THEY’RE the Academy Awards for amateur dramatics.

Thespians and backstage crew across Hampshire have been waiting with baited breath for the nominees of the 2013 Daily Echo Curtain Call Awards.

Today we can announce nominees in each of our 37 categories.

The cream of the South’s amateur theatre talent will come together early next year for a glitzy dinner dance where the winners of each category, including the coveted Production of the Year, will be revealed.

The glamorous occasion takes place at Southampton’s De Vere Grand Harbour Hotel on Friday January 31.

Tickets are selling fast, so to book yours, email Jo Richardson on jo.richardson@dailyecho.co.uk.

Best Newcomer:

Sam Muir, Constable Thomkins in Murdered to Death. The Worthy Players. A promising start as foil to the bumbling inspector.

Katie Downer, Lucinda in XIII, Peartree Players. Katie possesses a truly outstanding voice.

Tomorrow I’ll be Happy, a new play by Jonathan Harvey. CATS Youth Theatre. An intense and deeply affecting new work.

Samer Fugeira, A Double Bill. Maskers Theatre Company. Gives a beautifully poised acting debut as a harassed employee.

Luke Nicholls, Col Cathcart in Catch 22. SUSU. An impressive acting debut.

Ben O’Shaughnessy, Producer and Co-Director of Scorched. Titchfield Festival Theatre. Makes a hugely ambitious debut.

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama:

John Souter, Cardinal Wolsey in Anne Boleyn. The Maskers Theatre Company. Bearing and enunciation were perfect.

Sam Treharne, Cliff in Look Back in Anger. Bench Theatre. A wonderfully subtle performance.

Chris McKenzie, Nhad and Abou Tarek in Scorched. Titchfield Festival Theatre. Astonishing physical acting, by turns funny and threatening.

Sam Goodall, Birkinshaw in London Wall by Titchfield Festival Theatre. An irresistible performance as the lively office junior.

Adam Thomas, Peter in The Diary of Anne Frank. One Off Productions. Wonderful as Anne's ‘romantic interest’.

Peter Ward, Frank in Equus. SUSU. Surpasses the comic potential of his role as young Alan's bullying dad.

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama:

Sue Dashper, the HR Manager in A Double Bill. Maskers Theatre Company. A superbly suggestive performance as a nightmare colleague.

Georgie Gulliford, Miss Willesden In London Wall. Titchfield Festival Theatre. Gives a masterclass in character acting.

Kerry Butcher, Bertha in Jane Eyre. RAODS. Superbly expressive miming.

Sally Goddard, Lisette in Birdsong. CCADS. Particularly potent in the role.

Best Supporting Actor in a Musical:

Wayne Ings, Pance in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Stickman Productions. Exceptionally funny.

Andy Stubbles, Gabriel in The Nativity, Equip Community Arts Project. He gave a playful, Elvis-esque interpretation of the role.

Patrick Cahill as Collins in Rent, Showstoppers. A performance that evoked strong emotions as he connected with the audience.

Matt Sparkes as Lord Eveyln Oakley in Anything Goes, Musical Theatre Salisbury. Hilariously gauche.

Stephen Lilly as Leaf Coneybear in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Stickman Productions. His facial contortions were a joy to behold.

Adam Myers as William Barfee in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Stickman Productions. It was difficult to take your eyes off him.

Best Supporting Actress in a Musical:

Vikki-Jo Keens as Susan in (Title of Show), Music Theatre South. Slick and contrasting.

Kerry McCrohon as Joanne in Company, CCADS. Acerbic dialogue spit out with drunken vitriol.

Sally Goddard as April in Company, CCADS. A vacuous and needy performance brought the character to life.

Shannon Harris as Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd, Performing Arts Winchester. A magnificent performance.

Rebecca North as Peron’s Mistress in Evita, South Downe Musical Society. Her solo drew well-deserved applause.

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Comic Drama:

Graham Robertson, John in Calendar Girls. The Portchester Players. A moving portrayal as his health fails.

Martin Pettigrew, Bunting in Murdered to Death. The Worthy Players. An hilarious butler.

Philip De Grouchy as Lucifer in Immaculate, Southampton University Players. Visibly drooling over the delivery of his lines as the pantomime villain.

David Cradduck, Uncle Harvey in Season’s Greetings. Cheriton Players. Outstanding comic timing and delivery.

David Baldwin, Male Narrator in A Bolt From The Blue. Cheriton Players. Painted beautiful pictures with his story-telling.

