London Cabaret Club gala draws Tasha Ghouri, Karen Hauer and Helen George to spotlight next generation of performers
A star-studded gala at The London Cabaret Club brought together Tasha Ghouri, Karen Hauer and Helen George to celebrate a new partnership with The King’s Trust, raising the profile of young performers breaking into the industry and supporting pathways into creative careers.
Held at the Bloomsbury Ballroom, the event marked the culmination of the first cohort of a three-year programme designed to support young people facing barriers to careers in the performing arts. The initiative, launched as part of the venue’s 10th anniversary, combines professional training, mentorship and industry exposure, with long-term backing from The King’s Trust.
Television personality and King’s Trust ambassador Tasha Ghouri played a central role in the programme, mentoring 14 young performers who took to the stage following an intensive two-week training period. Ghouri, whose own career spans dance and television, described the experience as “a full circle moment”, highlighting the challenges many face when trying to enter the industry and the importance of access to training and support.
She was joined on the night by a guest list that reflected the breadth of the UK’s performance sector. Among those attending were former Strictly Come Dancing professional Karen Hauer, Call the Midwife actor Helen George, Pineapple Dance Studios founder Debbie Moore OBE and Waterloo Road star Tillie Amartey, alongside leading figures from organisations including the British Council, the BRIT School, Guildhall School and Italia Conti.
For the young performers, the evening represented more than a showcase. Many were stepping onto a professional stage for the first time, performing alongside The London Cabaret Club’s resident company in front of casting directors, choreographers and industry decision-makers. The programme is designed to offer not only training but tangible routes into employment, with one standout participant set to receive a professional contract in the club’s forthcoming production La Vita è Dolce.
The initiative comes against a backdrop of growing concern about access to the arts. Research commissioned by The London Cabaret Club found that 40% of parents have been priced out of after-school arts activities, while 64% believe schools place too much emphasis on academic subjects at the expense of creative education. For many young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, opportunities to train, perform and build networks remain limited.
The partnership with The King’s Trust aims to address that imbalance. Formerly The Prince’s Trust, the charity has supported more than 1.3 million young people since its founding by HM The King in 1976, focusing on confidence-building, skills development and access to employment. Its collaboration with The London Cabaret Club centres on opening doors within a notoriously competitive sector.
Evelina Girling, the club’s co-founder and creative producer, framed the programme as a direct response to inequality within the industry. Talent, she said, is widespread, but opportunity is not. The gala, she added, offered a glimpse of what becomes possible when those barriers are reduced.
Artistic director Doni Fierro pointed to the transformation of participants over the course of the programme, with confidence developing alongside technical skill. That growth was evident on stage, where the performers delivered a high-energy showcase drawn from the club’s long-running production London Never Sleeps.
Participants will continue to receive mentorship and access to rehearsal space beyond the initial training period, reinforcing the long-term ambition of the three-year scheme. For The King’s Trust, the programme aligns with its wider mission to tackle youth unemployment and create sustainable routes into work, particularly in sectors where access has traditionally depended on resources and connections.
Elena Leo is the Culture & Lifestyle Editor of Ikon London Magazine.
