Britain’s Got Talent winners Diversity promise the unexpected at Stoke’s Regent Theatre

Jun 9 2010 by simon halewood, Crewe Chronicle

IF SATURDAY’S grand final of Britain’s Got Talent has whet your appetite for a spectacular variety performance then you’re in luck as last year’s winners Diversity hit the stage at the Regent Theatre on Friday.

After snatching victory with their stunning dance moves last year, it is their fate that they’ll always be remembered as the act who broke Susan Boyle’s heart.

Despite the fact that ‘Subo’ was already a global superstar with 26 million YouTube hits to her name, the 11-strong urban dance act came out on top.

Since then it’s not unfair to suggest that their careers have taken a slightly different trajectory.

Although they did have their moment in the A-list spotlight, appearing on the Royal Variety Show as their reality TV prize, since then their success has been somewhat more modest than Susan Boyle’s 8.5m album sales.

But that’s perhaps more to do with what they do than how they do it. Street dance is a difficult gift to package and sell.

The live theatre stage is a very different matter, though. If they were outstanding on TV – so much so that the notoriously hard to please Simon Cowell described their final performance as ‘sheer and utter perfection’ – then up close they’re twice as impressive.

The dance troupe consists of 11 members from East London and the Essex area. They are made up of three sets of brothers: Ashley and Jordan Banjo, Ian, Jamie and Matthew McNaughton, Sam and Mitchell Craske. They are complemented by four of their best friends: Terry Smith, Ike Ezekwugo, Warren Russell and Perri Luc Kiely.

A theatre spokesman said: “Having displayed no lack of imagination in their quest for TV success, their live show takes things on to another level, incorporating their inventive routines into an adaptable storyline.

“Transformed into toys who come to life for one night, returning to their boxes at sunrise, they must stop the evil Mr Grief from stealing plans for a new toy from their owner DaVinci.

“And so each sequence follows them on their journey through the toy store, meeting dolls and action figures along the way, as well as Pete Box the beat-boxer and Bionic Boy, who just happens to be another Britain’s Got Talent graduate, Aidan Davis.”

Ashley, the group’s leader and choreographer, said: “We are so excited. It promises to be a fantastic experience. Expect the unexpected.”

The group promise to keep things fresh and interesting thanks to the inclusion of their trademark sense of humour and cleverness.

A theatre spokesman added: “They may not have amassed Subo’s millions but this show proves they’re every inch true winners.”

The show starts at 7.30pm. Book early to avoid disappointment. For tickets, priced from £17.50, phone 0844 871 7627.