Mike Cornter, Farmer/Dr Rogers/Martin in A Bolt From The Blue. Cheriton Players. Wonderful characterisation and accents in various guises.

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Comic Drama:

Karen Lindley, Karen in The Anniversary. Burdock Valley Players. A feisty, full-on performance.

Natalie Windebank, Ruby Birtle in When We Are Married. RAODS. Natalie was a delight as the wide eyed innocent, constantly amazed at the unfolding of the events around her.

Pauline Cornter, Mary Jones/receptionist/nurse/Kirsty in A Bolt From The Blue. Cheriton Players. Wonderful characterisation and accents in various guises.

Vara Williams, Mrs Shuttleworth in Home And Beauty. Chesil Theatre. Cameo gem as Victoria’s sage yet cynical mother.

Helen Gomm, Marie in Calendar Girls. West Meon Theatre. Portrayed brusque bureaucrat Marie with a vulnerable, softer side.

Joanna Warner-Smith, Sarah in Round And Round The Garden. Bishopstoke Players. Withering expressions and acid-sharp tongue as Norman’s acerbic sister-in-law.

Best Supporting Actor in a Youth Production:

Jack Shaw-Downie, Thuy in Miss Saigon. Footlights Productions Youth Theatre. A mix of sinister charm and quiet power.

George Lambourne, The Engineer in Miss Saigon. Footlights Youth Theatre. A wonderfully flamboyant strutting performance from George.

Owen Collick, The Engineer in Miss Saigon. Centrestage Productions Youth Theatre. Owen perfectly captured the amoral nature of the character.

Laurence Allen, Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls. Encore Youth Theatre. Laurence was tremendous with an irresistible performance of charm and bravado.

Jack Gouldbourne, The King in The Three Musketeers. Nuffield Youth Theatre. Jack stole every scene as the petulant boy King.

Best Supporting Actress in a Youth Production:

Josie Wilkins-Wren, Madame Thenardier in Les Miserables School Edition. Perins School. Scene stealing performances when on stage.

Freya Burnside, Eponine in Les Miserables. RAODS Youth. She capped her mature performance with show-stopping vocals.

Hannah Scanlan, Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls. Encore Youth Theatre. A multi-talented performer.

Katherine Evans, Mother Superior in The Sound of Music. Footlights Youth Theatre. Performed with great authority and skill.

Amelia Wright, Troppo in Salad Days. Debut Youth Theatre. A charming and heartfelt turn as a dog with skilfully displayed emotions.

Lily Wardale, Frenchy in Grease. Stage One. A performance of warmth and great ditzy charm.

Best Supporting Actor in a Shakespeare Play:

Ed Owen Jones, The Duke of Clarence in Richard III. Titchfield Festival Theatre. Gave a fine account of Richard’s murdered brother.

Richard Martin – Boyet in Love’s Labours Lost – Chesil Theatre. Demonstrated a fine grasp of the text.

Daniel Scott – Hastings & Richmond in Richard 111 – Titchfield Festival Theatre. Shrewdly created two contrasting characters.

Best Supporting Actress in a Shakespeare Play:

Laura Woodward , The French Princess in Henry V. Collingwood RSC. An enchantingly pert performance as the object of Henry’s affections.

Carly Brown, Viola/Cesario in Twelfth Night. University of Southampton Theatre Group. Excellent portrayals of both characters in this lively one-hour romp.

Meriel Shepherd, Vincentio in The Taming of the Shrew. RAODS. Swollen with indignant rage.

Best Lighting, Sound and Effects:

Joe Price and Jon Morgan for West Side Story, SJ Productions. Excellent lighting design and professional sound.

Ian Pratt, Martin Stevens, Ralph Pegden and Ben Dulake for Whistle Down the Wind, CCADS. Stunningly lit and great sound effects.

Tom Pell, Toby Isaacs, Dylan Morgan, David Aggus and Karolina Kacevaite. Catch 22, SUSU. Perfectly designed and combined to help create a highly effective show.

Rob King and Paddy Anstey. London Wall, Titchfield Festival Theatre. Cleverly helps create an increasingly brisk pace.

Tim Cox-Walker, Nick Longland and Lee Saunders. Jane Eyre, RAODS. Technical skill and artistry combine to create an absorbing atmosphere and add layers of meaning.

Tim Greathead, George Goulding, Alistair Faulkner and Fiona McWilliam. Lillies on the Land, Studio Theatre Salisbury.

Best Choreographer:

Christina Finn and Emily Try. West Side Story, SJ Theatre Productions. The choreographed fight scenes were superb and the dancing created the perfect atmosphere.

