Fiorentini’s Got Talent 2017: Judges Announced

The judges for our 2017 Fiorentini’s Got Talent show have been announced! This year, we are excited to have seven guest judges who all work in the performing arts industry:

Ali Bastian

Ali Bastian is probably best known for playing the role of Becca in the popular Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks for six years, for which she won several awards, including an ITV Soap Award. She then joined the regular cast of The Bill for ITV1, playing PC Sally Armstrong. She reached the semi-final of Strictly Come Dancing in 2009 and, to this day, remains the only celebrity to have received a perfect score in both the American Smooth and the Viennese Waltz. She later danced her way into the West End, leading the company of Burn The Floor at the Shaftesbury Theatre and the role of Roxy Hart in the UK Tour of Chicago.

Alice de  Sousa

Alice de Sousa is a multi-award-winning producer, writer for screen and theatre, and internationally acclaimed stage actress. Most recently, she has financed and Executive Produced: Berlin, I Love You, a collective of 10 A-list directors and 20 A-list actors; Terence Davies’ hugely acclaimed feature film Sunset Song; and Roger Spottiswoode’s commercially successful A Street Cat Named Bob.

Alice is currently producing A War of Their Own, which will be directed by Oscar and twice Palm d’Or winner Bille August; Jon Amiel’s The Angel Makers; and further developing two animation features; two film franchises; and three feature films, which she has also written.

Emma Sylvester

Emma Sylvester was a jobbing actress before her move into casting. Emma works alongside casting director Carolyn McLeod on all her projects, which include the feature films High Strung Free Dance (directed by Michael Damian) and Bruno (directed by Karl Golden). Emma also casts her projects, has recently been cast for Ridley Scott Associates, and is now the in-house Casting Director for film production company Signature Pictures. Emma is an ambassador for diversity and equality in casting.

Sami Larabi

Sami Larabi is the managing director and producer of the award-winning social enterprise film production company Signature Pictures, dedicated to tackling youth unemployment. Signature Pictures provides training and work experience opportunities to unemployed young people, giving opportunities to those talented young people who lack the contacts, resources, or belief necessary to develop a career in the creative industries.90% of the people Signature Pictures has trained have found work in film and media.

Adam Tyler

Adam Tyler is a BAFTA-winning director, writer, and producer. His films for young people tackle topics as diverse as extremism, social media, faith, and the refugee crisis. Six of his films for TrueTube have been nominated for BAFTA Awards in the past two years, including the social media drama Like Me, which featured six Anna Fiorentini students.

Tahj Miles

Tahj Miles, a Fiorentini agency client, has had numerous leading roles in West End productions, including Oliver!, Matilda, and Bugsy Malone. Most recently, Tahj has hit our screens in the CBBC hit show, Class Dismissed, which airs weekday mornings on CBBC.

Jayden Jean-Paul Denis

Jayden Jean-Paul Denis, a former Fiorentini student from the age of 7, landed the leading role of Simba in the West End’s Lion King at the ripe old age of 9. Jayden’s television debut was in the award-winning comedy Rev for BBC2. Jayden is also a strong dancer and continued his dancing with Zoo Nation for 3 years. He was most recently recognised for his role as Frankie in the popular CBBC series Hank Zipzer, written by TV legend Henry Winkler.

If you would like to book tickets to this years show please click here.