On Friday 13th March, the creme de la crème of the Island theatre community gathered at Northwood House, Cowes, for the Isle of Wight Amateur Theatre Awards 2026. The night celebrated the fantastic productions our Island enjoyed throughout 2025, with nominations from the our local amateur theatre societies.
The awards continue the legacy of the late John Hannam, who presented the IW County Press Awards for 17 years. Enthusiastic supporters of Island theatre came together and formed IW Theatre to continue to support and promote the rich amateur theatre scene on the Island. IW Theatre aims to be a hub for all Island amateur theatre groups to use. The aspiration to revive the awards scheme was obvious and IW Theatre recruited some experienced judges to help. The awards were solely online in 2023, and then we held the second awards evening at Northwood House last March. After consultation with the Island theatre groups, it was agreed to repeat the success of last year with an even bigger capacity this year.
In 2025, our judges have attended more than 40 plays, musicals and pantomimes and at the awards night we celebrated the best of those wonderful productions and our thriving theatre community! We presented over 20 awards overall, including two very special awards.
- The Raymond Allen Award presented by Nancy Allen; along with a special video message from Michael Crawford. A gentle and moving message, showing his support and admiration for amateur theatre and honouring his dear friend Raymond; and…
- The John Hannam Award, presented by Caroline Hannam, to recognise an organisation or a person for their dedication and contribution to Island Theatre.
BEST TECHNICAL DESIGN & PRESENTATION
For this award, the judges look at a combination of how the play was staged and how any sound and lighting complimented the production.
The Nominees were:
ANNIE by THE ISLAND SAVOYARDS
Our judges said:
“Proper sets and nicely painted backdrops. Some lovely set pieces – beautiful furniture all adding to the scenes. Slick changes, not a single mistake noticed”
“The staging was great and really enhanced the production. The scene changes seemed very smooth”
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY by THE ISLAND SAVOYARDS
“The set pieces and props were creatively designed and looked great, fitting with the storyline successfully”
“High quality set pieces with a digital backdrop. The floating glass elevator was breath-taking”
CINDERELLA by AMY WHITE THEATRE
“The stage was used really well, with nice back drops and framing pieces, along with a pretty carriage”
“A quality set and not a single problem with scene changes”
THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT- TIME By APOLLO THEATRE
“The singular set was modern, well put together and very creative. The grid formations cleverly transported us into a simulation of the mind of Christopher”
“The whole effect was outstanding, especially with the coordinated sound and lighting effects”
And the winner is:
BEST THEATRICAL MOMENT
The judges were also asked, as part of their judging report, to recognise any potential contender for BEST THEATRICAL MOMENT in any of the productions that they had seen. This might have been a particular performance or something extra special which lifted the show!
Two have been chosen for an award –and our first goes to a theatre company who delivered a hugely atmospheric piece of theatre which provided the backdrop to a wonderful song!
Our judges said “What an absolute triumph! All credit to the technical team for delivering such a complex, yet convincing special effect”.
FOR CREATING “THE VIEW FROM HERE” GLASS ELEVATOR, in CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, THIS AWARD GOES TO THE ISLAND SAVOYARDS
BEST COSTUMES
For this award, the judges are looking at how the costumes add to the feel and atmosphere of the show, how they add to the actors’ characters and how practical they are in terms of physical performance. Costumes are the first impression that you have of the character before they open their mouth-it really does establish who they are.
The nominees were:
ALICE IN WONDERLAND by The Wight Strollers
“Costumes tailored and fitted really well to each performer. Great layers and accessories”
“Bright and colourful, providing innovative interpretations of the characters”
GHOST-HUNTING by ADLIB Theatre
“Lots of historical costumes made to look authentic. Practical, well-constructed and suited each part”
“Costumes were excellent and colourful”
THE LITTLE MERMAID BY Shoreline Productions
“The pairing of puppet to actor costumes was very well thought through. Great make-up and wigs”
“Excellent costumes with amazing headdresses for under the sea sections”
SINBAD SAVES THE DAY by TRINITY THEATRE
“Costumes supported the characterisation, very panto with the Dame’s costume typically over the top”
“Pantomime should be a colourful feast for the eyes and in this production it was. Superb!”
