Curtain Call Nominations 2008

And now Scene South can reveal in full all the nominations.

The Daily Echo’s team of curtain call reviewers have travelled the length and breadth of the county – and further afield – seeking out the very best in local amateur dramatics.

They teamed up this week to argue the case for all their favourite shows from 2007 in the genres of drama, musical and opera, comedy and comic drama, youth productions and Shakespeare plays.

There are five nominations for the coveted production of the year award.

The winners will be announced at a glittering ceremony at Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium on Friday, January 30. For tickets call Jo Richardson on 023 8042 4715 or e-mail jo.richardson@dailyecho.co.uk.

The nominations are as follows.

Best Newcomer
Adam Graham. Performing Arts Winchester, Jekyll and Hyde. His directorial debut Jekyll and Hyde was a massive triumph.

Sam Allen. Spring Awakening. Solent University Performing Arts. Has the gift of conveying layers of meaning without any telegraphing or fuss.

Martin McBride. Director of Ghosts From a Perfect Place, Bench Theatre. A daring choice for his debut show. Very well executed.

Oasis Youth Theatre (Lord’s Hill). This new company, launched with the new Oasis Academy, set out its stall as an exciting, innovative and challenging enterprise and a real star in the world of youth drama with its first production, a retelling of the Red Riding Hood story.

Frances Jenner. Allo Allo. Lymington Players. Great stage presence and versatility.

Jevan McAuley. Salisbury Amateur Operatic Society. Pirates of Penzance. He made his debut on stage and was fantastic in the role of Frederic.

Nicola Sims. Waterside Musical Society. Brigadoon. Nicola brought rare grace and composure to the role of Fiona.

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama
Michael Lewis. My Boy Jack. Chesil Theatre. A rousing depiction of the trauma of shell shock.

David Cradduck. The Ghost Train. Cheriton Players. Plausible level-headed character in a crisis.

Tim Bates. Far From the Madding Crowd. Swanmore Amateur Dramatic Society. A chilling presence throughout, which gave a kind of dread to his smiling appearance on stage.

Patric Howe. Far From the Madding Crowd. Swanmore Amateur Dramatic Society. An unsteady, obsessive characterisation.

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama
Pauline Howson. Playhouse Creatures. Chesil Theatre. Gives excellent support in an earthy performance.

Jo Knox Kennedy. Night Must Fall. Upham Players. Striking stage presence. She successfully conveyed her character’s emotional struggles.

Hazel Gibbs. A Murder is Announced. Lymington Players. Simply wonderful as the loveable but confused Bunny.

Donna Holiday. The Ghost Train. Cheriton Players. A commanding presence in the second act.

Francesca McCohon. Bench Theatre. Bronte. A fine interpretation of a passionate woman.

Lesley Wilson. Far From the Madding Crowd. Swanmore Amateur Dramatic Society. A delightfully flirtatious cameo.

Best Supporting Actor in a Musical
David Tatnall. Southampton Operatic Society. Oklahoma! David impressed as a shambling and sinister Jed after stepping in at the eleventh hour.

David Rayner. Southampton Operatic Society. Ruddigore. David gave a deliciously comic turn as Sir Despard Murgatoyd.

Neil Woods. RAODS. Sweet Charity. The lift scene really showed off his acting talents.

Rick Bremner. Winchester Operatic Society. Carousel. A dark and convincing performance.

Peter Bell. Showstoppers. The Thing About Men. Played numerous characters and provided much hilarity.

Hugh Morris. West Meon and Riverside Players. Salad Days. A superbly acted character.

Best Supporting Actress in a Musical
Maria Candy. Andover Musical and Operatic Society. Thoroughly Modern Millie. A good contrast as the sugar-sweet friend.

Frances Stirrup. Winchester Operatic Society. Carousel. A touching performance.

Amanda Peaty. Waterside Musical Society. Brigadoon. Made the most of her comic songs.

Sophie Croysdill. West Meon and Riverside Players. Salad Days. A delicious performance.

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Comic Drama
Noel Thorpe-Tracey. Chesil Theatre. Charley’s Aunt. Noel made a strong impression as the avaricious guardian Stephen Spettigue.

Jerry Rawlings. Innuendo Theatre Group. Once a Catholic. Jerry gave a wonderful comic turn as the perpetually wrong footed Father Mullarkey.

