, who've all starred in hit West End shows.

A year ago she was at a normal primary school.

Now she's sharing leads with some of theatre's biggest rising stars.

# One step closer to heaven

# One step closer to you

# There'll be No more living without you, baby

# I'm counting each minute till I'm back to you...#

Doing the end of year show has proved that

I want to be a West End stage lady.

I want to be up the front singing, dancing and acting,

and the show has just proved to me that it will be amazing.

# Hold on, hold on Hold on to my love, yeah. #

APPLAUSE

With only half the performances done, the show is far from over.

Is my lipstick still on now?

And with so many pupils in multiple routines,

quick costume changes are essential.

-I need it to stay up like that.

-Is that in the middle?

-Yeah, that's fine.

But a role is not just about a change of outfit.

-What really makes a performance is getting in to character.

-Uh-huh!

And Joel's not only got the quiff of a rock legend,

he's also got the diva attitude.

-I don't have a line in the middle.

-Yes, you do.

No, I don't, Karen didn't do that.

Now, I'm going to look like a girl, well done(!)

Anybody have a make-up wipe? I need a make-up wipe.

Don't laugh. I don't like it. You're messing my hair up!

No, she's not.

He's playing Elvis the Pharaoh king,

although when he bagged the part, he wasn't too taken with the costume.

Seriously, its got a heart on it.

I just wish I could just rip these things off.

Joel's hip swinging section is up next, so he's getting his bling on.

Hang on a minute, Joel, isn't something missing?

-All the gems have fallen off from here.

-Fallen off, you say?

I put them in my bag last night and they've just, like, all come out.

They're not even in my bag.

Like, when I first put them, I put them in my bag, now they're not in there.

-It's so weird.

-Yeah, really weird(!)

But can he still play the king without all that bling?

I've been practising so much at home.

I've been listening to loads of Elvis songs,

watching Elvis videos, stuff like that.

And just, like, how he moves, it's just absolutely amazing.

So I'm just going to have to try and do that.

There we go.

# I was wandering along By the banks of the river

# When seven fat cows Came up out of the Nile

# Uh-huh-huh

# Bop-shoo-waddy-waddy Bop-bop-shoo-waddy-waddy

# Right behind These fine healthy animals

# Came seven other cows that were Skinny and vile

# Uh-huh-huh

# Bop-shoo-waddy-waddy Bop-bop-shoo-waddy-waddy

# The thin cows ate Which I thought would do them good

# Uh-huh-huh

# Bop-shoo-waddy-waddy Bop-bop-shoo-waddy-waddy

# But it didn't make them fatter Like such a monster supper should

# Bop-shoo-waddy-waddy Bop-bop-shoo-waddy-waddy

# Well, the thin cows were as thin As they had ever, ever, ever been

# This dream has got me baffled Hey, Joseph, what does it mean? #

APPLAUSE

Absolutely awesome.

So I did, like, the thing, but I did it more, like, full out

so it was proper, like, that

and everyone was, like, looking at me.

I tried not to look at my mum because she was, like,

and I was like, "Stop it, stop it, you're making me blush."

It, like, really makes me want to go back on there and do it again and again and again and over again.

The end of year show is a fantastic opportunity for pupils to wow

the audience, and as it continues

it's clear that exceptional talent is everywhere.

# Lose yourself to dance

# Lose yourself to dance

# Lose yourself to dance

# Lose yourself to dance... #

Star pupil Layton is just one of many dancers shining.

And for Ella, after her fall earlier,

she's desperate to show what she can do.

# Teardrop on the fire

# Fearless on my breath... #

Sharing the spotlight with Charlie,

she's showing why she's worthy of such a big part.

APPLAUSE

It's a perfect comeback, and Ella's a happy girl.

-But while some are celebrating...

-Fantastic!

..others have yet to go on

and are nervously cramming in some last-minute practice.

There, spin that way.

For Kieran and Aemilia tonight is the result of weeks of

hard work on their lifting routine.

It's finally come down to do our lifts, which is brilliant

because we've practised it enough.

More than enough.

More than enough so that it is amazing and that it's good.

Though it's not just the practice that's made it a tough journey.

Karen nearly dropped both of them from the show

when Kieran didn't turn up for rehearsals.

Two strikes and out, OK?

The worst scenario that could happen is that he could drop me.

-Do you think that'll happen? Really?

-No.

He would never drop me, he's told me he would never drop me.

-So I trust him there.

-Have I dropped you yet?

-No.

Aemilia has complete faith in Kieran,

which is essential for this lift.

Not sure Beth can say the same for her partner Tyler.

-So one, two, three, four...

-Five, six, seven, eight.

-Five, six, seven, eight.

-OK, there.

Tyler had real trouble lifting Beth in rehearsals.

And seven, tuck, tuck, tuck.

They've been practising, but it's still a bit touch and go.

Well, not lift, just get through it so I don't suddenly get on stage

and go "oh," and start tapping like that.

I don't want it to be like that, I want it to be perfecto.

With the rest of the seniors already swinging on stage,

it's time for the couples to make their entrance.

# Saturday night... #

Come on, dance you lot!