And the winner is:
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
In this category, Judges are looking for the style of dancing to suit the music and action, that the space is used well, that performers are smiling and enthusiastic, with confident movements in sync with the ensemble.
The nominees were:
ALICE IN WONDERLAND by The Wight Strollers
“Excellent choreography, with some really innovative moves. …with the Wrong Rabbits dance fitting the song brilliantly”
“Complex dance routines with nicely timed canons and intricate arm movements, performed well by the core dance troupe”
ANNIE by The Island Savoyards
“The choreography was fresh, vibrant and excellently complimented the era, show and theatricality of each scene”
“Nicely executed ensemble routines, with the core dance troupe performing advanced choreography with style and energy”
CINDERELLA by Amy White Theatre
“A real high point of the show were the dance routines, with modern choreography suitable for all the performers”
“A great example of packing out a stage, yet still having good spacing and achieving well performed movement with energy”
THE SNOW QUEEN by The New Strolling Players
“Choreography played to the strengths and abilities of the cast. When the kids were allowed to dance, they shone”
“The show used the talents of the ballet dancers to full effect and produced a really polished performance”
And the winner is:
BEST CAMEO ROLE IN A PANTOMIME
The judges had the option, when watching any production, to highlight any actor who had taken a role in only one or two scenes but made that role memorable! Their performance would have captivated the audience and yet still worked well with other members of the cast.
This is the first of three Cameo role awards and it goes to not one but three actors who managed to not only captivate the audience with the unique style of dancing, but also cause roars of laughter with their deadpan faces, …
With a wonderful pastiche of the Sandmen dance in SINBAD SAVES THE DAY, our very own Wilson, Keppel and Betty, MARK WILLIAMS, PAT SUTTMAN AND TRISH McCANN.
BEST MUSIC AND SINGING
With this award, the judges are looking for the music and singing in a show to be well-rehearsed, the lyrics can be heard over the music, the choice of music adds to the performance and that the musicians & singers perform well together.
Our nominees were:
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY by The Island Savoyards
“The orchestra delivered a solid performance and the mixture of soundtracks, sound effects and live music was a treat”
“Actors sang well, with nice layered harmonies. Particularly good solos from Wonka, Charlie and Charlie’s mum”
THE LITTLE MERMAID by Shoreline Productions
“The ensemble worked together with excellent harmony strength in the musical numbers”
“The band created strong replicas of some very famous tunes, with skilled musicianship. It was clear a lot of hard work had gone into the preparation”
THE SORCERER by Gasp
“Exceptional singing – Principles and chorus had beautiful G&S appropriate voices and shone through the show”
“Competent singers mastered some quite difficult singing pieces. The pianist did an excellent job”
WE WILL ROCK YOU by Curtain Call Creative
“Fantastic singing throughout the show – provided a brilliant showcase for the talent on stage”
“Great vocals from leads and ensemble, particularly Ebb and Enid. The orchestra were very good”
Our winner is:
BEST PERFORMANCE AWARD
This is a new award this year – we realised we recognise individual actors in our leading and support acting awards, but nothing for the amazing teamwork we often see onstage – so this award celebrates the contribution of the whole cast, principals and ensemble, working together to give a wonderful performance- hence the Performance Award.