Mat Robinson. RAODS. Third Week in August. Mat’s sad, believable and very funny performance as the camp bore Neville was one of the highlights of the production.

Frank Allen. RAODS. Murdered to Death. The bumbling colonel with a deep secret.

Mark Rodgers. Allo Allo. Warsash Theatre Club. Outstanding; every word and gesture perfectly captured the effeminate nature of Lieutenant Gruber.

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Comic Drama
Sarah Miatt. Innuendo Theatre Group. Once A Catholic. Sarah gave a wonderfully comic performance as Mother Peter.

Meriel Shepherd. RAODS. Third Week in August. Meriel’s Mary was a perfectly round comic creation, all over enunciation and petty snobbery.

Georgie Gulliford. Clochemerle. Titchfield Festival Theatre. Comprehensive performance, totally in character as the town’s resident busybody.

Helen Hodrien. Waterside Theatre Company. Daisy Pulls It Off. A wide-eyed and enthusiastic eccentric.

Pauline Cornter. Habeas Corpus. Cheriton Players. The down to earth cleaning lady whose explanations, as she manoeuvred the hoover and characters, augmented the action superbly.

Best Supporting Actor in a Youth Production
Sam Chisholm. Centrestage Youth Theatre. We Will Rock You. Sam made the role of Pop his own, delivering the Elton lines with great wit and aplomb.

Will Pickering. Encore Youth Theatre. Thoroughly Modern Millie. Will provided the comic highlights of the evening with his wickedly funny turn as Mrs Meers.

Jake Willis. Debut Youth Theatre. Pirates of Penzance. Wonderfully camp with a great stage presence.

Simon Humphris. Buddy. Performing Arts Company. Good stage presence and an animated performance.

Richard Spencer. Little Shop of Horrors. Eastleigh Operatic and Musical Society Juniors. Versatile in all his many parts in this show.

Best Supporting Actress in a Youth Production
Hannah Williams. Encore Youth Theatre. Thoroughly Modern Millie. Hannah was outstanding in the role of Muzzy Van Hossmore, using her fabulous voice to great effect.

Elizabeth Gilmour. RAODS Youth Theatre. Alice in Wonderland. Elizabeth showed great stage presence and charmed as the ever dozing dormouse.

Sophia Hannides. High School Musical. Centrestage Productions Youth Theatre. Lovely understated performance.

Becky Milne. Buddy. Performing Arts Company. Warm personality – engaged well with the audience.

Best Supporting Actor in a Shakespeare Play
Nick Downes. Southsea Shakespeare Actors. Hamlet. Bumbling but endearing as Polonius.

Kevin Fraser. Titchfield Festival Theatre. Measure for Measure. Kevin, as Pompey, was a bizarre white faced fool.

Hugh Morris. West Meon Players. A Midsummer Night’s Dream. A staid but elegant fairy King.

Best Supporting Actress in a Shakespeare Play
Hannah Scammell. Titchfield Festival Theatre. Measure for Measure. Hannah was the epitome of moral courage as Isabella.

Joanna Russell. Maskers Theatre Company. The Comedy of Errors. A wonderfully confused bookworm.

Clare Blackburn. Titchfield Festival Theatre. The Tempest. A bouncing and balletic revelation as Ariel.

Best Lighting, Sound and Effects
David James. Chesil Theatre. Nobody’s Perfect. The excellent use of light complemented and enhanced the production.

Dave Pugh. RicNic Productions. Calamity Jane. The beautiful use of lighting and the effects added greatly to the great night’s entertainment.

Danny Sturrock. Oaklands Youth Theatre. Graham, the World’s Fastest Blindman. Faultless use of a full range of convincing effects.

Jim Adamson. One Off Productions. Death of a Salesman. Good balance and clarity of sound.

Elliot Carmichael. Performing Arts Winchester. Jekyll and Hyde. Special effects and mood lighting complimented the scenes.

Best Choreographer
Ellen Hunter. RicNic Productions. Calamity Jane. Ellen’s production numbers utilised the verve and energy of the youthful cast to perfection.

Chris Magdziarz. Southampton Musical Society. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Drew good performances from all the dancers.

Kim Macjzak. Fareham Musical Society. Silver. A superb medley of song and dance, co-ordinated and stylish.

Dancewise Studios. Musicality. The great choreography you’d expect from a renowned dance school.

Sarah Curtis. Fareham Musical Society. 42nd Street. Astoundingly good with complex tap numbers.