Natalie Thorn. Fame, Pocket Musicals. Superb ballet duos. Superbly choreographed numbers, encompassing various styles.

Lydia Thorne. Whistle Down the Wind, CCADS. A great dance sequence had the whole audience foot-tapping.

Natalie and Kerry Cleave. Summer Holiday, Fareham Musical Society. The cast were drilled to a very high standard.

Elle Wolf. The Boys in the Photograph, Music Theatre South. She expertly choreographed the ensemble through atmospheric football and fight scenes.

Lucy Kent. Equus, SUSU. Has trained a team of actors to become a convincing group of horses that play such a powerful part of this extraordinary drama.

Best Opera or Musical:

Company, CCADS. Innovitative direction, choreography and lighting and a characterful cast. This show offered it all.

West Side Story, SJ Theatre Productions. The production had all the drama and none of the amateur. Rent, Showstoppers. The chemistry between the characters and the first-class production elements dealt with the gnarly subject matters with sensitivity and aplomb.

The Last Five Years, SJ Productions. This production enhanced their growing reputation.

Evita, South Downe Musical Society. A tremendous show in every respect.

Whistle Down the Wind. CCADS. Top-notch performances from a cast of 46 (and a live snake!)

Best Musical Director:

Daniel Roy. West Side Story, SJ Productions. A note-perfect orchestra and expressive singing.

Alex Clements. (Title of Show), Music Theatre South. Comedy in addition to musical direction and keyboard playing from the multi-tasking Alex.

David Winters. Rent, Showstoppers. The talented band managed not to overpower the melodious vocals in this wholly sung show.

Alasdair MacNeill. The Last Five Years, SJ Productions. Excellent, note-perfect accompaniment.

Alan Pring. Evita, South Downe Musical Society. The show was complemented by his talented orchestra. Daf Hughes. Whistle Down The Wind, CCADS. Hit just the right level throughout.

Best Actor in a Drama:

Anthony von Roretz, Joss Merlyn in Jamaica Inn. Studio Theatre, Salisbury. Commanding as bully Joss, particularly his descent into drunken madness.

Bret Ware, Yossarian in Catch 22. SUSU. A near perfect performance as an ordinary man caught up in the madness of war.

Shaun Britton, Hec Hammond in London Wall. Titchfield Festival Theatre. A wonderfully comic and appealing performance .

Joel Jackson, Martin Dysart in Equus. SUSU. Perfectly reflects the conflicts of a psychiatrist.

Sam Dobson. Alan in Equus, SUSU. Faultless in his portrayal.

Neil Gwynne, Scaramouche in Scaramouche Jones. RAODS in association with Maskers. A breathtaking performance as he reprises the role.

Best Actress in a Drama:

Ruth Kibble, Anne Boleyn in Anne Boleyn. The Maskers Theatre Company. A performance full of conviction as she manipulated others.

Sally Hartley, Fay in Iron. Bench Theatre. A searing, cold eyed performance as the incarcerated Fay.

Connie Cha, Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire. Chesil Theatre. Gives an excellent performance - nervy, ever smiling and formidable.

Robin Hall, Alison Porter in Look Back in Anger. Bench Theatre. Brilliantly developed performance leading to the climactic moment.

Jessica Hawkins. Pat Milligan in London Wall. Titchfield Festival Theatre. An affecting sense of a youngster 'testing her wings' in the grown up world of work and love.

Jess Lind, Jane in Jane Eyre. RAODS. Excellent and memorable in this complex interpretation of Brontë's novel.

Best Actor in a Musical:

John-Paul McCrohon as Robert in Company, CCADS. He linked and sustained the story with an excellent performance.

Dave Simmons as Billy in Anything Goes, Musical Theatre Salisbury. Dave was quite the debonair leading man.

Raees Mahmood as Mark in Rent. Showstoppers. Understated and brilliant.

Steve Redding as Che in Evita, South Downe Musical Society. A stunning performance.

Chris Horn as Billy in Billy, Winchester Operatic Society. Effortlessly encompassing every aspect of his role.

Nick Rew as Schlomo in Fame, Pocket Theatre. His talent knows no bounds.

Best Actress in a Musical:

Kerry Butcher as Cathy in The Last Five Years, SJ Productions. She delivered her vocals with appropriate humour, passion or angst.

Shane Baluyos as Anita in West Side Story, SJ Theatre Productions. Raw emotion with a calculating twist.