Our nominees were:
ALICE IN WONDERLAND by The Wight Strollers
“Truly spirited and attentive performances by all. The whole cast were well rehearsed and totally involved in the action. So many small parts, plus the bigger roles, all working together in a polished and energetic way. Many ages on stage, all working together and enjoying the performance”
IRON by Apollo Theatre
“The pace was excellent, with light and shade to some long scenes in the prison visiting room not seeming a challenge to the audience at all. The balance of all four roles was excellent, – working together to deliver an emotional tour de force”
WE WILL ROCK YOU by CURTAIN CALL CREATIVE
“All performers were competent and well-rehearsed, delivering a high energy show with passion. The ensemble were fully engaged in the principals’ action, with strong focus throughout. The whole team stayed in character and delivered clear vocals”
THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME by Apollo Theatre
“The great strength of this production was its cast. All could be heard and understood, knew their lines and projected well. They were exceptional at knowing just how much character to give in each role, being careful around which character was prominent in which scene. Every cast member had a purpose on stage and delivered top of their game performances.”
Our winner is:
BEST DIRECTION
For this award, the judges are wanting to see that the story is told confidently, the overall performance is believable and the actors work as a cohesive group. The performance should be paced appropriately and be both fresh and innovative.
Our nominees were:
ANNIE by The Island Savoyards
“The show delivered a strong and well-rounded production, with the whole cast producing energetic pacing, great acting, singing and dancing”
CORIOLANUS by Adlib Theatre
“A carefully thought-out production, this was a well-directed play, with the venue adding atmosphere. It really set the scene for an impressive Interpretation of this tragedy”
THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME by Apollo Theatre
“Obviously the result of skilful direction, this play delivered a depth of story, amazing visuals and the characterisation was exceptional”
STEPPING OUT by Bembridge Little Theatre Club
“With great dance numbers, good pacing and easy to follow, the director has done a marvellous job of pulling this ‘tap-dancing drama’ together.”
Our winner is:
BEST CAMEO ROLE IN A MUSICAL
It’s time for our second “Best cameo award” – which highlights an actor who has taken a minor role but made that role memorable.
FIRST ACT produced a fantastic show called WONDERLAND. And we want to recognise a particular cameo role within this production The judges remarked: “She kept the character of Tweedle Dee all the time she was on stage, with graceful movement, she danced perfectly in time and never stopped smiling”
This Best Cameo award goes to SARAH-LOUISE McEVOY
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR – PLAY
To make these nominations, Judges are looking for an actor to show, not only that they have clear speech with good projection, a good singing voice if required, but also show a complete understanding of the character and be believable in that role.
The judges can find it difficult to make a distinction between lead and supporting cast. However, the judges have recognised that all the nominees have delivered memorable performances which enhanced the show they were in.
The nominees were:
ANDREA REID as Ginnie in Worth A Fortune by Curtain Up
“A beautifully understated performance, with clear diction and great
expression”
MAGGIE CARDEW as Dolly Bantry in The Mirror Crack’ d by Apollo Theatre
“Maggie delivered a strong and focused character, with pace, and a sharpness of delivery which gave the audience much of the humour from the script”
RUTH ANDERSON as Sylvia in Stepping Out by Bembridge Little Theatre Club
“Sylvia’s gum chewing working class character hit the spot every time she opened her mouth – with perfect comedy timing”
TONY MYERS as Owen Newitt in The Vicar of Dibley by Bembridge Little Theatre Club
“Tony was absolutely hilarious and a total natural in this role. You wouldn’t have known he was working from a script as the performance was so believable”
The winner is:
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR MUSICALS
In addition to the ability to provide a strong and believable character, in Musicals, the judges are also looking for a clear singing voice in tune, and on time.
It is important to recognise that there are few experiences as powerful for young people as stepping onto a stage. Performing arts open doors to confidence, creativity, and self-On this evening, we celebrated the best of amateur theatre for adults but later this month we will hold our youth awards where we recognise and congratulate those young people on this Island who are shaping the amateur theatre of the future.
