Charlotte Thornton reviews Stars Lyttelton, presented by Shay Horay and friends as part of the Lyttelton Arts Festival, at The Loons, Saturday 11 July 2026.
TV used to be awesome. On ITV’s Stars in Their Eyes, a regular person would get awkwardly interviewed before disappearing into a cloud of smoke and re-emerging dressed as a famous pop star to perform one of their biggest hits. It was a perfect format, a pre-Susan Boyle fairytale of celebrity impersonation. The magic was in the stark contrast between the ordinary Brit and their extraordinary stage presence.
Shay Horay has brought this format, and its magic, to Lyttelton. His annual talent quest Stars Lyttelton in its fifth year, a well-oiled machine judging by the devoted fanbase and the fierce commitment of the seven contestants. The show is a perfect blend of campy celebrity culture and Kiwi good humour: a battle for glory where the trophy was engraved at Mister Minit Eastgate.
Horay emcees as his polyester-clad alter ego Keith Preene, a game show host straight out of the 1970s with all of the cheese and none of the sleaze. Though the onstage proceedings go off without a hitch, the sold-out crowd is less controlled. There’s near-constant chatter in the Loons theatre, but Preene makes managing the room look easy. He silences hecklers without remorse and makes prostate exam jokes like it never went out of style.
The original Stars in Their Eyes had the luxury of not being broadcast live. It looked like the makeover process only took two seconds in that smoke cloud. Stars Lyttelton keeps the pre-transformation interviews – and improves them greatly, thanks to Preene’s retro charisma – but re-orders them so that each makeover is done during a few minutes of banter. They’re effective and exciting every time.
The first competitor, UC student Zeta, delivers a spot-on Amy Winehouse in “Back to Black” and sets the bar (and the Clap-o-Meter) very high. A crowd favourite is Andy as Liam Gallagher of Oasis, who is deep in character from the moment he steps out in Gallagher’s parka until the very last moment of Stars Lyttelton. Andy makes a clever song choice with “Cigarettes & Alcohol,” a crowd-pleasing pub rock anthem which shows off Gallagher’s signature whine (“to spend your days in the sun-shee-yiiiiine”). Extra points for bringing three props: a beer, a tambourine, and an England flag. The beer is much more popular than the flag… World Cup or politics?
In another improvement from its TV inspiration, Stars Lyttelton uses a live band. Guitarist and musical director Jules Blewman assembles an all-star team of musicians: Dillastrate’s Henare Kaa on drums, bassist Jo Barus from Dave Dobbyn’s band, and last-minute keys replacement Tim Driver (also of Dillastrate) who learned all the songs in twelve hours. Supported by a terrific sound crew, the band hops confidently from genre to genre.
For instance, right after the soulful R&B of Winehouse, the band launches right into emo pop-punk. Taking on Fall Out Boy’s “Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down,” customer service rep Aria imitates frontman Patrick Stump, mutton chops and all. Aria’s performance shows why emo boys are such good drag king fodder – she nails their blend of nasality and sincerity.
After the break, we’re treated to what Preene later calls “one of the golden moments” in Stars Lyttelton’s five-year history. Rosie, the show’s first-ever pregnant contestant, performs Prince’s “Kiss” with scene-stealing charisma reminiscent of the great man himself. It’s unsurprising, and totally deserved, when Prince is named the victor – though “Kiss” faces stiff competition from the night’s penultimate contestant.
Student/cleaner Sass embodies Marianne Faithfull, the raspy-voiced dynamo known best as a Mick Jagger muse. Sass does her proud with her rendition of “Why D’ya Do It?”, Faithfull’s searing and profanity-laden shaming of an unfaithful partner. The song isn’t as well-known as the Prince or Winehouse tracks, but the audience is entranced. At times it feels as if Faithfull herself is up there, especially when Jo Barus joins on vocals in an electrifying interplay with Sass. I would have watched an entire set from this band with Sass on vocals. In fact, I request one.
Also delightful in the second half is Lyttelton local Char singing “Birds of a Feather” as Billie Eilish, nailing her swaggering physicality and delicate vocals. Due to illness, Stars Lyttelton is one performer short, so sound guy Jake Giles steps in to inhabit James Brown… by way of Elvis Presley. His “I Feel Good” features a superb “wooow!” and shows that Stars Lyttelton’s tribute to working people extends to its own crew.
Preene tells us early on that none of these performers have sung onstage before – and all of them go on to kill it. He deserves props for preparing the contestants so well. Each one performs a full song, in full costume, including an uncanny impersonation done in collaboration with a band. In the so-called real world, these are students, cleaners, sales reps, and teachers. In this world, they’re stars, cheered on as if it were the real Liam Gallagher, Marianne Faithfull, and Billie Eilish providing backing vocals for a pregnant Prince. Stars Lyttelton nurtures the creative spirit hidden inside all of us. It’s magic.
The Lyttelton Arts Festival continues until Sunday 19 July 2026. You can buy Keith Preene’s calendars and wall planners here.
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