A successful performance group got together two years ago after a handful of the singers entered Swindon Talent ‘08.

Now the Stagecoach Performance Troupe has 19 members who take part in a number of events, including a performance at Her Majesty’s Theatre, in London.

The singers will be competing in the Swindon Talent ‘10 as part of the Old Town Festival.

The group belongs to the Stagecoach Theatre school run by Sheryll Datta, who puts the children through their paces in weekly sessions at St Joseph’s School.

Sheryll said: “In 2008 two of our acts made it to the finals of Swindon Talent, a soloist called James Wood and a group called Molly And Friends.

“It is a great opportunity for the children to come forward. They get a great deal from it and also benefit from seeing other people perform.’’ It was the group Molly And Friends that turned into the Stagecoach Performance Troupe.

The first display was at The Wyvern Theatre in Swindon where they sang in the No 1 70s Show.

“They sang Dancing Queen and Tragedy,’’ said Sheryll. “And out of that came the Abba medley which the singers performed at the Old Town Festival last year.’’ The troupe also sang at Wharf Green as a warm-up for an opera that was being screened, and they sang at Radio One’s 5.5 Special Birthday Party at Groove, the new night club in Fleet Street.

The youngest member of the troupe is Jak Loasby, who is eight and the eldest are Hannah James and Melanie Webb, who are 17.

The troupe is currently working on a sunshine medley to perform at Her Majesty’s Theatre in 2011 and they will be singing it at the Old Town Festival and then at Swindon Talent ‘10.

l Swindon Talent ‘10 Heats: Purton Carnival heat on June 4, at 7.30pm; Warneford School, Highworth, on June 5, at 7pm; the Old Town Festival, on June 27, at 11.30am; Lydiard Park, on July 10, at noon and Wootton Bassett School, on July 24, at noon.

There will also be an open mic heat at The Arts Centre, in Old Town, on July 6 from 6pm, where artists can just turn up on the night.

The finals will be held at the Wyvern Theatre on August 8. The contest is run in collaboration with the Swindon Advertiser, Swindon 105.5, the Wyvern Theatre and the Swindon Arts Centre.

To enter Swindon Talent ‘10 visit www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/ news/talent10.

Rules: Every act needs to perform for four minutes and must be amateur, not earn their living by entertainment, and live or work in Wiltshire. Artists who competed in the talent contest for the last two years, 2008 and 2009 are not eligible to enter Swindon Talent ‘10. Entry is open to any age, but under 16s need signed permission from a parent or guardian.

Organisers have the right to refuse entries if health or safety is considered at risk.