IT was the Academy Awards of Hampshire. Dubbed the Oscars of the South, the Daily Echo’s annual Curtain Call awards returned to Southampton’s De Vere Grand Harbour Hotel in all their glory. More than 400 performers, supporters and crew dressed in their finest for the glamorous occasion, which celebrates the very best in amateur theatre across the south. Star of Keeping Up Appearances and Last of the Summer Wine, actress Josephine Tewson was guest of honour at the annual event, hosted by editor Ian Murray and entertainments editor Lorelei Reddin. CCADS scooped the coveted production of the year award for their Aida, which judges described as a “clear winner”.

They said: “The thrust stage heightened the impact of the sensitively played love-scenes and the multi-talented supporting cast, top-notch |choreography, |costumes, sound, lighting and staging, backed by an excellent band, made this a show a clear winner.”

Following a drinks reception, guests enjoyed a three-course dinner and were entertained by magicians Marcus Bailey and Tony Hyams. During the awards, members of Music Theatre South, Studio Theatre Salisbury and Fareham Musical Society performed excerpts from some of |their shows to thunderous applause. Guests then took to the dance floor until the early hours.

 

The winners in full

Best newcomer: Jack Simmonds. Original score for Jack, Oasis Youth Theatre

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama: Henry Oaster. Uriah Heep in David Copperfield, One Off Productions

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama: Chris Baker. Tattymouse in Can You Hear The Music?, Maskers Theatre Company

Best Supporting Actor in a Musical: Steven Lilly. Lance/Skier/Jose/Thomas in Love off the Shelf, RAODS

Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Stephanie Amies. Adult Female in Spring Awakening, Showstoppers

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Comic Drama: Sean Ridley. Lawrence in Calendar Girls, CCADS

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Comic Drama: Meriel Shepherd of RAODS

Best Supporting Actor in a Youth Production: Joey Warne. Angel Dumont Schunard in Rent, Centrestage Productions Youth Theatre

Best Supporting Actress in a Youth Production: Winner: Lucy Baston. Katisha in The Mikado, Debut Youth Theatre

Best Supporting Actor in a Shakespeare Play: Randy Vince. Leonato in Much Ado About Nothing, Royal Navy Theatre Association

Best Supporting Actress in a Shakespeare Play: Jane Blatch-Gainey. Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing, Royal Navy Theatre Association

Best Lighting, Sound and Effects: Lee Stoddart, Sean Ridley and Ralph Pegden. Aida, CCADS

Best Choreographer: Dannie Spencer. Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Music Theatre South

Best Opera or Musical: Aida, CCADS

Best Musical Director: Alex ‘Teddy’ Clements and Daniella Gambier. Spring Awakening, Showstoppers

Best Actor in a Drama: Ian Fraser. Freddie in The Deep Blue Sea, Chesil Theatre

Best Actress in a Drama: Katy Watkins. Hester in The Deep Blue Sea, Chesil Theatre

Best Actor in a Musical: John-Paul McCrohon. Radames in Aida, CCADS

Best Actress in a Musical: Helen Stoddart. Aida in Aida, CCADS

Best Actor in a Comedy or Comic Drama: Jonathan Redwood. Basil in Fawlty Towers, Fareham Musical Society

Best Actress in a Comedy or Comic Drama: Amy Manwaring. May in Last Train To Nibroc, Titchfield Festival Theatre

Best Actor in a Youth Production: Tayler Davis. The Beast in Beauty and the Beast, Centrestage Productions Youth Theatre

Best Actress in a Youth Production: Katarina Smith and Trixie Hart. Alice and Little Alice in Alice Through a Broken Lens, Gantry Youth Theatre

Best Actor in a Shakespeare Play: Matt Gibbins. Malvolio in Twelfth Night, Southsea Shakespeare Actors

Best Actress in a Shakespeare Play: Emily Prince. Isabella in Measure For Measure, Studio Theatre Salisbury

Best Performance in a Pantomime: Jayne Blatch-Gainey. Rex the Hairy Dogfather in Cinderella, Collingwood RSC

Best Pantomime: Cinderella, Collingwood RSC

Best Set and Props: The Turn of the Screw, Studio Theatre Salisbury

Best Costumes: Meryl, Stu and Trevor Collins. The Producers, Southampton Musical Society

Best Performance in an Opera: Allison Bradley. Anna Glavari in The Merry Widow, Winchester Operatic Society

Best Director of a Drama: Lisbeth Rake. The Deep Blue Sea, Chesil Theatre

Best Director of a Musical or Opera: John-Paul McCrohon. Aida, CCADS

Best Director of a Comedy or Comic Drama: Becky Coultas. Calendar Girls, Waterside Theatre Company

Best Director of a Youth Production: Pete Harding. Beauty and the Beast, Centrestage Productions Youth Theatre

Best Director of a Shakespeare Play: Rob and Paula Bartlett. Twelfth Night. Southsea Shakespeare Actors

Youth Ensemble Award: Alice Through a Broken Lens, Gantry Youth Theatre

Production of the Year: Aida, CCADS