May 28 2023, Cinderella Trophy News
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Taunton’s Wayfarers Pantomime Society took the top honour at the glitzy Cinderella Trophy Awards ceremony on Saturday. In a tremendous evening for the society their production of panto favourite Sleeping Beauty also scooped awards for Best Chorus, Best Junior Group, Best Dance, Best Comedic Scene, Best Female Singer, Best Goody Supernatural, Best Special Effects, and Best Theatre Stage Management as well as a special adjudicators award for their most fantastic Ghost!
The runners-up for the Cinderella Trophy were Burnham District Pantomime Society whose production of Dick Whittington delighted the panel. It was also a successful evening for Street-based Moorlight Theatre Productions who picked up a total of six awards.
Top of the village societies and winning the Spotlight Shield were Tatworth Amateur Pantomime Society, who also won the Pint Pot Award (for a big show on a small stage). Somerton Dramatic Society were Spotlight Shield runners-up.
It truly was a glamorous evening at Taunton Rugby club as the good folk of Somerset’s panto world donned their glad rags and headed to the venue which looked resplendent with flowers, balloons, a magnificent stage backdrop and a sparkling Cinderella carriage converting the room into a veritable feast of festive fun. Nothing is too over the top for the people of panto! And while it is fair to say that not everything ran smoothly on the night – there were one or two glitches with the sound and the food ran out before everyone had been served – Somerset’s pantomime community showed their real heart and soul as they cheered, whooped and clapped along in support of fellow performers and competition organisers alike despite those problems.
Moderator Nigel Ford and Coordinator Pam Price had worked for weeks to make this gathering, the first for four years because of the Covid hiatus, a success and Graham Reeks at the sound desk provided a wonderful mix of music to greet each award winner. Pam apologised for the problems with catering and promised a refund for anyone who had missed out. But no matter! There was a superb set of excerpts from four of this year’s shows providing the half time cabaret, and a few sound issues only served to encourage Somerset’s wonderful panto people to wholehearted and vociferously show their support for the performers. It was both heart-warming and fully well deserved as the performers were stoic and, quite frankly, brilliant!
The whole team of adjudicators were in attendance and they each took their turn at presenting a set of awards. There was even time for a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday for adjudicator and SFD chair Sam Allen on the occasion of his seventieth!
The prestigious Dame of the Year Trophy went to David Titchner of Moorlight. His portrayal of Dame Dotty Dimple in Jack and the Beanstalk was, in the words of adjudicator Sam Allen, “exactly the sort of pantomime dame I really like: really funny, great rapport with the audience and warm and caring with the kids.” Best comic of the year was Matthew Maisey of Somerton whose Chester the Jester had the audience in stitches.
Emily Farnham of Yeovil Amateur Pantomime won the Junior Principal Girl of the Year Award and, showing that the youngsters can give more experienced artists a run for their money, she also won the award for the Best Principal Girl of the Year in the overall category. She then went on to win the Bradford Trophy for the best overall under 16 performance. A remarkable feat for a performer who promises great things on the future. And Jessica Surrey, also of Yeovil, picked up the award for Best Principal Boy reflecting the strength of the society’s very talented performers.
Wellington Arts Association picked up two of the most coveted awards of the night for their performance of Once Upon a Time in Pantoland. The award for Best Director went to Stephanie Colman and the Eddie Bowker Trophy for the best overall performance of the year went to Beth Burrows who played Mouldy Wart, also winning Best Villain of the Year.
Moderator Nigel Ford was fulsome in his praise for this year’s shows. He said it was great to have the Cinderella Trophy Competition running again after the last few difficult years and although there were fewer entries this year than the competition had at its peak, he is very hopeful that we will have more entries next season, which will be the fiftieth anniversary of the Cinderella Trophy Competition.
SFD Chair Sam Allen made a plea or volunteers to step forward to help keep all the SFD Competitions going. He said, “We need adjudicators and coordinators for our competitions for musicals and plays. This has been a terrific evening and it does so much to promote amateur theatre in Somerset but it is only possible because of the great team of volunteers we have. If competitions like this are to keep running we need more people to come forward to volunteer.”