# Do the Eric hokey-cokey shuffle... #

And now for the lift sequence.

# Do the Eric hokey-cokey shuffle

# Shimmy to the left Shimmy to the right

# Do the Eric hokey Do the Eric hokey

# Do the Eric hokey-cokey shuffle on a Saturday

# On a Saturday... #

I think the lift sequence went brilliant.

-That's the highest you've been.

-Definitely the highest I've been.

-It was almost we didn't make it down in time.

-Yeah.

All the hard work has paid off. It's all over and done with now.

Probably won't forget that lift, though. Keep it in the book.

# Night! #

With the show nearly at an end, everyone's gearing up

for the big finale.

But for Niki, the excitement's tinged with sadness.

# Somewhere over the rainbow

# Blue birds fly... #

Niki's loved her time at school.

But the cost of staying on is just too much.

She knows that this may well be her last performance

on stage for some time.

I want to prove to my mum that she's paid a lot of money just for me

to send me somewhere. I want to prove to her that she's actually

done something and, like, spent her money for a good cause.

And she's done something worth it.

And I want her to see that I have, like, a talent.

It's going to be sad as well, it's going to be the last one

so it's going to be... little cries maybe.

Sh! Guys, be quiet!

I'm going over the rainbow!

# Someday I'll wish upon a star

# And wake up where the clouds are far behind me

# Where troubles melt like lemon drops

# Away above the chimney tops

# That's where you'll find me

# Somewhere over the rainbow

# Skies are blue

# And the dreams that you dare to dream

# Really do come true. #

It's a fantastic final performance from Niki,

and all that's left now is for everyone to take a bow.

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

With end-of-year show over, that's it - school is out.

-That was a good show.

-I loved that.

I didn't want it to end because it went too fast.

Good job, man, good job.

When these guys want to do it, they really do.

The talent shone tonight and I think it was explosive,

so I'm thrilled for all of them.

-Oh, well done.

-It was brilliant.

-It was amazing.

-Thank you.

-I'm so, so proud of you.

I'm so emotional, it really has made me emotional.

She's amazing, she really is amazing.

I love you. Oh, she was brilliant, absolutely brilliant, I loved it.

Now I'm really regretting her leaving but we've got no choice.

Well done, very good.

I think Luca and Ella are made for each other, they dance really well together.

Something there, sparkle in the eyes.

I feel really happy.

The only thing that's a let-down is saying goodbye to everyone.

And for Reece, it's also going to be a very hard goodbye.

Thank you so much for those five years.

-I could not have done it without you, honestly.

-Yes, you could.

Yes, you could.

It was honestly an amazing five years and it is sad that it has come

to an end, but I know that I'm going to stay in touch with you guys.

-You must.

-This is your home.

-Yeah.

-Remember to come home.

OK.

We're a family now. You come back,

-and I want opening night tickets.

-Yeah!

-Every performance you do.

-Yeah.

-I need my tickets, I need my invite.

Reece's time at school has been an epic journey.

You can't let them see that it's getting to you.

You've got to keep your head strong.

It was the most awkward kiss I've ever done in my entire life!

# You don't know what it's like to be considered a freak.

-# Well, maybe you do... #

-APPLAUSE

And he may think it's at an end, but Karen knows it's just the beginning.

Don't let anyone stop you,

-what you know in your heart you was born to do.

-OK.

-OK? And we are here for you, always.

-Thank you so much.

-Thank you, Reece.

-I love you, sweetheart.

Reece has a heart of gold.

He's a very, very talented individual, and I'm getting upset.

He's been with us a long time but I have confidence in what he's gained

from his training so far will carry all the way through with him now.

It's not a negative, it's a positive.

He's starting a new journey and this will always be his home

and he will always come back to where he started.

I thought it was going to last for ever, it's just literally come

to a dead stop, but I'm going to keep in touch and, you know,

like, everything does have to end at one point

and this, unfortunately, it did it today.

School may have ended for Reece, but for the rest of our guys and girls

it's business as usual.

Ella is looking forward to Year 11

and representing the school as head girl,

and helping her out as prefects will be her close friends Luca and Jade.

Mimi is now appearing on our screens as the latest member

of the Beale family in EastEnders.

Layton's landed a lead role in a Dick Whittington pantomime

and is currently starring in a BBC Three TV series.

Kedar will continue training at the school,

along with Tommy, who is busy with auditions for his next big role.

As are Amy and Tilly.

Cameron has left the school to choreograph for a West End show,

while Chelsie is still appearing just around the corner

in Billy Elliot.

Marni is embarking on a year's course at a London circus school.

For Max and band mate Luca,

the original line-up of Distant Virtue is no more.

But they hope to audition new band members next year.

And Estelle got nine GCSEs, gaining a B in maths

and is now off to study for her A-Levels.

And for everyone else,

life goes on at the School For Stars.

# We can't stop

# And we won't stop

# Can't you see it's we who own the night

# Can't you see it's we who 'bout that life

# And we can't stop

# And we won't stop

# We run things Things don't run we

# We don't take nothing from nobody

# Yeah, yeah... #

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd