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Burnham take the honours at the Cinderella Awards

Cinderella Trophy Awards 2016/17

The good folk of Burnham and district were ecstatic last night as they walked off with the top award at the prestigious Cinderella Trophy Competition Award Ceremony. There was much dancing and excitement as they picked up the Cinderella Trophy – a prize they have waited for many years to achieve.

Yes, indeed, it was that time of the year. The glitterati from the world of Somerset pantomime gathered once again in Haynes Motor Museum on Saturday night for the annual awards jamboree following a hugely successful pantomime year. If the thought of a museum conjures up images of fusty fossils in the foyer, think again. Not only where the exhibits gleaming, but the frocks were out in force as thespians from all over the county donned their best bib and tucker for this splendid occasion.

Moderator Nigel Ford was the congenial host for the evening, a veritable cornucopia of extravagance organised by competition coordinator Pam Price. On hand to give out the awards were the competition adjudicators Angie and Ian Hurdman, Lee Baker, Sam Allen and newcomer Ray Jarvis. The top gongs were presented by SFD Chairman Philip de Glanville.

It truly was a magnificent occasion attended by over 250 people with half-time entertainment provided by the clubs themselves as specially selected excerpts from the various shows were performed to great acclaim. As is now customary, great cheers ran round the room as each society was called out by name. Only two groups were not represented this year.

Of course, the even the nominations in this competition are kept a closely guarded secret until the big night itself and so each announcement was greeted with huge appreciation and enthusiasm as has become a tradition at this award ceremony. As Nigel read out the nominations, applauses rang out across the hall and the winners in each category were rewarded with huge cheers.

Top honours went to Burnham District Pantomime Society for their production of perennial favourite Aladdin. Their Musical Director, Xavier Underwood also picked up two trophies: for Best Musical Director and Best Theatre Musicians. In an amazing night for Burnham, the society scooped awards for Best Theatre Design and Best Original Costumes. And Chris Bissell impressed the judges in his role as the Genie, winning recognition both as Best Supernatural Performance and Best Male Singer.

Newcomers to the competition, Glastonbury & Street Musical Comedy Society, were Cinderella Trophy Runners up for their Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs. Their Amelia Chinnock-Schumann won the Bradford Trophy for best performance by a performer aged sixteen or under.In fact, so impressive was she in her portrayal of “Link man” Molly Muddles that she beat all the adults to win The Best Linkman Award. Matthew Maisey also won the award for Best Original Script.

Trull Players were awarded The Spotlight Trophy for Best Village Panto with their production of The Snow Queen. Trull also saw Sam Allen awarded Best Director and Jen Rusinek winning for Best Villain, with Rosie Jones being awarded Best Junior Principal Girl.

Last year’s Cinderella Trophy winners, Cloverleaf Productions from Combe St Nicholas, continued their success as they took the runner-up spot in the Spotlight Trophy and also won the Pint Pot Award for “a big production on a small stage”. dave Goodall won Best Dame, David Stares took the Cameo trophy and the society won the award for Best Village Stage Management.

The prestigious Eddie Bowker Award for best overall performance in all categories went to Wellington’s Jack Glanville for his portrayal of Puss in Boots and Best Female singer went to newcomer Hannah Deason-Barrow of Shooting Stars.

There were two special awards: the Moderator’s Award went to the Transformation scene in Somerton’s Alice in Wonderland while the Adjudicator’s Award was given to Jane Burt of Shooting Stars for creating a theatre pantomime society from scratch.

This year there were fewer names in the Stars of the Future category. Not because there was less young talent on show this year: quite the opposite! There were so many great kids that the adjudication team decided to award a certificate only to those who had made a major contribution to the show they were in. Although considered by some to be a controversial move, the team felt it was the right thing to do because it helps to identify excellence, which is what the awards are endeavouring to celebrate.

And standards were so high this year that in five categories, a Highly Commended certificate was also awarded.

A full list of awards and recipients is set out below:

The Highly Commended awards went to: