Carlow child stars will shine in tonight’s Late Late Toy Show

THE countdown is finally over as this year’s Late Late Toy Show is broadcast tonight on RTÉ 1 after weeks of waiting!

Children, and adults, have been getting their special PJs lined up alongside boxes of goodies to munch on as they watch the nation’s most beloved Christmas show tonight.

And Carlow has an extra special connection to annual toy fest with the very talented children from Spotlight Stage School being part of the wonderful opening and closing scenes.

Stuart O’Connor and Ciara Armstrong who run Spotlight have been working with their young crew of singers and dancers for weeks now, getting every move just perfect before it’s time for lights, camera, action tonight.

Over 50 youngsters from Spotlight are taking part in tonight’s show but the theme of the opening sequence was kept top secret until today! RTÉ revealed earlier that the beloved Grinch will be the main theme of the show tonight.

“It’s just amazing how the information doesn’t get out beforehand. The kids don’t say anything to anyone about it, they especially love keeping their secret in school. They love being the only ones who know what the opening of the show is about,” laughed Ciara.

Stuart has been working on the Toy Show for the past 17 years, bringing his own Spotlight Stars into the limelight as well as directing the other youngsters who perform during the show.

It takes weeks to get all the acts together and the attention to detail is crucial to make the best show possible. Stuart and Ciara’s Spotlight kids are also involved in the Rathwood Christmas experience in Tullow and the annual pantomime in the Olympia Theatre, Dublin so this is a hectic time of the year for them.

With just hours to go before the Toy Show tonight, they are as excited about it as they ever were.

“We still get excited about the Toy Show, it’s magical! It’s a big part of our Christmas, it’s part of our lives now. It’s a privilege to be part of it, it’s very special!” said Ciara.