The Cinderella Trophy Competition is a bit special. Nominations are not announced in advance leading to an extra frisson and a sense of true nail-biting tension as the nominees in each category are announced. Gremlins, hiccups and glitches be damned. This was a great evening of fun and recognition of Somerset’s finest. It’s good to be back!
All the winners in this year’s competition are listed below.
Cinderella Trophy Sleeping Beauty Wayfarers Pantomime Soc
Cinderella Trophy Runners up Dick Whittington Burnham and District Panto Soc
Spotlight Shield Goldilocks and the Three Bears Tatworth Amateur Panto Soc
Spotlight Runners Up Sleeping Beauty Somerton Dramatic Society
The Pint Pot Award Goldilocks and the Three Bears Tatworth Amateur Panto Soc
Best Director Stephanie Colman Once Upon a Time in Pantoland Wellington Arts Association
Musical Director John Wellams Robinson Crusoe and the Pirates Minehead Panto People
The Eddie Bowker Trophy Beth Burrows Mouldy Wart Once Upon a Time in Pantoland Wellington Arts Association
Dame of the Year David Titchener Dame Dotty Dimple Jack and the Beanstalk Moorlight Theatre Productions
The Bradford Trophy Emily Farnham Princess Jasmine Aladdin Yeovil Amateur Pantomime Soc
Principal Girl of the Year Emily Farnham Princess Jasmine Aladdin Yeovil Amateur Pantomime Soc
Principal Boy of the Year Jessica Surrey Aladdin Aladdin Yeovil Amateur Pantomime Soc
Best Villain Beth Burrows Mouldy Wart Once Upon a Time in Pantoland Wellington Arts Association
Linkman of the Year Sarah Bentley Simple Simon Jack and the Beanstalk Moorlight Theatre Productions
Animal Act OTY Katie Rothin Dodger the Cat Dick Whittington Burnham and District Panto
Costume OTY Fish The Little Mermaid Wincanton Amateur Drama
Original Costumes Jack and the Beanstalk Moorlight Theatre Productions
Original Script Katherine Kingsford The King Rat Roadwater Players
Moderators Award ‘For a Memorable Pantomime Experience’ Jack and the Beanstalk Moorlight Theatre Productions
Adjudicators Special Awards Cavan Fletcher King Norbert The Sleeping Beauty Clevedon Comedy Theatre Club
Kirsty Newman Ghost Sleeping Beauty Wayfarers Pantomime Soc
Caz Hewlitt The Empress Aladdin Yeovil Amateur Pantomime Soc
John Greenhaigh Captain Watt Three Men in a Tub Cloverleaf Productions
Jim Hawkins & Richard Doyle Dame Dobb & Tommy Tittlemouse Jack and Jill The Bradford Players
Theatre Design Dick Whittington Burnham and District Panto
Village Design Jack and Jill The Bradford Players
Theatre Stage Management Sleeping Beauty Wayfarers Pantomime Soc
Village Stage Management Three Men in a Tub Cloverleaf Productions
Best Sound Jack and the Beanstalk Moorlight Theatre Productions
Best Lighting Goldilocks and the Three Bears Tatworth Amateur Panto Soc
Best UV Scene Once Upon a Time in Pantoland Wellington Arts Association
Best Special Effects Sleeping Beauty Wayfarers Pantomime Soc
Best Make Up Jack and the Beanstalk Moorlight Theatre Productions
Best Properties The Little Mermaid Wincanton Amateur Drama
Best Chorus Sleeping Beauty Wayfarers Pantomime Soc
Best Romantic Duet Michelle Woodley & Alisha Yates Robinson Crusoe & Juanita Robinson Crusoe and the Pirates Minehead Panto People
Best Female Singer Clare Brimble Carabosse Sleeping Beauty Wayfarers Pantomime Soc
Best Male Singer Jeremy Secrett Antiquita Jack and Jill The Bradford Players
Best Theatre Musicians Robinson Crusoe and the Pirates Minehead Panto People
