Stagebound — how the competition works
Stagebound How It Works
How It Works

From your first application to the grand final stage.

Stagebound runs as a four-stage journey from registration through to the live grand final. Here's exactly what happens at each step, what to expect, and how to give yourself the best chance of progressing.

The Stagebound Year
Early 2027
Entries open
& pack released
→
Spring 2027
Auditions
& semi-finals
→
Summer 2027
Live grand final
in Wigan
01 Register Interest

Get on the list before entries open.

Before anything else, performers, parents, dance schools and vocal coaches drop their name on the Stagebound list. It costs nothing, commits to nothing — but it puts you first in line when the entry pack lands.

What you'll need
  • Your name and email (parents register on behalf of performers under 18)
  • The performer's name, age, and the category you're leaning towards
  • Your contact details — that's it
What happens next
  • You'll get a confirmation email straight away
  • We'll keep you updated as we lock in venues, dates, and partners
  • You'll be among the first to receive the full audition pack when entries open
Heads up: Registering interest is not the same as entering the competition. The official entry process — entry pack, audition booking, formal sign-up — opens in early 2027. We'll walk you through every step when it does.
02 Audition

Show us what you've got.

Once entries open, every performer submits an audition. Auditions are how we get to know your category, your strengths, and the kind of act you're bringing to Stagebound.

Two ways to audition
  • Video audition — record a performance on your phone and upload it. Great for nerves, easier for parents, and means anyone can take part regardless of distance
  • Live audition day — come to a real audition venue in Wigan and perform in person. The full audition-day experience, with a live panel
What to prepare
  • A single performance piece in your chosen category — a song, a routine, or a duo set
  • Backing track (if needed) — we'll provide a guide for what works and what doesn't
  • An outfit you can perform comfortably in
  • Yourself, on form — that's the bit that actually matters
What every entry gets
  • Watched in full by a real human, every time
  • Honest, constructive feedback — not just a yes or no
  • A Stagebound welcome pack regardless of outcome
  • An invite to follow the competition and apply again in future years
The full entry pack — including video submission guidelines, audition day booking, and category-specific guidance — will be released the moment entries open. Register your interest to get it first.
03 Semi-Final

Step up to a real stage in Wigan.

Performers who progress from auditions step up to the semi-final — a live performance round on a real Wigan stage, in front of a live audience and the Stagebound judging panel.

What to expect on the day
  • A genuine venue with full stage, lights, and sound — not a school hall
  • A green room area and timed performance slots
  • Tickets available for family and friends to come and support
  • The judging panel watching live and providing on-the-night feedback
  • A relaxed, supportive atmosphere — the goal is to bring out your best, not catch you out
How to prepare
  • Polish your audition piece or upgrade it for the bigger venue
  • Get used to performing with proper sound — backing tracks will be tested in advance
  • Plan an outfit that reads well from the back of the venue
  • Rest your voice, eat properly on the day, and arrive early
After the semi-final
  • Every semi-finalist gets photos and video footage from their performance
  • Honest feedback from the judging panel
  • A Stagebound semi-finalist certificate
  • The acts going through to the grand final are announced in the days that follow
Making it to the semi-final is a real milestone — by this point performers have already stood out from the audition pool and earned their place on a Stagebound stage. Whatever happens next, this part counts.
04 Grand Final

The night every performer remembers.

Summer 2027. Finalists take to a major Wigan venue for the live grand final — packed audience, full production, the judging panel front and centre, and a Star Prize package waiting for the headline winner.

The Grand Final experience
  • Full live production — professional sound, lighting and stage crew
  • A packed audience of friends, family, sponsors and supporters
  • The full judging panel scoring live on the night
  • An MC and event hosts running the show
  • Trophy presentations, named category awards, and the Star Prize reveal
  • Professional photos and video footage of every act
Prizes & recognition
  • Star Prize — a curated package including cash, equipment, mentorship and exposure
  • Category winner trophies — Solo Vocal, Group Vocal, Solo Dance, Group Dance, Duo
  • Runner-up recognition and special-mention awards
  • Every finalist takes home a Stagebound finalist trophy and full media pack
After the final
  • Coverage across local press, social media and the Stagebound website
  • Ongoing exposure for winners through sponsor partnerships
  • Invitation to return as featured performers in future years
  • The start of something — Stagebound returns annually
This is the night. The reason performers, families, sponsors and the whole town show up. A real stage, a real audience, and the kind of moment that defines a young performer's year.
Judging Criteria

What we're judging on.

The panel scores every performance across four core areas. Different categories carry slightly different emphases — but these are the foundations the whole competition runs on.

Skill & Technique

Vocal control, pitch and tone for singers. Technique, timing and execution for dancers. The fundamentals done well.

Performance

Stage presence, energy, confidence, and the ability to hold the room. The thing that turns a performance into a moment.

Material Choice

Song or routine that genuinely showcases what the performer does best. The right material in the right hands.

Connection

The ability to connect with the audience and tell a story through the performance — for solos, duos and groups alike.

The Important Bits

Everything else worth knowing.

Beyond the four stages, here's what makes Stagebound work — and what we've built in to make sure every performer feels safe, supported, and set up to succeed.

Age groups, split fairly

Performers compete against peers in their age range — younger performers won't be up against older ones with years more experience.

Exact age brackets are confirmed when entries open. The principle is simple: a fair fight, every time.

Safeguarding & supervision

All sessions involving under-18s are supervised by DBS-checked staff. Parents are welcome at auditions and rehearsals.

We follow industry safeguarding standards and have a named safeguarding lead — full policy available on request.

Accessible by design

Bursary places will be available for performers who'd otherwise be priced out. Stagebound is built to be the most accessible competition of its kind in the North West.

Accessibility needs at auditions or the final — physical, sensory, neurodivergent — are accommodated. Just tell us when you book.

Real, honest feedback

Every act watched in full. Every act gets feedback. The Stagebound panel scores blind in some categories and weighted by experience in others.

Feedback is constructive, specific and useful — designed to help young performers grow whether they progress or not.

Ready When You Are

Make sure you're first in line.

Registering interest takes 60 seconds — no commitment, no payment, just your name on the list. You'll be the first to know when entries officially open in early 2027.

Register Your Interest → See the categories