The nominees for best supporting actor in a musical were:
OLIVIA PIKE as Lady Sangazure in the Sorcerer by Gasp
“With exceptional physical action, Libby had superb control of the comedy, and her lovely singing fitted well with the other principles”
BERTIE EVERSON as Sebastian in The Little Mermaid by Shoreline productions
“With excellent vocals, Bertie delivered a great balance between acting himself yet also keeping the audience focus on the crab puppet. His singing was excellent”
EMILY SCOTCHER as Mrs Teavee in Charlie and the chocolate factory by The Island Savoyards
“Demonstrating a great ‘triple threat’ energy, Emily grabbed this role and provided us with strong characterisation, movement and dance”
Paul Stevens as Alfred Doolittle in My Fair Lady by Apollo Theatre
“A breath of fresh air! Paul’s ability to act, sing and move shone out. This performance delivered the rough yet poetic visionary of Doolittle!”
Our winner is:
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR PANTOMIMES
The pantomime is an important cultural art as it is often where younger children are first introduced to live theatre and if they have a great experience they will return again and again. It is also one of the few chances actors have of breaking the fourth wall, of their character interacting directly with the audience.
ABBIE LEMON as wicked stepmother in Cinderella by Amy White Theatre
“Abbie gave us a really powerful performance, showing depth of character even within the remit of the panto baddie”
CHERYL MAY as Snowbell in The Snow Queen by The New Strolling Players
“With brilliant stage presence, Cheryl’s characterisation was brilliant and her comic character and humour seemed to flow effortlessly”
ED NASH as the Sultan in Sinbad saves the day by Trinity Theatre
“Ed clearly loved playing the villain, inviting and revelling in the boos. One could almost feel the ‘evil’ dripping off him”
SARAH SCOTCHER as Mrs Wrong Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland by The Wight Strollers
“With a deadpan humour and a great sense of comic timing, Sarah delivered a control of her rabbits and the youngsters in the show with style”
Our winner is:
BEST CAMEO ROLE IN A PLAY
Our FINAL “Best cameo award” – highlighted an actor who has taken a minor role but made that role memorable.
On this occasion, we are looking at Shoreline Productions and their drama version of Wind in the Willows.
The judges said “clearly a talented young actor, he delivered a well- pitched performance, holding the audience’s attention, with a good balance of animal characterisation and human emotions”
The third and final Cameo award goes to FINLEY RIVERT as ALBERT THE HORSE
BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A PLAY
The judges had a challenge in choosing the nominees for both supporting and leading roles as many of the shows were ensemble productions. However, there are some actors who captivate the audience with a role, their stage presence enhancing the overall show and we lose sight of the actor and only see the character that the author intended.
Our nominees were:
FIONA GWINNETT as Fay in Iron by Apollo Theatre
“Fiona delivered an almost faultless performance; A tour de force that had you on the edge of your seat throughout”
EMILY SCOTCHER as Coriolanus in Coriolanus by Adlib Theatre
“A powerhouse performance that portrayed a wonderful sense of the character. Emily completely owned the part and the stage”
PETER STOCKMAN as Toad -Wind in the Willows Shoreline Productions
“Peter delivered a loud, exuberant and confident Toad, with a fabulous high energy performance”
PATRICK BARRY as Mark Anthony in Julius Ceasar by Adlib Theatre
“Patrick created a convincing and emotional role which captivated the audience. It was a standout performance which also showcased his stage combat skills”
The winner is:
BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A PANTOMIME
Again, the judges are looking for that extra something that only a lead role in a pantomime can truly exploit – the confidence and stage presence to deliver traditional characters, whether they are the dame, the villain or the audience’s best friend.
Our nominees were:
CALLUM DAVIES as Buttons in Cinderella by Amy White Theatre
“Callum delivered a hugely energetic and effective panto character; confident, good dance and movement with great audience interaction”
EMILY SMITH as Cinderella in Cinderella by Amy White Theatre
“Emily delivered wonderful vocals and a strong all-round performance, delivering a clear, confident performance with a good understanding of the character”
GEORGE SALES as Mani in Sindbad saves the Day by Trinity Theatre
“George made this role his own; He captivated the audience with his cheeky bouncy character and his confidence shone throughout the performance”
JOHN WOODFORD as the Red Queen in Alice in Wonderland by The Wight Strollers
“A clear leader of the storyline, John was fun to watch as his dry camp queen character encouraged plenty of audience interaction with witty quips”
Our winner is:
BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
The judges are assessing the combination of vocal ability, acting and movement with a strong focus on enthusiasm and direction. Key to this will be how the character connects with the audience. The judges were rightly impressed by the quality of musical talent we have here on the Island and the four nominees all delivered top of their game performances.
