By Isle of Wight Observer
The inaugural IW Amateur Theatre Awards evening, held at Northwood House on on Friday, was a resounding success.
Representatives of all theatre groups, who welcomed IW Theatre judges to their 2024 shows, gathered to celebrate the very best of the Island’s amateur theatre community.
Hosted by Simon Dabell, the evening recognised a wide range of pantomimes, plays and musicals, as well as individual actors.
Caroline Hannam, daughter of John Hannam, attended. John hosted the Theatre Award evenings for many years, and, sadly, passed away in 2021. Caroline said: “It was wonderful to spend the evening in the company of so many of the Island’s theatre community, celebrating their achievements and remembering my late father.”
Caroline presented three awards including the John Hannam Award for contribution to the theatre community, won by First Act. Accepting the award on their behalf, Carol Laidler, First Act’s founder, said: “It was an honour to receive the John Hannam Award. He was such a wonderful supporter of First Act and all amateur theatre productions on the Island.”
Another guest presenter was Nancy Allen, widow of Ray Allen, most famous for writing ‘Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em’.
Ray would have been 85 the day after the awards. Nancy explained: “Ray would have loved this evening and to see the awards resurrected – he and John Hannam were good friends and Ray was always a great supporter of Island amateur theatre.”
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, by Curtain Call, picked up four awards on the night. As well as taking home the title of ‘Best Musical’, the show also won the ‘Best Director’ and ‘Best Choreography’ titles, and Alexis Mackness was named as the ‘Best Supporting Actor in a Musical’ for her performance as the Narrator.
You can find the full list of winners at iw.observer/theatre-awards.
The headline winners were: Best Pantomime: Robin Hood, by Amy White Theatre; Best Play: Canterbury Tales, by CAODS at Trinity Theatre; Best Musical: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, by Curtain Call Creative.