Max Bullough and Suzanne Hall. Winchester Operatic Society. The Sorcerer. Dancing with zimmer frames made an interesting change!

Sarah Baggett. Performing Arts Winchester. Jekyll and Hyde. Excellent and complex group numbers.

Best Opera or Musical
Centrestage Youth Theatre. We Will Rock You. The outstanding youth musical production of the year, the sum of all its parts.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Southampton Musical Society. A show full of vitality that never flagged with strong performances.

Jekyll and Hyde. Performing Arts Winchester. A powerful show, well thought out and with sometimes shocking direction. Exceptional!

Best Musical Director
Paul Wyse. Hyperactors Theatre Company. Little Shop of Horrors. Paul gave an object lesson in how to produce a great musical performance.

Ed Clarke. RicNic Productions. Calamity Jane. The verve and energy of the musical performance, under the leadership of Ed, carried the audience along on a very enjoyable journey.

John Sparrow. Southampton Musical Society. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Made sure everyone was on-song. The orchestra were spot on and the company rose to the occasion.

Roland Wright. Studio Theatre. Brassed Off. The cast were taught to play instruments in the Brass Band and the sound was superb. John Dempster. Salisbury Amateur Operatic Society. The Pirates of Penzance. Super musical direction in this galloping performance.

Martin Paterson. Winchester Operatic Society. The Sorcerer. His musical touch was spot on with the excellence curtain callers have come to expect from his direction.

Best Actor in a Drama
Mark Wakeman. Ghosts From a Perfect Place. Bench Theatre. Creates powerful moments with his characters eruptions into violence.

Jonathan Gregory. My Boy Jack. Chesil Theatre. An outstanding performance, conveying the affection of a loving yet demanding father.

Taff Wollaston. TFG Theatre Group. The Falling Sky. Excellent portrayal of the most diverse emotions, different physicalities and wonderfully haunting a cappella laments.

Michael Clay. Far From The Madding Crowd. Swanmore Amateur Dramatic Society. Gives a stoical portrayal of Gabriel which brilliant contrasts with Bathsheba’s tense characterisation.

Best Actress in a Drama
Vara Williams. Playhouse Creatures. Chesil Theatre. Effective as a restoration Lady Macbeth, touching when her character is seen past her prime.

Lynda Parker. Night Must Fall. Upham Players. Excellent as the wheelchair bound lady, self indulgent and bullying but easily led.

Jane Harding. My Boy Jack. Chesil Theatre. Highly effective portrait of a grieving mother.

Rita Bell. A Murder is Announced. Lymington Players. A classic, archetypal Miss Marple.

Kerry McCrohorn. One Off Productions. Death of a Salesman. Great insight in this portrayal of a loyal wife.

Ria Bullard. Far From the Madding Crowd. Swanmore Amateur Dramatic Society. A fine performance of the increasing guilt and internal conflict.

Best Actor in a Musical
Joseph Wright. Southampton Operatic Society. Oklahoma! Joseph as Curly was a commanding lead figure, drawing the eye whenever he was on stage.

Paul Rogers. Southampton Musical Society. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Sang and acted with full conviction.

Iain Matley. Jekyll and Hyde. Performing Arts Winchester. He toyed with the audience’s emotions as he flicked between good and evil.

Iain Steel. Winchester Operatic Society. Carousel. A pithy performance.

James Quinn. Andover Musical and Operatic Society. Thoroughly Modern Millie. Developed his character and relationships well.

Mike Merrett. Showstoppers. The Thing About Men. Vivid characterisation and his vindictive charade draws the audience in.

Best Actress in a Musical
Daisy Nicholls. RicNic Productions. Calamity Jane. This was a star turn by Daisy as a suitably feisty and tomboyish Calamity Jane.

Caryn Drake. Southampton Musical Society. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Sang and danced to great effect showing sympathy, vitality and determination.

Becky Milne. Eastleigh Operatic and Musical Society. Oliver. A feisty and heartfelt performance.

Louise Ellison. Andover Musical and Operatic Society. Thoroughly Modern Millie. High calibre acting and a beautiful voice.

Kerry-Jayne Lilly. Winchester Operatic Society. Carousel. Innocent and trusting, adding great pathos.

Sarah Murray. Fareham Musical Society. 42nd Street. She puts on a winning performance as the wide-eyed chorus newcomer.

