Dartford’s Got Talent 2025
Sat 21st June 7pm
GUEST STAR JUDGES – Olivier Award-winningMiriam-Teak Lee (West End’s & Juliet) and Anton Stephans (X Factor)
Returning for its third year. After previous successes, this year Dartford’s Got Talent levels up! We create a full evening of live entertainment. Watch as local talent perform for our panel of judges and YOU, the audience. Feel the excitement as performers take to the Orchard West main stage for the first time.
With additional live performances from celebrity judges and local theatre groups.
JUDGING PANEL
Miriam-Teak Lee (West End’s & Juliet)
Anton Stephans (X Factor)
Tal Rosen, Theatre Director Orchard West
Laura Taylor, Executive Producer & Head of Celebrity Casting for Imagine Theatres
MIRIAM-TEAK LEE
Born in London in 1994, Miriam-Teak Lee is an up-and-coming West End star. She’s best known for her Olivier Award-winning performance as the title character in & Juliet, originating the role in the world premiere production.
After training at Arts Educational School in London and the Morgan Aslanoff Dance School (of which she is now an ambassador of the latter), Lee made her professional debut in On The Town as Clare. For her performance, she won Best Actress in a Musical at the 2017 Stage Debut Awards. She later headed to the West End to star in the original cast of Hamilton. In Hamilton, she was part of the ensemble, also covering the four lead female roles: Angelica Schuyler, Eliza Schuyler, Peggy Schuyler and Maria Reynolds.
Lee’s career skyrocketed when she was cast as Juliet in & Juliet. After a pre-West End run at Manchester Opera House, she led the cast at the Shaftesbury Theatre. In a LondonTheatre.co.uk review from Mark Shenton: “The company is led by the extraordinary Miriam-Teak Lee in the title role of Juliet, who brings a sizzling presence, incredible vocals and moves to turn her into a force of nature.” For her performance, she won the Olivier Award and the Black British Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Musical, both awarded on the same night. In concert, she’s sung in London Musical Theatre Orchestra’s A Christmas Carol at the Lyceum Theatre. – LondonTheatre.co.uk
Credits
& Juliet – Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical, WhatsOnStage Award for Best Actress in a Musical & Best Female Actor in a Musical at Black British Theatre Awards. Cover for Angelica/Eliza/Peggy in Hamilton (Original London Cast) Victoria Palace; Clare in On the Town (Regents Park Open Air Theatre); Queenie The Life (Arts Education).
LOCAL ACTS COMPETING
- Natalie Keel – Singer
- Penny Nelson – Dance
- Liam Dimitriadis – Musical stand-up
- Miranda Archbold – Guitar/singer
- Rumur – Four piece band
- Olivia Bell – Singer
- Elle Koerner – Dance
- Gina Collins – Singer
Sit back and relax as the stage comes alive with the talents of Dartford!
THE WINNER’S GRAND PRIZE!
£500 Holiday voucher from travel agent Harden Holidays
A spot to perform on stage at Dartford Town’s BIG Christmas Light Switch On.
A family of 4 ticket to this year’s pantomime Aladdin.
An Evening With Anton Stephans
Sat 19th July 7pm
ANTON STEPHANS – HOST
Anton’s first West End Theatre credit came at the age of eight when he played Fizz in Bugsy Malone (Her Majesty’s Theatre) Monsieur Vernier in the world premiere of Conor Mitchell’s Mathilde (Vaudeville Theatre,). Lead Vocalist in Blues Brothers Meet Soul Sisters (Theatre Royal), Porgy, Porgy and Bess (Savoy Theatre) Poppa in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express (international, and UK tour); Musical Lead in Smokey Joe’s Cafè West End (Prince Of Wales Theatre 1st UK tour/Broadway and US tour); Lead Vocalist in Hey Mr. Producer for Cameron Mackintosh (Lyceum Theatre); Principal in Riverdance, (Broadway, West End, international tour) His one man show, Crying for You…No More (Fortune Theatre); Musical Lead in Dancing and Singing The Blues (European Tour); Classique (Off Broadway/US tour); Songs of Broadway (Off Broadway/US Tour); An Evening with Anton (Congress Theatre, Eastbourne). Lead Singer in the Riverdance (Europe tour). Company of Francesca Zambello’s Show Boat (Royal Albert Hall); Lead role Father in Children of Eden (Prince of Wales Theatre), Sweeney Todd (Chichester Festival Theatre) Leadville in Fishermans Friends (International & UK tour) Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar West End & International Tour, Leadville in Fishermans Friends National and international Tour, Tarantino Live Riverside Studios.
Winnie The Pooh Narrator Disney productions worldwide.
Television Credits: Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Channel 4); presenter and lead vocalist in Tribute to Motown (MTV); backing vocalist on Top of the Pops for George Michael, Sting, Chaka Khan and Elton John; George Michael concert (MTV); Presenter and lead vocalist for Ebony Magazine Show; A&E; A New Aria (BBC2 Shakespeare season).