Lauren Hillier as Reno in Anything Goes, Musical Theatre Salisbury. Gave just the right emphasis and oozed sex appeal.

Jacqueline Willis as Charity in Sweet Charity, Portsmouth Players. Single handedly carried the show.

Samantha Kelly as Evita in Evita, South Downe Musical Society. In her first leading role she gave a truly stunning performance.

Vikki Jo Keens as Mary in The Boys in the Photograph, Musical Theatre South. Truly exceptional as an actress and singer.

Best Actor in a Comedy or Comic Drama:

Nick Kearns, Inspector Pratt in Murdered to Death. The Worthy Players. A brilliant, bumbling performance.

Mick Keegan, Gordon in Neville’s Island. West Meon Theatre. Vividly brought character to life with full range of facial expressions, physicality and accents.

Josh Coates, Gus in Anorak Of Fire. Titchfield Festival Theatre. Naturalistic performance of great timing, quick-fire enthusiasm and animated delivery.

Tony Dart & Tony Doye, Willie Clark and Al Lewis in The Sunshine Boys. CCADS. Flamboyant comedy as the elderly characters tried to upstage each other combined with subtle physicalities of ageing infirmity.

Colin Carter, Norman in Round And Round The Garden. Bishopstoke Players. Larger-than-life enactment of ebullient Norman, even when inebriated, had the audience eating out of his hand.

Mathew Walker, Mossop in Hobson’s Choice. Lymington Players. Visual nuances and comic characterisation was mesmerising.

Best Actress in a Comedy or Comic Drama:

Viv Slingsby, Mum in The Anniversary. Burdock Valley Players. A harridan par-excellence.

Jessica Bone, Phoebe Reece in The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society Present A Christmas Carol. Collingwood RSC. Superb at interchanging accents, physicality, character and audience interaction.

Ruth Wagstaffe, Aunt Abby in Arsenic And Old Lace. Lymington Players. Outstanding with characterisation, physicality and faultless New York accent.

Georgie Gulliford, Susan in Bed Among The Lentils. Titchfield Festival Theatre. Exquisite comic timing and delivery of dialogue, painting vivid pictures with various voices and characters she brought to life.

Eleanor Marsden, Victoria in Home And Beauty. Chesil Theatre. Superb, engaging and infuriating.

Dawn Cresswell, Maggie in Hobson’s Choice. Lymington Players. Understated, subtle performance was captivating.

Best Actor in a Youth Production:

Matt Iddeson, Jean Valjean in Les Miserables School Edition. Perins School. A mature portrayal belying his age.

Gus Summers Crook, Billy Flynn in Chicago. Itchen Sixth Form College. A spell binding performance.

Matt Fisher, Curly in Oklahoma! Stage One. From the first notes of Oh what a beautiful mornin’, Matt’s was a commanding stage presence.

Joel Barney, D’Artagnan in The Three Musketeers. Nuffield Youth Theatre. Pitch perfect as the heroic and hot-headed wannabe musketeer.

Tim Harris, Darryl Van Horne in The Witches of Eastwick. Barton Peveril Sixth Form College. A charming and charismatic turn.

Ryan Bishop, Tony in West Side Story. Performing Arts Company. One of the best renditions of the role for a while.

Best Actress in a Youth Production:

Lauren Caffyn as Kim in Miss Saigon, Footlights Youth Theatre. Commanded the production from beginning to end.

Jade Nicholas, Grizabella in Cats, Centrestage Productions Youth Theatre. Jade had an extraordinary stage presence.

Ellie Jones, Laurey in Oklahoma! Stage One. A beautifully balanced performance of feistiness and fragility.

Chantene Hamilton, Judy in Too Much Punch For Judy. Oasis Youth Theatre. A performance of great heart and conviction as the mercurial Judy.

Sophie Barnard, Jane in Salad Days. Debut Youth Theatre. Perfectly captured the optimism and joie de vivre of her character.

Best Actor in a Shakespeare Play:

Rick Oakley, Richard III in Richard III. Titchfield Festival Theatre. A clearly deranged ‘bottled spider’.

Oscar Owen, Malvolio in Twelfth Night. Peter Symonds College. Pompous, highly camp and impressively agile.

Joseph Allen, Henry V in Henry V. Collingwood RSC. Excelled in the demanding central role.

Best Actress in a Shakespeare Play:

Miriam Roe as Katherine in The Taming of the Shrew, RAODS. Feisty and amusing.

Holly Mitchell, Miranda in The Tempest. Titchfield Festival Theatre. Spoke the verse beautifully clearly.

