A POPULAR performance from smash hit musical Wicked helped score 10-year-old Caitlin Stevens a win on day one at the Bathurst Eisteddfod yesterday.

Audiences were treated to a theatrical performance in section 34 at the 69th annual eisteddfod.

Caitlin’s award-winning performance of Popular was in the 11 and 12 years character song in costume accompanied solo, and she was very excited to win.

“I love it, I just can’t explain how much I love performing,” she said following the announcement she had topped the seven performers in her category.

“I practise 15 or 20 hours a week.”

The Year 5 student from The Assumption School has been involved in music, dancing and acting for three years.

The seasoned performer has also taken part in a number of Carillon Theatrical Society productions, and will also perform in Seussical with the Orange Theatre Company in October.

The young performer said she gets a little nervous before each performance, but focuses on her “sweet spots” to get her through.

“I have one either side of the room and in the middle, so I don’t have to look at people,” she said.

Maximilian Kendrick, 11, also took to the stage in section 34 yesterday and performed Seventy-Six Trombones.

Maximilian’s mother Julia Kendrick, who was in the audience for the show, said the eisteddfod will be a busy time for her as six of her seven children will be taking part in the event.

“It’s been a bit chaotic the last few weeks,” she said.

Mrs Kendrick said her children will take to the stage 31 times, which doesn’t include their choir performances.

“They all play instruments ... they’re also doing quartets and duos,” she said. “They are just all musical; it’s a lot of fun.”

The music section of the eisteddfod runs until Sunday.

Speech and drama performances will run from this Sunday until Wednesday, September 10.

Dancing sections will run from Monday, September 1 until Friday, September 12.