500 Schools from Across the UK Took Part in I Am The Starlight Competition

In celebration of the incredible creativity and musical talent of young people across the country, 500 schools from across the UK took part in ‘I Am the Starlight’ – a nationwide schools competition inspired by the multi award-winning London production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s STARLIGHT EXPRESS at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre.

Launched to mark World Theatre Day, the initiative from LW Entertainment, Michael Harrison Entertainment and Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals, with support from The School Trip, invited schools to perform, record and upload a section of the iconic song “Starlight Express” for the chance to perform live on stage at the spectacular Starlight Auditorium, Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre.

The competition saw an extraordinary response from schools across the country, with 500 primary and secondary schools taking up the opportunity to showcase their musicality, creativity, stage presence and joy of performance.

The winning schools that took centre stage and performed live at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre to celebrate World Theatre Day were children from St Dominic Savio Catholic Primary School and Westholme School.

The entries were judged by an independent panel including members of the STARLIGHT EXPRESS company, Jade Marvin (who plays Momma) and Asher Forth (who plays Electra).

They said: 

‍“The response to I Am the Starlight has been truly remarkable. The standard of entries, the passion, commitment and talent shown by students and teachers is incredibly moving. It’s a powerful reminder of just how important the arts are - giving young people a chance to express themselves, work together, build confidence and discover their creativity.  

Tom Sanderson, Director at The School Trip commented: 

Through our collaboration with Starlight Express on I am the Starlight, we’ve seen the incredible impact theatre and live experiences can have on students and teachers. By giving teachers creative opportunities to engage their students beyond the classroom, the competition has helped bring theatre and music classes to life in a way that is both inspiring and accessible. Teachers play a vital role in championing the arts, and initiatives like this support them in fostering confidence, creativity, and collaboration among their students - while strengthening the connection between schools and the transformative power of live theatre."

Craig McLeish, Musical Director at Young Voices, added:

‍What a wonderful initiative By Starlight Express to give so many children this opportunity, first to compete and then to perform on the West End stage. This will be a lasting and powerful memory for all the participants and hopefully a springboard to potential future careers in the music business! 

The initiative was also supported by LW Entertainment’s long-time printed music publishing partner, Hal Leonard. The official songbook for Starlight Express, published in August 2025, features all the classic songs as well as previously unpublished arrangements for “Hydrogen”, “I Do” and “I Am Me.”

Seen by over 30 million people across the world, STARLIGHT EXPRESS is a true theatrical event, fully immersing audiences of all ages inside a world of speed, song and storytelling, as the incredible cast of 40 whizz around and above, performing some of musical theatre’s most beloved songs, including AC/DC, Make Up My Heart, Light at the End of the Tunnel and the iconic Starlight Express. As a child’s train set magically comes to life and the engines race to become the fastest in the world, Rusty the steam train has little hope of winning until he is inspired by the legend of the ‘Starlight Express’.

STARLIGHT EXPRESS made a triumphant return to London when the new production opened to widespread critical acclaim in June 2024. Since then, it has gone on to win multiple awards, including an Olivier Award and a record-breaking seven What’s on Stage Awards.  The London production must end its record-breaking run at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre on Sunday 3 May 2026. Details of a forthcoming world tour will be announced soon.