Film Credits: The Double (A George Lucas short movie). 2015 Finalist on X Factor. Narrator of The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, 2021). Earned a Best Narrator nomination on Audible Books. Narration of Winnie the Pooh (Disney, Summer 2022).
Radio Credits: Montano in Othello Blacking Iago (BBC Arts Intermission Theatre). BBC Radio London Resident Singer. Play For Today various roles. Alan Bennett monologues.
CASSIDY JANSON
Cassidy recently finished playing Anna Hathaway in ‘& Juliet’ at The Shaftesbury Theatre, London. A role for which she won an Olivier award.
Cassidy is well known for playing Carole King in Beautiful to rave reviews. Following a surprise visit Carole King said of the performance: ‘Cassidy Janson literally brought me to tears this evening with her performance of Natural Woman. She was who I was, she felt what I felt. She was me!’
She also duetted with Carole King in Hyde Park for 65,000 people.
Cassidy was in the trio Leading Ladies, performing alongside Amber Riley and Beverley Knight recording acclaimed debut album Songs from the Stage which was nominated for a Classical Brit Award. Cassidy then signed to BMG records to create her debut solo album of her own original music which also included a previously unreleased Carole King track. Her song “When A Woman” is also featured in the British movie Fisherman’s Friends.
Other notable work includes being the first Musical Theatre performer to have her own residency at Ronnie Scott’s, performing opposite Kelsey Grammer in Man Of La Mancha, starring alongside Cynthia Erivo in Dessa Rose, appearing with Michael Ball and Alexandra Burke in Chess and working with Neil Patrick Harris in Tick Tick Boom.
ASH MUKHERJEE
Ash Mukherjee is an internationally recognized choreographer and performer whose practice blends Indian classical dance with contemporary and popular forms to create innovative, cross-cultural narratives. Acclaimed by Dance Europe as “one of the finest Indian classical dancers of his generation,” his work is defined by a commitment to both artistic excellence and social impact.
Ash was selected by the This Is It! team to perform a duet with Michael Jackson at London’s O2 Arena and later appeared on BBC Three’s Move Like Michael Jackson, where his solo piece—created in collaboration with Lavelle Smith Jr.—was viewed by over three million people. His choreographic work spans platforms including So You Think You Can Dance (BBC Two), Katie Melua’s The Flood (dir. William Orbit), and youth-led musicals with British Youth Music Theatre.
As a Critics’ Circle National Dance Award nominee and Time Out London Rising Talent, Ash has been recognized for both his creative vision and performance excellence. His solo work Vishnu’s Got My Back premiered at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and toured the UK Indian Film Festival, exploring diasporic identity through movement and storytelling.
In addition to his performance work, Ash is deeply invested in socially engaged practice. As Movement Director for the Citizens of the World Refugee Choir, he has choreographed performances for national events including the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and Glastonbury 2022. As Creative Director of The Pride Heart Project, he has used dance and theatre to empower over 100 LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers, centring voices often marginalized in the arts.
Ash’s work bridges tradition and innovation, performance and activism, placing him at the forefront of contemporary intercultural performance in the UK.
LEANNE PORTER
An award-winning actress, Leanne has won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical, the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Actress in a Musical and the Critics’ Circle Award for Most Promising Newcomer. She trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and has worked across all areas of the Theatre and TV/film industry.
Her theatre credits include: the smash hit West End production of the musical
Hairspray (Shaftesbury Theatre) as Tracy Turnblad;Stiles & Drewe’s The 3 Little Pigs (Palace Theatre London), Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (UK Tour); Bedroom Farce (New Wolsey Theatre); Alice in Wonderland(Everyman Theatre, Liverpool) and Cinderella (XRoads Pantomimes).
TV & Film credits include: Unforgotten (ITV), Silent Witness (BBC), CATS (directed by Tom Hooper) Joy Grab ad for Getir.
TILLY PANTLIN
Tilly is a professional singer and regular performer at events throughout Dartford and beyond, whether she’s singing on a Saturday as part of the Orchard Community Market program, getting festive fronting the borough carol concert in Central Park, performing at local venues or providing vocals for weddings and events, she loves to sing and share joy through music.
Magician MARK THROW
At just eight years old, Mark discovered his passion for magic and turned professional by the remarkable age of twelve. He has captivated audiences at high-profile events, ranging from corporate gatherings to film premieres. Notably, he performed at the world premiere of Jurassic Park , where he astounded director Steven Spielberg with his magical prowess. After a successful detour into corporate life, Mark has triumphantly returned to his first love – the mystifying arts of magic and mentalism. He recently sold out a show at the prestigious Phoenix Arts Club in September 2025, achieving this remarkable feat in under four days. Due to popular demand, an extra date has been added, 29th September 2025. With years of experience and wonder, Mark continues to enchant audiences everywhere.
EMMA GOODDAY-GEORGE
Post modern jazz and disco singer and musical theatre performer.