BHAC : 1999

Review #1:
Publication: Shoreham Herald
Publication Data: December 16 1999 issue – page 3
Text Header: Wick’s finest hour
Text: Content

TALENTED Wick Theatre Company members are celebrating after enjoying an hour of triumph at an awards evening for the Brighton & Hove Arts Council drama competition.

The Southwick-based company’s entry was Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia, presented at the Barn Theatre in October .

The Bea Waters Challenge Cup for the best overall production was just one of the accolades won by the group.

David Creedon was awarded the merit certificate for best actor for his performance as Bernard Nightingale and the chairman’s award for the best design of publicity and supporting and promotional material went to Wick’s publicity team.

Wick spokes-woman Rosemary Bouchy said, ‘We are all absolutely thrilled. There were so many good productions. I think the adjudicator must have had quite a job to choose, which makes it all the more exciting that we have managed to win.’

Adjudicator for the 1999 drama competition was Nicholas Young, who is a theatre and film director, writer, composer and lecturer. He has, during his long and prestigious career, been director of Worthing’s Connaught Theatre, were he directed more than 200 productions.

Report #1:
Publication: Wick Newsletter
Publication Data: January 2000
Editor: Kevin Isaac
Text Header: Rape Rewarded!
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What fantastic news there is to tell about Arcadia and the Brighton and Hove Drama Competition.

Unfortunately, I could not make the awards evening, so I will leave Rosemary Bouchy to describe the excitement ….

‘Wick’s roar of triumph would have done credit to West Ham supporters. THE CUP IS OURS. Yes, Bob Ryder’s brilliant production of Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia has brought the Bea Waters Challenge Cup for the Best Overall Production back to The Barn.

Many congratulations are due to Bob and his team.

The citation reads:

“The Bea Waters Challenge Cup for the Best Overall Production is awarded to Wick Theatre Company for their production of Arcadia.

A magnificent achievement of a wonderful and challenging play with a moving ending.”

It was a fitting end to a successful evening for the Company. The Merit Certificate for Best Actor went to David Creedon for his performance as Bernard Nightingale. Not only that, this year contenders for each award were named, and Jim Calderwood [Septimus Hodge] was one of these.

Last but not least, the Chairman’s Award this year was for the best design of publicity, and supporting and promotional material. It was awarded to Wick’s Publicity Team. This now consists of Rosemary Bouchy [press], Judith Berrill [design and graphics] and Rosemary Brown [displays]. I do feel, though, that part of the kudos is due to Jean Porter, for many years in charge of publicity, for all the hard work she did in establishing the present machine.

So here’s to us, and many more successes in years to come.’

Nick Young the competition adjudicator had this to say of Wick: “elite company, setting a standard which other groups should be aspiring to.”

Report #2:
Publication: Amateur Stage
Publication Data: February 2000
Text Header: Success for Arcadia
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The Wick Theatre Company’s production of Arcadia, featured as our ‘Play Produced’ in the January issue, was recently entered for the Brighton & Hove Arts Council Drama Festival. Readers may like to know that the the play won the Bea Waters Challenge Cup for the Best Overall Production in this competition. Also, the actor playing Bernard Nightingale gained the Merit Certificate for Best Actor. Our congratulations to all concerned.