The Calder Valley Youth Theatre is on the lookout too, constantly seeking – and finding – the new young talent to step onto the local stage. So as the senior stars are about to say farewell to the junior society, up to the mike steps the next generation.

And here they are, in the CVYT's showcase production, Calder Kidz in Concert, the young and – at 18 – the positively ancient.

This year's show brought them all together with style and sparkle. There were the old stagers, such as Wesley Downs, the grand master of comic routines, and the old favourites: the Four Yorkshiremen, Albert and the Lion. Didn't senior trouper Lewis Finney tackle this one before, when he was only a tot?

In the teenage ranks there are pop idols galore. Smooth crooner Tom Garrod teaming up with bubbly blonde Jessica Woodhead. Sultry Zoe Cox and Ella Mottram – who also teamed up as comperes – giving a double helping of Amy Winehouse. Versatile David Burnip with two very different character numbers, Hey Jude and Mr Bojangles. And a first solo outing for Maeve Tierney's deep golden tones, matching the sweetness of Emma Alderson.

It was good to see the Yates dynasty in action, big sister Madeleine leading Edelweiss, with star in the making, young Bertie, in the backing group, and Rob in well-timed comic routine. There were cameo performances from David Hyatt, and Ben Palmer, whose acrobatic dances have a haunting quality..

But making their mark in a big way came the smaller performers. Nina Horsfall and Colette Sheard also took the comperes' stand, while Elizabeth Olley is being chased in the stardom stakes by diminutive brother Andrew. And if waif-like Martha Osborne wasn't the fiercest of lions, she certainly shows signs of a distinct stage presence.

Olivia Naylor had her first solo song; and there's definitely a touch of the X-factor about newcomer Georgia Lomax-Thorpe.

They have some terrific role models among the older performers, especially the ever-professional Clara Collett, whose smile lights up the stage.

But the show stealing moment belonged to Jack Mitchell, renowned as a dead-pan comedian but now forever immortalised as one of the Spice Girls. Sporty Jack slipped into the song and dance routines with a slick nonchalance, and had the audience whistling with glee.