IT was the South Coast’s answer to the Academy Awards.

A sold out crowd of 500 thespians, crew and theatre lovers gathered for Hampshire’s own Oscars, the Daily Echo Curtain Call Awards.

Special guest, legendary toe tapper, choreographer, entertainer and all round showbiz treasure Lionel Blair, opened the golden envelopes to reveal the winners in each of 37 categories.

SJ Theatre Productions scooped the coveted Production of the Year award for their version of the musical comedy La Cage Aux Folles, described by judges as deeply touching and particularly memorable.

Guests at the glitzy event, at Southampton’s Grand Harbour Hotel, tucked into a delicious three course dinner ahead of the ceremony, hosted by the Daily Echo’s Ian Murray and Lorelei Reddin.

Daily Echo:

They danced the night away to disco music from through the decades and a few songs from the shows.

Organiser Jo Richardson thanked celebrity guest Lionel Blair, the Daily Echo’s team of reviewers, staff at the Grand Harbour Hotel, Asda Totton for providing bubbly for the winners, Mike Andrews team for lighting and sound and sponsors Scenery Solutions.

The winners in full:

Best Newcomer Hannah Edwins. Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray. Music Theatre South.

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Vic Milne. Chris in All My Sons. Lyndhurst Drama and Musical Society.

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Jennifer Hampton. Agnes in Agnes of God. RAODS.

Best Supporting Actor in a Musical Adam Myers. Edna in Hairspray. Music Theatre South.

Best Supporting Actress in a Musical Charlene Hammer. Betty Rizzo in Grease. The Portsmouth Players.

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Comic Drama Charlie Hellard. Freddie in Oh, Clarence! Cheriton Players.

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Comic Drama Kae Yeboah. Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit. Southampton University Students Union Theatre Group.

Best Supporting Actor in a Youth Production Jack Shaw-Downie. Herr Shultz in Cabaret. Barton Peveril Sixth Form College.

Best Supporting Actress in a Youth Production Felicia Gray. Fräulein Schneider in Cabaret. Barton Peveril Sixth Form College.

Best Supporting Actor in a Shakespeare Play Danny Carter. Macduff in Macbeth. Southsea Shakespeare Actors.

Best Supporting Actress in a Shakespeare Play Charlotte Thomas. Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream. CCADS.

Best Lighting, Sound and Effects Rob King and team. Woyzeck. Titchfield Festival Theatre.

Best Choreographer Ruthie Pinion and Scarlett Sangster. Little Shop of Horrors. Southampton University Showstoppers.

Best Opera or Musical La Cage Aux Folles. SJ Theatre Productions.

This show excelled in every element. Production and performances were perfect.

Best Musical Director Daf Hughes. The Who's Tommy. CCADS.

Best Actor in a Drama John Souter. Stage manager in Our Town. Maskers Theatre Company.

Best Actress in a Drama Sally Goddard. Sabrina in The Talking Cure. CCADS.

Best Actor in a Musical Ian Steel. Albin in La Cage Aux Folles. SJ Theatre Productions.

Best Actress in a Musical Emma Harris. Julia Sullivan in The Wedding Singer. Southampton Musical Society.

Best Actor in a Comedy or Comic Drama Nick Longland. Elyot Chase in Private Lives. RAODS.

Best Actress in a Comedy or Comic Drama Lin Warner. Helen / Rosemary in Deckchairs. HumDrum.

Best Actor in a Youth Production Matt Fisher. Billy Crocker in Anything Goes. Stage One.

Best Actress in a Youth Production Ellie Jones. Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes. Stage One.

Best Actor in a Shakespeare Play Matt Gibbins. Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet. Southsea Shakespeare Actors.

Best Actress in a Shakespeare Play Zia Wheeldon. Goneril in King Lear. Titchfield Festival Theatre.

Best Performance in a Pantomime Ryan Bishop. Buttons in Cinderella. Otterbourne Village Hall Committee.

Best Pantomime Peter Pan the Panto. Collingwood RSC.

Best Set and Props Barbara Brown and David Freemantle (set) and Helena Roberts (props). Scrooge. Eastleigh Operatic and Musical Society.

Best Costumes Sue Tatnall and Heather Cousins. Ruddigore. Eastleigh Operatic and Musical Society.

Best Performance in an Opera Shaun Dodimead. Robin Oakapple in Ruddigore. Eastleigh Operatic and Musical Society.

Best Director of a Drama Joanna Iacovou. Our Town. Maskers Theatre Company.

Best Director of a Musical or Opera Sam Quested. La Cage Aux Folles. SJ Theatre Productions.

Best Director of a Comedy or Comic Drama Brian Stansbridge. The Importance of Being Earnest. Maskers Theatre Company.

Best Director of a Youth Production Johnny Carrington. Bang Out Of Order. Oasis Youth Theatre.

Best Director of a Shakespeare Play Neil Gregory-Reader. Macbeth. Southsea Shakespeare Actors.

Youth Ensemble Award Cabaret. Barton Peveril Sixth Form College.

Production of the Year sponsored by Scenery Solutions La Cage Aux Folles. SJ Theatre Productions.

Daily Echo: