Genting Casino Westcliff has hosted Southend Mencap Showstoppers annual cabaret show, with the performance raising a record £1,800 for the charity.
A total of 130 guests attended the sold-out cabaret show, with ‘The Twisted Circus’ bringing together the colourful style of Barnum and Bailey, an American travelling circus company, and the more modern steampunk style circus performance.
Andy Pieri, deputy general manager at Genting Casino Westcliff, commented: “It’s always a pleasure to welcome members of the Southend Mencap Showstoppers to the casino for their annual performance. It is safe to say that this year’s event was as spectacular as any other.
“I wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who came down to the event and supported such a fantastic day, we’re already looking forward to next year’s event. It is great to be able to raise money for such a worthwhile cause.”
Holding their annual event at the Genting property since 2017, Southend Mencap Showstoppers allows students to come together and display the skills learnt throughout their weekly sessions.
This year Showstoppers have decided to donate the funds raised to the Mencap advocacy team, in order to give the Mencap students a voice and continue to help with Mencap students’ benefits, housing, education, employment and any other struggles and issues they may be experiencing.
Tammy Jones, assistant director at Southend Mencap Showstoppers, added: “The Showstoppers performance at the casino was incredible, and I’m really proud of every student at Showstoppers, along with all our wonderful volunteers and Mencap staff.
“A special thanks must go to all of the casino staff who have helped to make this event possible for the past three years. The hospitality the casino has shown each year has been remarkable and we are already looking forward to next year.”
Showstoppers is a daily drama and theatre performance provision for adults with learning disabilities run by Southend Mencap, a registered charity that aims to serve the interests and needs of children and adults with learning disabilities, as well as those of their parents and carers, in the south east of Essex.