Best Actor in a Comedy or Comic Drama
Johnny Hearn. Maskers Theatre Company. An Ideal Husband. Johnny gave a towering performance and the play lost some of its sparkle whenever he was off stage.

Steve Clark. Maskers Theatre Company. Educating Rita. Steve’s Frank was a triumphant creation, skilfully drawing out the wit and sadness of the character.

Matthew Ellison. RAODS. Talking Heads (A Chip in the Sugar). Matthew gave a perfectly judged performance as Graham, getting the cadence of the Alan Bennett speech spot on.

Neil Brookes. Allo Allo. Lymington Players. Outstanding with excellent comic timing and mannerisms.

Mike Standing. MDG Players. You’re Only Young Twice. Growing old disgracefully and irrepressibly – to the delight of the audience.

Vic Milne. Play It Again Sam, Lyndhurst Drama and Musical Society. A superb creation of a character who swings from itchy nervousness to grandiose imaginings.

Best Actress in a Comedy or Comic Drama
Joanna Iacovou. Maskers Theatre Company. Educating Rita. Joanna was compelling as Rita, at turns charming, witty and uncertain.

Beverley Siddle. RAODS. Talking Heads (A Cream Cracker under the Settee). Beverley was utterly convincing at the proud Vera, drawing the audience into her tale with consummate skill.

Glenda Hayles. St Cross Drama Group. Haywire. Flawless as the curmudgeonly matriarch with a wicked sense of humour. Magnificient.

Hilary Causey. Lyndhurst Drama and Musical Society. Heatstroke. Strong characterisation with wonderfully animated body language and facial expressions.

Pamela Best. Lee Players. Laying the Ghost. Excellent characterisation of the eccentric psychic, particularly when communicating with the spirits!

Irene Bourne. MDG Players. You’re Only Young Twice. The perfect straight woman against the more overt comic characters, great timing and reactions.

Best Actor in a Youth Production
Kiean Jones. Centrestage Youth Theatre. We Will Rock You. Kiean has star quality, a fabulous voice and a compelling stage presence.

Chris Morgan. Eastleigh Operatic and Musical Society Junior Section. My Fair Lady. Chris as Professor Higgins was a triumph of great comic timing and stage presence.

Douglas Revolta. Encore Youth Theatre. Thoroughly Modern Millie. Douglas exuded charm and charisma, reminiscent of a young Fred Astaire, in the role of Jimmy Smith.

Paul Ainsworth. Hampshire Youth Theatre. The Canterbury Tales. Paul, as one of the MCs, anchored the piece with confidence, wit and a great deal of charm.

Anthony Jennings. Oaklands Youth Theatre. Suicide.dot.com. Anthony was a stand out in a fabulous cast, handling the dual role of father and laddish best friend with superb confidence.

Steven Lilly. Little Shop of Horrors. Eastleigh Operatic and Musical Society Juniors. A consistent and engaging performance.

Best Actress in a Youth Production
Frankie Bunce. Centrestage Youth Theatre. We Will Rock You. Frankie lit up the stage whenever she appeared with a spell binding performance. Brilliantly engaging.

Jane Barrow. Encore Youth Theatre. Thoroughly Modern Millie. Jane was charming and a star in the making in the role of Millie Dillimount.

Faye Timby. Hampshire Youth Theatre. The Canterbury Tales. Faye gave a winningly witty and naïve performance as one of the anchors of the production.

Daisy Nicholls. RicNic Productions. Calamity Jane. This was a star turn by Daisy as a suitably feisty and tomboyish Calamity Jane.

Emma Bailey. Little Shop of Horrors. Eastleigh Operatic and Musical Society Juniors. Sympathetically played the Skid Row heroine. Lovely voice.

Best Actor in a Shakespeare Play
Patric Howe. Southsea Shakespeare Actors. Hamlet. Patric had a commanding presence. He was cunning and divisive as Claudius.

Lee Ruttle. Titchfield Festival Theatre. Measure For Measure. A strong and introspective Angelo.

Mick Keegan. West Meon Players. A Midsummer Night’s Dream. A staggering show off. Best Actress in a Shakespeare Play Una Le Meur. West Meon Players. A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Una was disdainful and dominating as Titania.

Fi Beardall. West Meon Players. A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Strong and clear characterisation.

Fran Lewis. Southsea Shakespeare Actors. Fran, as Hamlet in Hamlet, was a disaffected knife-wielding hoodie.

