A PERFORMING arts school took the O2 arena by storm after being crowned champions of a glee competition in front of more than 1,500 people.

Members of Stanford-Le-Hope’s RE:VERB were crowned as the Jack Petchey Glee Club Challenge Champions 2017 at the Grand Final, held at London’s IndigO2 at The O2 Arena, following acoustic performances of an Ed Sheeran medley and a Chaka Khan/ En Vogue mash up.

The group, which has been performing together for three years as part of the “Youth Creation” performing arts school, had the difficult task of impressing celebrity judges: West End performers John Partridge, Simon Lipkin and Daniel Boys, alongside X-factor finalist Brenda Edwards, EastEnders star, Danny-Boy Hatchard and BBC entertainment correspondent, Brenda Emmanus.

RE:VERB were one of 12 Grand Finalists and 250 young people competing in the final. Victory in the final saw them win prize money worth £2,500, and has seen there performance clock up more than 100,000 views online.

John Partridge, Head Judge, said “It’s been another exceptional Glee Club Challenge final and I am always in awe and inspired by these young people. It really gets better and better this event, and it really was very difficult for us tonight- until one moment. And then one moment came and it is life affirming to see those young people on stage absolutely ‘killing it’. Then our job was very easy because they took the competition in their hands and they made it their own.”

Ruti, a member of RE:VERB added “It’s amazing to win actually, I don’t know what to say really! I just feel really proud of everyone; we’ve worked really hard for this. I’m just so proud of every single person in this crew.”

The Jack Petchey Glee Club Challenge, now in its sixth year, is the largest in the UK with entrants from across London and Essex, creating the biggest competition so far with over 650 young people taking part over the year. Groups shortlisted competed in regional finals and also took part in boot camps. At the Grand Final a total of £5,000 was given away in prizes.

EastEnders star, Danny-Boy Hatchard is an alumni of the Jack Petchey Theatre Challenge (predecessor to the Jack Petchey Glee Club Challenge) said “I think it’s important that we have people like Jack Petchey who come forward and invest in the younger generation. If it wasn’t for him and the Jack Petchey Theatre Challenge, I wouldn’t have been given some of the opportunities I’ve had, so it’s lovely to see him continue to do such fantastic work and strive to inspire young individuals.”

“I know in my head and my heart that I will work with some of these incredibly talented young people in the future. And If they don’t succeed in the arts, I am confident they will all succeed somewhere else because of what they’ve managed to achieve over such a short period of time, it’s really inspiring stuff. I hope I’ll be invited to come back next year because it’s truly the highlight.”