Ken’s Boyz Top Christmas Cabaret Chart

The last Friday of term saw the Year 13 boys and girls pitting their musical talents against each other in a ‘Battle of the Bands’ competition. Right from the outset it became clear that it was going to be a straight race between the two outright favourites Prangatang and Ken’s Boyz.

Prangatang were first out of the blocks with a strong score (24/30) from the adjudicating panel, Mr Joel ‘Louis’ Rowlinson, Mr Chris ‘Simon’ Ham and Ms Suzy ‘Cheryl’ Andrew; and were looking odds-on favourites for the title right up until the final act.

Ken’s Boyz, however, took the spoils with the final performance of the evening; demonstrating not only powerful vocals but also variety in their choice of backing accompaniment. Amidst these two stand-out performances there was one moment that brought the audience to tears and that was Harrison Bird and Toby Brough dancing to their version of the Mean Girls, Jingle Bell Rock!

Following on from the cabaret, Year 13 retired to College House, where a selection of curries was served up by Shiplake’s superb catering team. Re-energised by this sustenance, much singing and dancing ensued with the climax of the evening coming at 10.30pm with the College House boys’ ‘Dance Off’. Judge Mrs Rosie Curtis went around the room tapping shoulders one by one until we were down to the last two.

Charles ‘Twinkle Toes’ Marsden was smashing out an eclectic range of shapes throughout the contest but he was outgunned by Danny ‘Snake Hips’ Digiulio who managed to maintain the momentum with his very own version of a modern Irish Jig and Reel (he was feeling a little sore the morning after).