The Wharfedale Festival Of Theatre 2023-2024 year concluded with a celebration awards evening organised by festival secretary Bryan Craven.
Ilkley Upstagers were big winners on for the pantomime Robin Hood, with Addingham Pantomime Group getting the Pat Dyson Spirit of Theatre Award and Ilkley Musical Theatre Society picking up a handful for its production of Sunset Boulevard.
A spokesperson said: “Productions of the highest standards were the order of the day for this year’s festival and we were delighted to welcome some new entries this year.
“This year our mini Oscars was held at the West Leeds Academy where all entries and lucky nominees from adult, youth and schools gathered together to celebrate a year full of drama, pantos and musicals.
“Singers from Ilkley Upstagers entertained the audience to open up proceedings then a stunning visual presentation by festival committee member Allan Hollins gave us a glimpse of the wide variety of productions which were in the festival this year.
Wharfedale Festival Of Theatre Chair, Kenneth Stott, hosted the evening with nominees hoping to take home a glittering trophy or two and a whole array of certificates.
The Wharfedale Festival Of Theatre 2024 winners are:
Addingham Pantomime Group
Pat Dyson Spirit of Theatre Award – Addingham Pantomime Group
Ilkley Upstagers
Best Pantomime Fairy Amy Watt
Best Pantomime Villain George Scaife
Best Pantomime Principal Boy Sophie Holdsworth
Best Pantomime Principal Girl Olivia Leather
Best Pantomime Programme Robin Hood
Best Pantomime Stage Presentation Robin Hood
Best Pantomime Choreography Robin Hood
Best Pantomime Director John Clark, Andrew Hewitt & Joey Wilby
Best Pantomime Musical Director Phil Walsh
Best Pantomime Robin Hood
LIDOS
Best Pantomime Dame Mark Gale (LIDOS)
Best Pantomime Male Support James Pegg (LIDOS)
Best Pantomime Cameo Graham Siddle & Adrian Marshall (LIDOS)
Best Pantomime (Runner up) Jack and the Beanstalk (LIDOS)
Innovation – LIDOS – “Jack and the Beanstalk” Relaxed and Signed performances
STARS
Best Pantomime Comedy Lead Dave Collins (STARS)
Best Pantomime Female Support Lydia Fish (STARS)
Chairman’s Special Award – Outstanding performance
So Hi, So Lo, So Shy, So Wot, So So – STARS – “Aladdin”
Drama Unlimited
Chairman’s Special Award Outstanding performance – The Babes – Drama Unlimited – “Babes in the Wood”
MUSICALS (YOUTH & SCHOOLS)
Ilkley Musical Theatre Society
Best Choreography Jo Sproston & Mark Allan (Ilkley Musical Theatre Society)
Merit & Outstanding Certificates characters in “The Wiz”
Roundhay School
Best Actor Euan (Roundhay School)
Best Supporting Actor George as Lord Farquaad (Roundhay School)
Best Cameo Orla as Gingerbread “Gingy” (Roundhay School)
Best Stage Presentation Shrek (Roundhay School)
Best Musical Director Chris Johnson (Roundhay School)
Best Director Rachel Tustain (Roundhay School)
Best Musical Shrek (Roundhay School)
Merit & Outstanding Certificates characters in “Shrek”
Lawnswood School
Best Actress Isabel as Belle (Lawnswood School)
Best Supporting Actor Blaize as Lumiere (Lawnswood School)
Best Musical (Runner up) Beauty and the Beast (Lawnswood School)
Merit & Outstanding Certificates characters in “Beauty & The Beast”
Leeds West Academy
Best Actress Hayden (Taylor McKessie) (Leeds West Academy)
Best Supporting Actress (Leeds West Academy)
Best Programme Matilda Jnr (Leeds West Academy)
Festival Rose Salver for Ambience – Leeds West Academey “Matilda Jnr.”
Merit & Outstanding Certificates characters in “Matilda”
MUSICALS (ADULT)
Ilkley Musical Theatre Society
Best Actress Rachel MacMahon “Sunset Boulevard”
Keighley Playhouse trophy for best costumed production – Ilkley AOS “Sunset Boulevard”
Best Supporting Actress Catherine Gregory “Sunset Boulevard”
Best Cameo Gary Holmes (Ilkley Musical Theatre Society)
Valerie Jackson Trophy for young dancer/dance group – Joze School of Dance – Ilkley AOS Jnrs – “The Wiz”
Guiseley Theatrical Productions
Best Actor James Windle (Guiseley Theatrical Productions)
Best Supporting Actress Catherine Gregory
Best Choreography Kimberley Grillo (Guiseley Theatrical Productions)
Best Director Rick Hyland (Guiseley Theatrical Productions)
Best Musical (Runner Up) School of Rock (Guiseley Theatrical Productions)
Trevor Hallet trophy for Best Comedy Performance – Dan Mirren – Guiseley TP “School of Rock”
Yeadon Theatre Company
Best Actress Lucy Boniface (Yeadon Theatre Company)
Best Supporting Actor David Kirk (Yeadon Theatre Company)
Chairman’s Special Award – Nun’s Chorus led by Joan Kay Mother Abbess – Yeadon Theatre Company – “Sound of Music
Best Programme The Sound of Music (Yeadon Theatre Company)
Best Stage Presentation The Sound of Music (Yeadon Theatre Company)
Best Director Anita Adams (Yeadon Theatre Company)
Best Musical Director Adam Boniface (Yeadon Theatre Company)
Best Musical The Sound of Music (Yeadon Theatre)
DRAMA
Fulneck Dramatic Society
Best Actor Peter Oxtoby
Best Actress Claire Andrews
Best Supporting Actor Paul Cullingord & Greg Adams
Best Drama (2nd) Pygmalion
Adel Players
Best Stage Presentation Two
Best Drama (3rd) Two
Guiseley Theatrical Productions
Best Programme Brassed Off
Best Director Rick Hyland
Best Drama Brassed Off
Peter Russel Trophy For Technical Excellence - “Brassed Off”
Bernard Riley Trophy for young performer in an adult production – ; Lily May as Shane Guiseley TP ; “Brassed Off”
Chairman’s Special Award – Clifton & Lightcliffe Brass Band - – “Brassed Off” Integration in a drama
STARS
Best Supporting Actress Jane Collins (STARS)
Halifax Playhouse
Best Cameo Ged Marescaux