Maidenhead’s Got Talent returned in spectacular style on Friday 20 March 2026, delivering an inspiring evening of music, dance, and performance that celebrated the depth and diversity of young talent across the local area.

Organised by Maidenhead’s Rotary Clubs, the event took place at Taplow Court and featured more than 150 young performers from schools, theatre groups, dance academies, and music ensembles. The audience was treated to a rich and varied programme, while the evening also raised an impressive £4,000 for Rosie's Rainbow Fund and Alexander Devine Children's Hospice Service, supporting children and families across the region.

The evening opened with a powerful welcome act from the SGI-UK Future Group, whose dance ensemble performed Come to Me from Koop Islands, immediately setting a high-energy tone. This was followed by the Maidenhead Suzuki Violin & Viola Group, whose accomplished performance of Perpetual Motion, Tango and Sh! Sh! showcased technical precision and ensemble confidence.

Musical theatre featured strongly throughout the night. Izzy Sings Ensemble and Students delighted the audience with Me Ol’ Bamboo from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, alongside standout senior solos from Sophia Wilson with She Used to Be Mine (Waitress) and Nandan Koti’s dramatic rendition of Granada. Their finale, Afterglow, brought the section to a rousing close.

Classical music also took centre stage, with Brychan Evans delivering a compelling piano solo of Chopin’s Ballade No. 3. St Edmund Campion Catholic Primary School Choir then charmed the audience with The Rose, The Lord’s Prayer from African Sanctus, and an uplifting Iconic Anthem Mashup.

Redroofs Theatre School and Dance Inspired added further dynamism with a Snow White medley and high-energy routines to What It Sounds Like, Remember, and Let’s Get It Started. Act One concluded on a high with Azure Theatre School’s vibrant Oliver! medley.

Act Two continued the momentum with the Berkshire Music Trust Wind Band performing selections from Wicked and Andrew Lloyd Webber: A Symphonic Portrait. Redroofs Theatre School returned with the moving The Book Thief, followed by a striking Indian classical dance performance, Shivam, from Kalakunj Performing Arts Group.

Further musical highlights included the Berkshire Music Trust String Ensemble performing Enchanted and Track No. 57, and the Saxophone Ensemble’s spirited renditions of Silver Chalice and Viva La Vida. Azure Theatre School brought colour and flair with Welcome to Wonderland, before Redroofs Theatre School closed the show with an energetic and joyful Step in Time from Mary Poppins.

The evening was expertly compered by Tara Deane, who also captivated the audience with her original composition Stick Together, reinforcing the event’s themes of unity and community.

Mark Loader, Maidenhead’s Got Talent Project Lead, reflected on the success of the evening, saying: “Maidenhead’s Got Talent 2026 was a wonderful celebration of young people and the arts. The standard of performance across the entire programme was exceptional, and it was inspiring to see so many young performers supporting local charities through their talent. This event simply would not be possible without the performers, teachers, families, volunteers, and our incredibly supportive audience.”

Maidenhead’s Got Talent 2026 once again demonstrated the extraordinary creativity, commitment, and confidence of young performers in the area. With its combination of artistic excellence and charitable impact, the event continues to be a highlight in Maidenhead’s cultural calendar and a powerful example of how the arts can bring a community together.

Photo Credit: Lisa Hunter

Members and friends from across the local Rotary community came together for a lively evening of laughter, friendly competition and fundraising at a recent Beetle Drive hosted by the Maidenhead Bridge Rotary Club.

A fantastic total of 43 people attended the event, representing five Rotary clubs – Rotary Club of Maidenhead Bridge, Rotary Club of Wokingham, Rotary Club of Langley & Iver, Rotary Club of Maidenhead and Rotary Club of Maidenhead Thames – alongside friends and supporters of Rotary.

For those unfamiliar with a Beetle Drive, the game is a simple but brilliantly entertaining dice game. Players roll a die and draw parts of a beetle in a set order – starting with the body, then the head, legs, eyes and antennae. The aim is to complete the beetle as quickly as possible. The first player to finish their beetle in each round proudly shouts “Beetle!” to claim victory.

The 43 players were split across seven tables, competing as individuals to see who could finish their beetle first. After each round, the winner moved clockwise to a new table, while the player with the lowest score moved anticlockwise, ensuring everyone mixed throughout the evening.

While many players were clearly seasoned beetle-builders, more than a few participants didn’t manage to score any points in one or more rounds – and we promise the dice weren’t loaded!

The evening was filled with great fun, plenty of laughter and lots of friendly rivalry, exactly what a Rotary social should be.

Halfway through the evening, players enjoyed a very tasty fish and chip supper from Wessex Fish & Grill in Cox Green, who kindly provided a discount to support the clubs’ fundraising efforts.

One of the highlights of the night was a special “giant round”. Participants were split into four teams and competed using a giant inflatable dice, while drawing their beetles on flipchart paper. The challenge produced some impressive and highly creative beetles, with the winning team receiving a well-deserved box of Celebrations chocolates.

After a number of competitive rounds, the final results were revealed:

• Last Place: Karon – 91 points
• Joint Second Place: Neil, Gillian and Rebecca – 186 points
• First Place: Marilyn McCarthy (Langley & Iver Rotary) – 207 points, a near perfect score

Most importantly the evening raised £235 which will be put back into supporting local causes and projects in the community.

Archana Nath, President of Maidenhead Bridge Rotary Club, said: “This was a wonderful evening that perfectly captured what Rotary is all about, friendship, laughter and people coming together to support their community. It was fantastic to see members from several clubs enjoying themselves and meeting new people, all while raising funds that will help improve lives locally.”

The Beetle Drive proved that sometimes the simplest games create the most memorable evenings – especially when shared with good company and plenty of Rotary spirit.

This edition also reflects Rotary’s hands-on service in action — from purple crocuses blooming with purpose, taking the plunge for charity, delivering festival hampers, returning to Britwell, and welcoming new members into our growing Rotary family.
​
Every article is a snapshot of people giving their time, energy, and care to make a difference. Whether you’re a long-standing supporter, a friend of the club, or simply curious about what we do, this newsletter offers a window into the values, friendships, and impact that keep Maidenhead Bridge Rotary moving forward.

Interested in joining or learning more? Come along to one of our events, reach out via our contact page, or follow us on social media. We’d love to meet you!

Together, we are people of action – and there’s always room for one more at the table.