Best Village Musicians A Little Mermaid’s Tale The Trull Players
Dance & Choreography Sleeping Beauty Wayfarers Pantomime Soc
Cameo Bruce Freeman Dr Bosh The King Rat Roadwater Players
Goody Supernatural Elizabeth Sandy, Becky Santiago & Chloe Stepney The Three Fairies Sleeping Beauty Wayfarers Pantomime Soc
Best Comic Matthew Maisey Chester the Jester Sleeping Beauty Somerton Dramatic Society
Comedic Scene The Dance of the Cygnets Sleeping Beauty Wayfarers Pantomime Soc
Comedy Duo Sarah Plant & Emma Berry Snatchit & Scarper Jack and the Beanstalk Moorlight Theatre Productions
Junior Principal Girl OTY Emily Farnham Princess Jasmine Aladdin Yeovil Amateur Pantomime Soc
Junior Principal Girl Highly Commended Lottie Dixon Princess Charlotte Jack and the Beanstalk Moorlight Theatre Productions
Junior Principal Boy OTY Avia Foley Jack Jack and the Beanstalk Moorlight Theatre Productions
Junior Principal Boy Highly Commended Rosemary Williams Aladdin Panto All Over the World CUDOS
Junior Female Singer Erin Moss Cinderella Panto All Over the World CUDOS
Junior Male Singer Tommy Greenhaigh PJ Three Men in a Tub Cloverleaf Productions
Junior Linkman Lauren Stockton Fishy Fishy A Little Mermaid’s Tale The Trull Players
Junior Group Sleeping Beauty Wayfarers Pantomime Soc
Junior Supernatural Clara Oliveira Genie of the Ring Aladdin Yeovil Amateur Pantomime Soc
Promising Young Performers
Fidel Hawker The Sleeping Beauty Clevedon Comedy Theatre Club
Avia Foley Jack And The Beanstalk Moorlight Theatre Productions
Lottie Dixon Jack And The Beanstalk Moorlight Theatre Productions
Logan Dixon Jack And The Beanstalk Moorlight Theatre Productions
Rylea Lang Jack And The Beanstalk Moorlight Theatre Productions
Maisie Baker Jack And The Beanstalk Moorlight Theatre Productions
Ash Mogg Beauty and the Beast Timsbury Theatre Group
Lily Pattison Robinson Crusoe and The Pirates Minehead Panto People
Harry Doolan Robinson Crusoe and The Pirates Minehead Panto People
Max Flukes Robinson Crusoe and The Pirates Minehead Panto People
Amelia Calderwood Sleeping Beauty Wayfarers Pantomime Society
Robert Stepney Sleeping Beauty Wayfarers Pantomime Society
Bella Whitelaw Sleeping Beauty Wayfarers Pantomime Society
Erin Muir Panto All Over The World CUDOS
Rosemary Williams Panto All Over The World CUDOS
Lillie Woodhead Panto All Over The World CUDOS
Amy Colman Once Upon a Time in Panto Land Wellington Pantomime Group
Harry Taylor Once Upon a Time in Panto Land Wellington Pantomime Group
Daisy Greenhalgh Three Men In A Tub Cloverleaf Productions
Keira-Leigh Mitchell The Sleeping Beauty Somerton Dramatic Society
Sam Brett The Sleeping Beauty Somerton Dramatic Society
Tommy Greenhalgh Three Men In A Tub Cloverleaf Productions
James Adams The Little Mermaid Wincanton Amateur Dramatic Society
Hope Cook The Little Mermaid Wincanton Amateur Dramatic Society
Owen Hance The Little Mermaid Wincanton Amateur Dramatic Society
Hazel Perrett The Little Mermaid Wincanton Amateur Dramatic Society
Keira Smith Goldilocks and the Three Bears Tatworth Amateur Pantomime Society
Ellie Fowler Goldilocks and the Three Bears Tatworth Amateur Pantomime Society
Millie-Mae Webb Goldilocks and the Three Bears Tatworth Amateur Pantomime Society
Shannon Sully Goldilocks and the Three Bears Tatworth Amateur Pantomime Society
Poppy Martin The Little Mermaid Wincanton Amateur Dramatic Society
Grace Leydon The Little Mermaid Wincanton Amateur Dramatic Society
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