Our nominees were:
ELEANOR ROGERS as Grace Farrell in Annie by Island Savoyards
“Eleanor was every part the character. From her first entrance, she drew you in and made sure you listened”
ENID REES as Scaramouche in We Will Rock You by Curtain Call Creative
“Enid gave a fully polished performance of a sulky teen, turned cult leader, and handled all her scenes with a gentle power – a joy to watch”
HANNA NIXON as Miss Hannigan in Annie by Island Savoyards
“Hanna did a great job delivering a difficult character with a strong, confident stride. She was captivating”
PHILLIP GRIFFITHS as HENRY Higgins in My Fair Lady by Apollo Theatre
“With excellent clarity of diction, Phillip did not stop moving and his energy drove the scenes throughout”
Our winner is:
BEST THEATRICAL MOMENT TWO
Our second and final Theatrical Moment award! You may remember that the judges were asked, as part of their judging report, to recognise any potential contender for BEST THEATRICAL MOMENT in any of the productions that they had seen. This might have been a particular performance or something extra special which lifted the show!
On this occasion it was all about acting so badly, that it was funny! The judges said “he was great as Flute, but as soon as he put that outrageous dress on, he really came alive as Thisbe!
“With a great sense of timing and positioning, he was very funny!”
Playing Flute, playing Thisbe, in Midsummer Night’s Dream by Trinity Theatre, this Theatrical Moment Award goes to Karl Whitmore
BEST PLAY
Judging the ‘best play’ means, not only a quality performance and believable characters, but how effectively the script, acting, direction and technical elements work together to tell a compelling story.
Our nominees were:
CORIOLANUS by ADLIB Theatre
“ADLIB excelled in producing an intense and powerful play, set in majestic surroundings, which was well performed and well received, striking a modern resonance with the audience”
THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME by Apollo Theatre
“The quality of this production was outstanding, with excellent stagecraft and direction. The cast took on multiple roles with versatility and delivered a remarkable performance”
STEPPING OUT by Bembridge Little Theatre Club
“An ideal drama for a village hall stage – this production had good pacing, great comedy timing and above all, an outstanding finale tap number”
IRON by Apollo Theatre
“This was a truly excellent piece of drama, with the four-handed cast delivering a play with realism and pace. The audience were moved from amusement to tears”
Our winner is:
BEST MUSICAL
The judges were truly impressed by all the musicals they attended in 2025. However, the nominees presented shows that were well paced, with great characters and beautiful singing.
The nominees are:
ANNIE by The Island Savoyards
“A fantastic feel-good all-round show. The singing and dancing were handled well by all the cast and full of very funny moments as well as sensitive topics”
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY by The Island Savoyards
“Big, bold, beautiful. An ambitious piece of theatre, showcasing impressive technical ambition and some truly standout performances”
WE WILL ROCK YOU by Curtain Call Creative
“Showcasing some of the Island’s finest amateur talent, this show was performed with style and power. Great energy and confidence from both lead and ensemble roles”
The winner is:
BEST PANTOMIME
The tradition of the pantomime has lived with us for hundreds of years. The anarchical mishaps, larger-than-life costumes, the cheering, the booing, the Pantomime returns year after year, bringing families together for a uniquely chaotic experience. The judges enjoyed all the pantomimes they watched but the following nominees produced stand-out productions
Our nominees were:
ALICE IN WONDERLAND by The Wight Strollers
“Bright, bold and colourful, this fabulous show delivered excellent characterisation, fantastic costumes and dance numbers. The energetic ensemble did the show proud”
CINDERELLA by Amy White Theatre
“A great production with an easy plot to follow, with energetic comedy, songs and dances, this panto was well performed and had good pace”
SINBAD SAVES THE DAY by CAODS Trinity Theatre
“This panto delivered some stand out performances, all the traditional elements were there and everyone onstage and, in the audience, clearly had an enjoyable time”
The winner is:
The Raymond Allen Award
We were honoured last year, when Nancy Allen approached us and asked if she could sponsor one of the Island Theatre Awards, in memory of her late screenwriter husband, Raymond Allen. Our penultimate award of the evening is the THE RAYMOND ALLEN AWARD.
