On Saturday 9th January at the Marloo Theatre on Greenmount Hill, the Darlington Theatre Players had one of the most hilarious and friendly award nights. Then the sumptuous supper certainly invited over-eating.
Poor Ken Harris, Master of Ceremonies, on being told there was to be a special World Famous guest speaker – so famous that for security reasons the name was not being released – bought a new shirt, combed his hair, put on his best suit and bow tie in anticipation. We were not to be disappointed. The guest was none other than Dame Edna who showered everyone with her gladioli, and received a warm hand on her entrance.
The Superstar guest, who is now under a new management, Joe Isaia Theatrical Experiences, looked elegant in her DeCoq gown and for modesty, twin thongs. As Dame Edna’s acrid, double entendres poured forth, Ken was genuinely petrified of what was going to come next. No one was safe. Brilliant.
ACTING ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD
• Angus Cummings as ‘Spy’ – ‘Dick Whittington’
MARSHALL AWARD FOR BEST COSTUMES
• Basin Street Blues – Marjorie De Caux; Rachel Vonk.
SWAN MAGAZINE AWARD FOR BEST SET
• George Boyd – It’s My Party’
AWARDS FOR MUSIC OR DANCE
• Amanda Minutillo – ‘Basin Street Blues’
AWARD FOR BEST ENSEMBLE WORK
• It’s My Party’ Directed by Brendan Tobin.
DUNCALFE AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
• Laura Williams as Karen Patterson – ‘It’s My Party’ ’
SUE BETHEL AWARD FOR BEST FEMALE ACTOR
• Siobhan Vincent as ‘Dawn Patterson’ in ‘It’s My Party’.
BRENDA STANLEY WARD FOR BEST MALE ACTOR
• Ray Egan as ‘Ron Patterson’ in ‘It’s My Party’
PHIL HARRIS AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR
• ‘It’s My Party and I’ll Die If I want to’ Directed by Brendan Tobin.
ENA HARRIS AWARD FOR BEST PRODUCTION
• ‘It’s My Party and I’ll Die If I want to’ Directed by Brendan Tobin.
RAY WARD AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION 2015
• Rachel Vonk
MERIT CERTIFICATES
Amanda Minutillo for Graham Sharpe Award for ‘Basin Street Blues’
Harrison McLennan for ‘The Undertaker’ in ‘It’s My Party’.
George Boyd for ‘Slide Projector Use and Synchronisation’ in ‘It’s My Party’
Iain Martin for Ukulele’ Solo; in Basin Street Blues.
Tanya Doogan with the ‘Gus Certificate’ for ‘Best Cat on Stage’ in Dick Whittington