Vicky Wilson as Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew, RAODS. A proper chauvinistic bloke.

Best Performance in a Pantomime:

Nick Kearns, Cobweb Spider in The Snow Queen. The Worthy Players. His overacting gained the lion’s share of the laughs.

Maggie Allington as Bertha Gunn in Treasure Island, Bishopstoke Players. Perfect as the sun-crazed crone.

Matthew Ellison, Baron Grumbleguts in the King's New Clothes, RAODS. Frightening to comic at the flick of a switch.

Elle Wolf as Dick in Dick Whittington, Mountbatten Players. An excellent performance from a very talented actress.

Jenny Phillips, Queen Avarice in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Warsash Theatre Club. Dispensed evil at every turn and received her deserved quota of boos.

Patric Howe, Beast in Beauty And The Beast. Swanmore Amateur Dramatic Society. Truly menacing with an underlying vulnerability.

Megan Mullins, Keith the flying monkey in Wizard Of Oz The Panto. Collingwood RSC. Outstanding, wonderful stage presence and physicality.

Best Pantomime:

Cinderella. The Swanwick Pantomime Troupe (SPOTS). Original pantomime full of fun, frolics and corny old jokes!

Aladdin. Bench Theatre. Originally scripted pantomime was practically perfect.

A Christmas Carol. The Old Alresford Dramatic Society (TOADS). Heart-warming and entertaining panto version of a well-loved classic.

Wizard Of Oz The Panto. Collingwood RSC. All the well-loved characters, plus a few new ones, during a fun evening’s entertainment!

Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs. Otterbourne Village Hall Committee. A terrific evening of traditional yet fresh pantomime fun – community theatre at its best.

Best Set and Props: Jill Lloyd, The Anniversary. Burdock Valley Players. Use of stage extension to give full opportunity for players.

Michael Edwards. Murdered to Death. The Worthy Players. An imaginatively furnished country house set.

Richard Bennett and Julian Peckham for How To Succeed in Business, Ringwood Musical and Drama Society. Impressive sets included a working hoist and lift-doors.

Phil Moody, Adam Case and Kate Bailey, Miss Saigon. Footlights Youth Theatre. A brilliantly conceived set and use of effects with a helicopter scene that was beyond compare.

Alan James, Kevin Fraser and Andrew Bumfrey. Sleuth, Titchfield Festival Theatre. A very handsome set and lively props and effects which contribute a great deal to the theatrical games in this thriller.

Designer Alistair Faulkner and team. Going Postal, Studio Theatre. A highly ambitious set designed to provide maximum amusement and a variety of areas to perform in.

Best Costumes:

Shirley Lovell and Alison Woolford, The Snow Queen. The Worthy Players. Home-made, colourful and effective.

Lucie Penney, The Wizard of Oz. Hamble Players. Colourful and in keeping with the traditional story.

Mo Wills, Peggy Kemp and Kath Vicarey for Once Upon A Mattress, Waterside Musical Society. The fantastic array of hand-crafted costumes was inspirational.

Elizabeth Peacock and Julie Brombley for The Mikado, Fareham Musical Society. The lavish costumes contributed to a very pleasant evening.

Christine Lawrence, London Wall. Titchfield Festival Theatre. Convincing 1930s costume chosen with humour and affection for the era.

Jill Redston, Rae Owen and Pamela Hannan, Going Postal. Studio Theatre. Meticulously recreates the world of Terry Pratchett’s novel.

Best Performance in an Opera:

Jonathan Redwood as Koko in the Mikado, Fareham Musical Society. Great fun in a Fawlty Towers-esque way.

Natalie Thorn as Lady Sophy in Utopia Ltd, Pocket G&S. A star among a very talented cast.

Mark Ponsford as The Judge in Trial By Jury, Pocket G&S. He stole the show, perhaps taking Ronnie Corbett as his inspiration?

Matt Sturgeon as The Judge in Trial By Jury, Southampton Operatic Society. The second half slowly but surely became “The Matt Sturgeon Show” as he played the role for laughs.

Eddie Nias as Major-General in Pirates of Penzance, Andover Musical Theatre Company. Superb as the manic Major-General as well as taking (joint) credit for two very professional-looking sets, lighting and sound design.

Mark Ponsford as Scaphio and Shaun Dodimead as Phantis in Utopia Ltd, Pocket G&S. They had the audience rocking with laughter.

Best Director of a Drama:

Alan Ward, Look Back in Anger. Bench Theatre. Gets a great result from a largely inexperienced cast and shows a subtle, fresh understanding of this classic drama.