Best Performance in a Pantomime
Jasper Bone. Collingwood RSC. Jack and the Beanstalk. Magnificient physicality and flexibility; created a wonderfully sleazy and shady villain.

Simon Humphris. The Performing Arts Company. Beauty and the Beast. Outstanding physicality, slap-stick, and comic timing; Simon only had to appear on stage to have the audience eating out of his hand.

Steven Lilly. RAODS. Dick Whittington. Full rapport with the audience.

Sarah Bishop. Beauty and the Beast. Otterbourne Village Hall Committee. Beautiful voiced lead with a never ending smile.

Paul Warne. Frankenstein. Hamble Players. Played Frank N Stein with aplomb and glee, outstanding.

Best Pantomime
Jack and the Beanstalk. Collingwood RSC. Sharp pace, good characters and caricatures, ensuring slick comic timing and good use of space, colourful costumes and effects; all combined to provide a thoroughly entertaining pantomime.

The Panto of the Opera. Colbury and Ashurst Theatrical Society. Traditional yet full of innovation.

Beauty and the Beast. Otterbourne Village Hall Committee. This show has it all!

Frankenstein. Hamble Players. A panto with a difference with a glorious gothic jaunt which had the audience helpless with laughter.

Dick Whittington. The Dalian Players. Gorgeous costumes, delightful scenery and above all wonderful audience interaction and a marvellous sense of fun.

Best Set and Props
Joe Wilcox. Dynamo Youth Theatre. West Side Story. A stand out feature in the production, which played a dynamic part in the action.

Chris Payne. Hyperactors Theatre Company. Little Shop of Horrors. An impressive set making use of a limited space and a plant that was a triumph of design and execution.

Laura Parker. RAODS Youth. Alice in Wonderland. The beautifully designed set helped put the "wonder" into Wonderland.

Heather Whitham and Wayne Ings. Murdered to Death. RAODS. A strong contender. A magnificiently detailed set recreating the drawing room set of a manor house.

Alan Vicarey. Waterside Theatre Company. Daisy Pulls It Off. Flair and function combined.

Dalian Players. Curtain Up on Murder. In the best tradition of community theatre, the set was constructed by the Players themselves, and was excellent and exactly right for the show.

Best Costumes
Rosemaria Harding. Centrestage Youth Theatre. We Will Rock You. Costumed with flair and great attention to detail, adding to the overall quality of the evening’s entertainment.

Susan Beckett. Encore Youth Theatre. Thoroughly Modern Millie. A splendidly dressed production illustrating the great production values and attention to detail which made the evening a triumph.

Joyce Jones and Julie Whale. Otterbourne Village Hall Committee. 2008 Summer Variety Show. Astonishing in number, design and sparkle.

Pauline King. The Frog Prince. Woolston Players. Beautifully created costumes helped make this a lively and colourful show.

Joyce Slaughter. Jack and the Beanstalk. Collingwood RSC. Really bright and colourful story- book costumes perfect for each character. The dame’s costume told the jokes before she did.

Best Performance in an Opera
Abigail Miller. Eastleigh Operatic and Musical Society. HMS Pinafore. Portrayed the sassy, sly Buttercup well, singing her lines beautifully.

Annie Masters. Southampton Operatic Society. Ruddigore. Annie interacted well as feisty Rose and sang with passion.

Alison Vincent. Eastleigh Operatic and Musical Society. HMS Pinafore. Made the audience squirm and chuckle in equal measures.

Eleanor Moreton. Southampton Operatic Society. Ruddigore. An interesting take on the role and well executed.

Hazel Burrows. The Maskers Theatre Company. The Beggar’s Opera. First class acting skills.

Katie Hickson. Winchester Operatic Society. The Sorcerer. Sang and acted with warmth and artistry.

Best Director of a Drama
Martin McBride. Ghosts From a Perfect Place. Bench Theatre. Brought out powerful performances from his cast.

Damian Wakelin. Crave. Bench Theatre. Enabled his cast to make the rapid transitions of character and feeling required.

Norma York. My Boy Jack. Chesil Theatre. Well judged direction turned what could have been a depressing evening into something special.

Danny Sturrock. Oaklands Youth Theatre. Suicide.dot.com. Danny draws from his youthful cast of four a mature, sensitive and beautifully acted production; an outstanding piece of work.

Becky James. TFG Theatre Group. The Dresser. Ensured excellent characterisations, while periods of stillness as well as intentional movement ensured the play had time to breathe without dragging.

