The cast of Maes G ShowZone’s ‘Sioe Fawr – Big Show’ enjoyed a surprise visit from Coronation Street star Julie Hesmondhalgh (aka Hayley Cropper) on Saturday night.

 

The children and young people of MaesG ShowZone put on their first variety show at Pontio’s Theatr Bryn Terfel, just one year after the group formed in September 2020.

Based in Maesgeirchen, Bangor, the ShowZone is a volunteer-led, not-for-profit organisation built on the idea that every child should have access to the arts, with a team dedicated to ensuring a rounded experience in all areas from producing to performing.

Despite the pandemic lockdowns and restrictions, Showzone’s members have worked hard towards the big end-of-year variety show enjoyed by their friends, family, and the public. For most of the performers it was their first appearance on a big stage.

500 Acts of Kindness

Julie Hesmondhalgh is best known for her role as Hayley Cropper in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street between 1998 and 2014, winning Best Serial Drama Performance at the 2014 National Television Awards and Best Actress at the 2014 British Soap Awards. Her other television roles have included Cucumber (2015), Happy Valley (2016), Broadchurch (2017) and The Pact (2021).

In 2019, Julie set up the group ‘500 Acts of Kindness’ a fundraising community where 500 members donate a pound a week to give to an individual, group, family or organisation in need.

Julie along with her friend and group co-founder Chris Malvern select a recipient every week and donate organisation or community group in need of funding.

Since the group started in 2017, 500 Acts of Kindness have raised nearly £100,000 in donations.

Hearing about the big show at Pontio, Maes G ShowZone were chosen to receive funding to help with the cost of staging the performance, but that wasn’t the end of the story. Julie found the groups phone number on Facebook and asked if she could come to Bangor to meet the children and watch the performance!  

Steffie Williams Roberts from Maes G ShowZone, said: “We are so grateful to have the support of Julie Hesmondhalgh and are beyond thankful to her for travelling up to watch the show and taking such a keen interest in the children’s hard work.

“They absolutely loved meeting her. We are also very grateful to her group 500 Acts of Kindness for their generous donation towards the production of our show.”