Ben O’Shaughnessy, London Wall. Titchfield Festival Theatre. Emphasised rhythm, movement, music and sound in this very different play.

Deborah Edgington, A Streetcar Named Desire. Chesil Theatre. Her forceful interpretation gives a fresh relevance to Tennessee Williams' powerful drama.

Lyn Butcher, The History Boys. Music Theatre South. A balanced approach brings out every facet of Alan Bennett's entertaining and absorbing play.

Robin Johnson and Mike Cottrell, Equus. SUSU Theatre Group. First rate direction created an extraordinary piece of amateur theatre that would not have been out of place on the professional stage.”

Ruben Sanchez-Garcia, Butterfly Kiss. Maskers Theatre Company. An ambitious choice for his directing debut, achieving several powerful effects in an enthralling show.

Best Director of a Musical or Opera:

Sam Quested. West Side Story, SJ Theatre Productions. He directed with dynamic flair.

Sam Quested. Last Five Years, SJ Theatre Productions. A memorable production.

Julie Brombley. The Mikado, Fareham Musical Society. Delivered a near perfect show.

John-Paul McCrohon. Evita, South Downe Musical Society. Predictably top-notch.

John-Paul McCrohon. Company, CCADS. This show offered it all, with its rich characters, quality vocals and great story-telling.

Chris Foxwell, Rent, Showstoppers. All the elements came together to deliver a fabulous show.

Best Director of a Comedy or Comic Drama:

David Woolford, Murdered to Death. The Worthy Players. Managed well the small stage and big cast.

Barbara Large, Season’s Greetings. Cheriton Players. A first-rate romp through the festive period.

Jane Blatch-Gainey. The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society Present ‘A Christmas Carol’. Collingwood RSC. Highly skilled direction seamlessly fused this together.

John-Paul McCrohon, The Sunshine Boys. CCADS. Outstanding choreography/direction elicited great performances.

Alec Walters, Home And Beauty. Chesil Theatre. First-rate direction ensured excellent pace, timing and character.

Mary Dawson, Calendar Girls. West Meon Theatre. Expertly breathed fresh life into this play with innovation.

Best Director of a Youth Production:

Marilitsa Alexiou, Les Miserables School Edition. Perins School. A tour-de-force, quite brilliant.

Pete Harding, Miss Saigon. Centrestage Productions Youth Theatre. A striking and well realised production showing directorial flair.

Jacqui Ivemy, Oklahoma! Stage One. Displays a sureness of touch.

Mark Wheeller, Too Much Punch for Judy. Oasis Youth Theatre. Mark brings his usual uncompromising style to the material.

Noël Jones, Guys and Dolls. Encore Youth Theatre. Showed great panache and wit in his handling of the material.

David Tatnall, Miss Saigon. Footlights Youth Theatre. A master of his craft.

Best Director of a Shakespeare Play:

Hannah Wood, Richard III. Titchfield Festival Theatre. An exciting account of Richard’s bloody rise and brief reign.

Steve Cosier and Matt Ellison, The Taming of the Shrew. RAODS. An interesting and unusual open-air production using an all-female cast.

Chris Blatch-Gainey, Henry V. Collingwood RSC. A pacey and well-disciplined production of Shakespeare’s most celebrated play about war.

Youth Ensemble Award:

Miss Saigon, Centrestage Productions Youth Theatre. A striking and imaginative production that packs a real emotional punch.

Miss Saigon, Footlights Youth Theatre. A barnstorming production of style, depth and power.

Oklahoma! Stage One. A production that beautifully handled the shifts in tone from light to dark with sure footed confidence.

Too Much Punch for Judy, Oasis Youth Theatre. A production of substance and impact, played with heart and conviction by its cast.

Guys and Dolls, Encore Youth Theatre. A clever and witty production enlivened by excellent performances and a stunning sense of style.

Production of the Year:

The Last Five Years, SJ Productions. A stunning all-rounder that enhanced the reputation of this fledgling company.

West Side Story, SJ Productions. From the performers to the production elements, this had it all in abundance.

Miss Saigon, Footlights Youth Theatre. This production was an object lesson in how to press every button and hit the spot.

Scorched, Titchfield Festival Theatre. An astonishing achievement, extending the limits of amateur theatre. Perfectly realised.

Catch 22, SUSU. A very entertaining production that captures the humour and seriousness of Joseph Heller's novel, with excellent acting and stage craft in all areas.

Equus, SUSU. An extraordinary piece of amateur theatre.