Stephen Sondheim competition. Savoy theatre.

I was there! It was a marathon, but an absolute delight - as you say the standard was excellent.

The quality of the performers was top drawer, and the new material for the Stiles & Drewe prize for new composers/lyricists was mainly impressive.

I agree with the winner of the best new composition ("You and Me" by Adam Watcher), it was the new song that stuck with me the most and made me want to see the show it might end up in.

I have a bias in that my nephew is one of the finalists (Elliott Wooster) so naturally I wanted him to win! The winner Alex Cardall is very talented, his "Buddy's Blues" was highly entertaining.

Host Tracie Bennett was hilarious and it was great to see Di Botcher reprise her 'Broadway Baby'.

A truly wonderful afternoon, despite being gutted that my nephew didn't win!

Lots of photos and rehearsal footage on the (finally re-activated!) Sondheim Society website here: www.sondheimsociety.com/