Curtain Call Creative are well known for their youth musical productions which usually feature a full professional orchestra supporting the young voices onstage: ‘Last Night at the Proms’ reversed that and put the orchestra at the centre. Shanklin Theatre’s large stage was crammed with talented musicians, under the experienced baton of Andrew Woodford, leading a wonderful commemoration of the 80^th anniversary of VE Day, along with an appropriate and patriotic reminder of the annual proms concerts at the Royal Albert Hall. The stage was appropriately bedecked with the flags of Great Britain and its component countries, and union flags were distributed among the audience.

The programme included classical music, pieces from musicals, films and even the Dad’s Army TV series, along with songs and tunes directly connected to the war years. Some poignant – the RAF March Past almost had me in tears remembering my own father who served in the RAF; some rousing, such as Gershwin’s ‘Strike Up the Band’, and some pieces clearly brought back memories for many of the audience, who greeted each item enthusiastically.

Compere William Nixon added context, information and some fun to the proceedings, and the singers were to a person incredible, adding another layer to the skill of the musicians on stage. Ashleigh Hunt-Davies’ ‘Sing as We Go’ captured the positive wartime spirit, while Tom Thorne’s beautiful vocals made his rendition of ‘A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square’ mesmerising. Also captivating were Ava Cowan and Lottie Paine singing a medley of Vera Lynn songs, and Ellie Pike who also led us on ‘Rule Britannia’.

One highlight of the evening was Mr Woodford being relieved of his baton by Rafferty Moore, who conducted the orchestra playing a medley of wartime songs, later joining Tom to lead the singing of ‘Jerusalem’. With talented young performers like these coming through the Curtain Call ranks, it’s clear the Island’s theatrical and musical future is safe.

The final part of the evening was devoted to those patriotic songs familiar to anyone who has watched (or attended) the London Last Night of the Proms: ‘Nimrod’; the traditional competition to keep up with the ever-quicker tempo of Henry Wood’s ‘Fantasia on British Sea Songs’ (yes – the one with the sea shanty denouement); ‘Pomp and Circumstance March No 1’ complete with the audience singing ‘Land of Hope and Glory’; ‘Rule Britannia’ and ‘Jerusalem’. The flags were waving, the audience were on their feet and there was an amazing atmosphere of everyone coming together for a traditional joyous evening of music and celebration.

Everyone involved can be very proud of the evening of entertainment and commemoration they have created – the audience engagement and applause shows that every one of them enjoyed it just as much as I did. Thank you Curtain Call Creative.