An accomplished and celebrated screenwriter, Raymond struck gold with his scripts for “Some Mothers do ‘ave ‘em” which ran for three series. He went on to write for Fast Forward, The Little and Large Show and others.
We were extremely honoured to receive a short message from Frank Spencer himself, Michael Crawford. (check it out on our Facebook page).
This award is to recognise someone from our Island theatre community who has dominated both singing and comedy roles for over 50 years. It’s not that he hasn’t performed serious drama as well, but over the years, he has become synonymous with one particular type of comedy character. His theatre blood also runs through his sons as they too, are very much part of the fabric of Island theatre.
Many of the attendees at the awards will have shared a stage with him, or at the very least, enjoyed a birthday cake made by him. He is often referred to as “The Singing Chef”.
The first recipient of The Raymond Allen Award is the Panto Dame maestro himself Mr JOHN WOODFORD
THE JOHN HANNAM AWARD
Many will remember John Hannam and the original Isle of Wight amateur theatre awards. His dedication to the spirit of theatre was much appreciated by the Island theatre community.
This category to recognise an organisation or a person for their dedication and contribution to Island Theatre and were pleased to welcome Caroline Hannam to help present THE JOHN HANNAM AWARD.
Each year we ask the theatre groups to suggest nominations for this category. Someone who in their opinion, could be recognised for their dedication and contribution to the same spirit that we appreciated from John. This year one name easily came to the top of the pile.
Involved with theatre from a child, both in the theatre and film industries, she has worked tirelessly for several Island theatre groups, including the Savoyards, Curtain Call Creative, Bembridge Little Theatre Club and GASP. There is almost literally no job connected to producing a show that she has not undertaken; making and sourcing props; marketing and publicity; stage management; Front of House; Lighting; costumes; even organising the after-show party!
She rarely puts herself forward for a leading role, indeed, often has to be persuaded to audition in the first place, and is the first person to offer to step aside to allow someone else to take the limelight.
However, she is consistently one of the best singers, comedy and character actors on the Island, with recent performances in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Ghost-hunting and The Sorcerer. Her focus is on supporting her fellow performers and she never looks for any attention or accolade.
However, we would like the IW theatre community to do just that – Look at her!
This year’s winner of the John Hannam Award is Libby Pike
With thanks to…
Thank you to our volunteer judges, thank you to the IW Theatre Awards Evening steering group. A special thank you to:
- Verity McCormick for designing the programme and this evening’s presentation,
- Michael and Rachel Dangerfield from Isle of Wight Printing and Wight Productions, who very kindly sponsored the printing of our programmes and certificates this evening.
- Paul Bird for generously volunteering his time once again to capture the memories of our awards night.
- … and especially thank you to all our Island amateur theatre groups for their enthusiasm and continued support of these awards.
And finally…
The Island theatre awards are not something to fear
We just Recognise the best of what we saw last year.
With dramatic plays, both light and dark,
With musicals where dancers make their mark
And funny pantomimes that give us smiles.
As the actors have us rolling in the aisles
The judges already have their instructions
Let’s hope 2026 brings some fantastic productions!
Want to read more?
- Check out past awards here
- Subscribe to our Google Calendar to see all the Island shows to come!