Above everything else, though, it will also be raising money for South Yorkshire youth homelessness charity Roundabout, the organisation that created the event and has made it one of the most eagerly anticipated nights of the theatre year, with 80 per cent of tickets already sold.
One of the performers who has been on stage every year is singer Emma Southworth – and she’s back again for 2024.
“I have a good friend who had signed up for the Drive In back in 2021 and asked if I’d be available for the day,” Emma says. “I thought it would be nice to get back into performing because with Covid there had been nothing we could do, so I put my application in and I was accepted – and I had a really great time!
“I brought quite a few of my family to see it and they all said it was so good and so different and it was a unique way to showcase all the talent we have in South Yorkshire.”
A year later, the show had developed to become A Night at the Musicals – with Coronation Street star Wendi Peters as the host – and Emma knew she definitely had to be part of the lineup again.
“I’d never performed at the Crucible before so it was very exciting to be on that famous stage,” she says.
“Wendi did such an amazing job of introducing everybody and the atmosphere backstage with all that talent was incredible.
“It felt so good to be back in theatre and hearing all the fantastic performances – I really do think the transition to the Crucible has been the making of the show and I’ll come back every year if I can.”
Emma is currently in the process of auditioning for a range of professional theatre shows as well as working as an administrator in the sports department at Sheffield Hallam University.
“It’s hard getting a job in theatre – it’s a tough gig but there is no other gig I want to do,” she admits.
“I have been asked why I don’t settle down and get what people call a proper job but I still have that fire in me, I still want to perform, I don’t want to do anything else.
“The absolute dream is to be in the West End and one of my dream roles would be 42nd Street.
“I’d love to be part of a tour too and I have had cruise auditions – travelling the world, performing and getting paid to do it would be amazing!”
While she waits for the call saying her determination has paid off, though, she is now back getting ready to support Roundabout once more and deliver another great performance for the charity.
“I wasn’t aware of Roundabout when I applied for that first show at Meadowhall but since then I have followed them and know so much more about the great work they are doing.
“It will be so good to be on stage at the Crucible again, singing for a live audience and knowing that we’re raising money for Roundabout.”
A Night at the Musicals 2024 will be hosted by Sheffield radio and TV presenter Dan Walker.
This year’s lineup of singers and dancers will be joined on stage by some special West End musical guest stars – The Full Monty’s Adam Smith, Cabaret’s Sally Frith and Rent actress Kate England.
To book for Roundabout’s Night at the Musicals visit sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/crucible-theatre
Look out for further information about Roundabout and their events programme at on our website or facebook.com/RoundaboutSheffield
