The entertainment

Let us entertain you

Part of what makes Pride of Reading so special is the entertainment from some of the biggest names around, and this year was no exception. Here’s your guide to the treats

THE entertainers were out in force to deliver the usual quality

performances throughout the event.

Eighties pop legend Nick Heyward, treated the guests to two sets including a rousing finale where he reprised his Haircut100 hit Fantastic Day. He was joined by the Readikids cheerleaders as everyone rose up to dance and blow bubbles.

Earlier, longtime awards supporter Danyl Johnson of X Factor fame, vintage singer Kitty Mazinsky and rising star Bethia sang people to their seats with a pre-lunch show. Elvis tribute performer Paul Rouse was back this year to join them.

Danyl once again served as an entertainment director as did Louise Woods of Starlet Dance School and Matt Whitelock of Berzerk Productions.

Magician Dean Leavy amazed everyone at the reception with his incredibly deft tricks.

Former Child of Courage, actor and campaigner Charlie Kristensen helped on stage by delivering the bouquets to Chris Tarrant to be presented to winners.

And Reading’s Dean Powell, a contestant on a BBC design show, and actor Tom Read Wilson of TV’s Celebs Go Dating, helped to raise some laughs in an onstage quiz with Chris Tarrant.

Nick Heyward

Nick Heyward began his career in the early 1980s as the songwriter and frontman of Haircut 100, notching up four UK top singles including Fantastic Day, Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl), LovePlus One and Nobody’s Fool.

Their debut album Pelican West went platinum. In the 1990s the single, Kite, took off in America’s burgeoning alternative scene, reaching #4 in the Billboard Alternative Chart, and Heyward toured the country with the likes of The Lemonheads and Tony Bennett.

Heyward’s most recent release saw him return to touring with shows in the UK, USA and Japan. Two of Nick’s musicians, Anthony Clark (vocals, keyboard) and Adam Phillips (vocals, acoustic guitar), will join him in the performance.

Danyl Johnson

Danyl Johnson is a vocalist of the highest order and a genuine entertainer.

The former drama and stage school teacher rose to fame after appearing in the 2009 series of X Factor.

He captured the hearts of the viewers of the talent contest and he took an impressive fourthplaced finish. Danyl performs his lively showcase up and down the country for corporate events, charitable events, wedding entertainment and at live music venues.

He has made a number of guest appearances on television and has an ever-loyal fan base and online following of more than over 100,000 people. His performances make him one of the most sought-after solo artists working in the entertainment industry.

Paul Rouse

A welcome return by Paul to the Pride of Reading Awards 2022.

Paul first appeared at the event in 2004 and that year won the Community Champion award.

The award was given to acknowledge all the monies raised by his Elvis Tribute shows held at venues across Reading.

A top European tribute artist, Paul has raised more than £200,O00 for local charities.

Over the past 18 years Paul has performed many times at the awards.

apassionforelvis.com

Bethia

Influenced by Ariana Grande, Sinead Harnett and Kiana Ledé,

Bethia is on the rise, creatively exploring every aspect of her artistry, from playing gigs at BBC Music Introducing LIVE & Tileyard Studios to writing with other artists for their own projects.

Bethia has released three solo singles that created a lot of traction on TikTok gaining her over 30,000 followers.

Through fan interaction alone, her track Should I Know Better soared from 2,000 to over half a million streams on Spotify and Apple Music in just a few weeks.

It now sits at over 900,000 streams on Spotify alone and is due to surpass one million streams by the end of the year.

She shows no sign of stopping this year and into 2023; from playing more live shows to crafting and releasing hit after hit. Kitty Mazinzky

Vintage singer Kitty Mazinsky specialises in the American songbook, big band swing and other popular music from the 1920s to the 1960s.

Born and raised in Wokingham, Kitty spent her youth appearing on stage at every opportunity. While studying film at Warwick university, she discovered the joys of classical Hollywood musicals, and turned her love of the music and style into a fulltime singing career in 2014.

She has been a proud participant in the Pride of Reading Awards.

www.kittymazinsky.com

Dean Leavy

Dean Leavy is a magician, event host, and entertainer who has spent years working at events worldwide for large and small audiences.

As a former Magic Circle Young Magician of the Year, he goes that extra mile to make any occasion magical and memorable. Charlie Kristensen

Charlie is a multi award winning young campaigner as well as West End performer. He hosts a chat show #MusicalChairs with #CheerUpCharlie.

He was awarded the Pride of Reading’s Child of Courage Award in 2021.

This year the Charlie Kristensen Foundation - #cheerupcharlie gained charity status and Charlie won a place at Sylvia Young Performing Arts School. Dean Powell

Dean, who owns the “most talked about house” in Berkshire, is known as a contestant in the BBC show Interior Design Masters, hosted by comedian Alan Carr.

The father of two from Reading has an affinity for the colour black and, during lockdown, he painted his entire house with the colour – inside and out. Tom Read Wilson

Tom is a TV presenter, actor and etymology enthusiast.

A Royal Academy of Music Musical Theatre graduate, he has performed in plays and musicals worldwide.

Tom is a regular on our TV screens after stealing the nation’s hearts as the hilarious ‘Client Co-ordinator’ on Celebs Go Dating (E4).

Supporting the Arts and green initiatives is his great passion, including as an active campaigner for Wildwood and Kent Wildlife Trust, as well as an Ambassador for Acting For Others.

Tom is a devout logophile with two new books this autumn and his podcast Tom Read Wilson has words with… Plus: Readikids & Cheerleaders

Louise Woods, Starlet School of Dance

LOUISE, who trained professionally at the Urdang Academy, Covent Garden, has danced for Steps, Sky Sports International Dance Team, appeared in

BBC Radio 1’s Fitness DVD with Chris Moyles, Scott Mills, Colin

Murray and Chappers & Dave.

Choreographed for Arlene Phillips book launch and has done various TV and film work for ITV.

Louise currently runs her own business Starlet Dance School for children of all ages in Shinfield, and Starlet’s sister company

Inspirations School of Dance in Upper Basildon. Starlet has been established for 19 years and children have performed at various events and productions such as the Annie UK National

Tour, BSM Xmas Light Switch On, danced for Arlene Phillips,

Professional music videos, the Formula 1 Silverstone Grand Prix,

Reading FC and much more. Louise is delighted to be helping with the production side for her tenth year at the Pride of Reading

Awards.

starletdance.com

Matt Whitelock

MATT Whitelock is not only a previous Pride of Reading winner in the inaugural year for Cultural Contribution, he is also the founder of the local multiaward-winning drama coaching company

Berzerk Productions.

He has worked in child education for over 30 years.

Being an original Reading performance lad from the start with such companies as Reading Youth Theatre, Generation

Theatre, Starmaker Theatre Company, JG Dance and many more, he also worked professionally and has many TV, film and theatre credits.

Matt has now passed the baton of Berzerk on to another local theatre master, Aundre Goddard and is enjoying seeing the company move in a new and fresh direction.

With their welcome performance at the Pride Of Reading

Awards and the Christmas production of Elf at the Oakwood

Centre this December, it’s looking full of spirit for 2022 and beyond.

berzerkproductions.com

Danyl Johnson

As well as performing, Danyl helped Louise and Matt devise this year’s entertainment. One talented fella!