Jan Miller. Far from the Madding Crowd. Swanmore Amateur Dramatic Society. A sharp, thought-provoking and utterly flawless production.

Best Director of a Musical or Opera
Malcolm Clarke. Southampton Musical Society. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Used the all-round ability and enthusiasm of the cast to great effect.

Adam Graham. Performing Arts Winchester. Jekyll and Hyde. A powerful show with well thought out and sometimes shocking direction.

John Barlow. Winchester Operatic Society. Carousel. An all round enjoyable production.

Shaun Dodimead. Eastleigh Operatic and Musical Society. HMS Pinafore. A clever and daring concept.

Ken Robertson-Scott. Salisbury Amateur Operatic Society. The Pirates of Penzance. The director created distinct groups who worked well together.

Max Bullough. Winchester Operatic Society. The Sorcerer. Shows how creative direction can brilliantly adapt Gilbert and Sullivan to modern dress and staging.

Best Director of a Comedy / Comic Drama
Ken Hann. Maskers Theatre Company. Educating Rita. Under Ken’s assured direction the production teased the best of the humorous interplay and repartee between the two characters.

Neil Gwynne. RAODS. Talking Heads. Neil produces a double whammy with a second exemplary production of two of Alan Bennett’s monologues.

Sue Cornwell. Lymington Players. Allo Allo. Attention to staging and multiple action when all the characters were on stage in the café; good comic touches.

Alison Standing. MDG Players. You’re Only Young Twice. Excellent casting, ensuring sharp characterisations and great comic timing.

Chris Blatch-Gainey. Men at Arms. Really Necessary Travelling Actors. Expert direction elicited distinct and sustained characterisations from every cast member.

Brian Buck. Play It Again Sam. Lyndhurst Drama and Musical Society. Gave us a show that will replay in our minds for a long time to come.

Bob Blake. Habeas Corpus. Cheriton Players. With spot on comedy timing, excellent props, lighting and sound effects, the whole is an artistic coup.

Best Director of a Youth Production
Pete Harding. Centrestage Productions Youth Theatre. We Will Rock You. Pete deserves credit for creating the outstanding youth musical production of the year.

Sally Dwyer. Hyperactors Theatre Company. Little Shop of Horrors. Sally has created a mini wonder with this tightly paced, immensely enjoyable production.

Danny Sturrock. Oaklands Youth Theatre. Suicide.dot.com. Danny draws from his youthful cast of four a mature, sensitive and beautifully acted production; an exemplary piece of work.

Felix Legge. RicNic Productions. Calamity Jane. Felix greatly impressed with his maturity of vision and his assured handling of the material.

Mark Wheeller. Oaklands Youth Theatre. Graham – the World’s Fastest Blindman. Fine use of improvisation and imagination.

Best Director of a Shakespeare Play
Neil Gregory-Reader. Southsea Shakespeare Actors. Hamlet. An absorbing production with some riveting dramatic moments Mary Dawson. West Meon Players. A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Moments of stunning creativity and top quality comic acting.

Brian Stansbridge. Maskers Theatre Company. The Comedy of Errors. Colourful, physical and frantic.

Youth Ensemble Award
Centrestage Youth Theatre. We Will Rock You. The outstanding youth musical production of the year and a brilliant example of ensemble work.

Hyperactors Theatre Company. Little Shop of Horrors. A superb example of ensemble work, blessed with uniformly strong performances and good attention to character detail.

Oaklands Youth Theatre. Suicide.dot.com. The youth drama of the year, an emotionally honest piece delivered with bravado and immense skill by its small cast.

RicNic Productions. Calamity Jane. Energetic, whip crackin’ entertainment which carried the audience along in its wake.

Production of the Year
We Will Rock You. Centrestage Youth Theatre. The outstanding youth musical production of the year which is the sum of all its parts.

Suicide.dot.com. Oaklands Youth Theatre. The best youth drama of the year: a mature, sensitive and beautifully acted piece.

Men at Arms. Really Necessary Travelling Actors. From the outset, the audience was immersed in Pratchett’s Discworld with expert direction and first-rate performances.

Jekyll and Hyde. Performing Arts Winchester. Everything was right about this complex production.

Far From The Madding Crowd. Swanmore Amateur Dramatic Society. Couldn’t fault it and actually gave me a new insight into Hardy’s novel.