BHAC : 2011

Review #1:
Publication: Shoreham Herald
Publication Data: December 29 2011 issue – page 7
Correspondent: Sheena Campbell
Text Header: Awards recognise drama excellence
Text: Content

TWO local theatre companies have picked up four awards at this year’s Brighton and Hove Arts Council Awards.

Wick Theatre Company and the Southwick Players, both based at the Barn Theatre, Southwick, secured an outstanding 21 nominations between them.

Six theatre companies vied for the 15 awards up for grabs this year, with productions varying from the harrowing Iron, by Rona Munro, to the classic farce, Sailor Beware, by Philip King.

Wick’s entry was its October production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard. Having secured 12 nominations in 10 categories, hopes were high and members were not disappointed with two awards on the night. Natalie Notley won the Gabbus Denny Award for best director.

Anna Quick, publicity officer for Wick, said: “This was Natalie’s first excursion into the world of directing and it was a bit of a trial by fire as, three days before curtain-up, she had to take on a lead role in the production due to a cast injury.”

Guy Steddon, who had already won praise in the Herald for his portrayal of Guildenstern, picked up the best actor award. It was the second time Guy had won the award, having previously collected the prize for his portrayal of Jimmy Porter in the Southwick Players’ Look Back in Anger, in 2006.

The Southwick Players’ entry was their September production of The Miracle Worker, by William Gibson. The company had secured nine nominations in eight categories. On the night, they also won two awards, with 13-year-old Anna Gould winning best young actress for her portrayal of the deaf and blind Helen Keller. “She was excellent. I was really pleased for her,” said Sally Diver, who heads up publicity for the Company.

Anna was not the only one to win an award, however, Sally and her team also received the best publicity award for the second year in a row. “I am very excited, but it was very much a team effort,” said Sally. “I was very nervous before and when they call out the nominations, you get really excited and your fingers tingle a bit. Then, when they call the name, there is a slight pause and you think, ‘Is it really me’.”

The awards evening was held at BHASVIC College, in Hove, and hosted by chairman of Brighton and Hove Arts Council John Hird. Adjudicator Gary Sefton, who watched all six productions at the start of the year, started the evening with a description of each of the shows.