The Eagle Awards showcases and celebrates the wealth of amateur theatre in Derby and Derbyshire and is one of the highlights of the region's cultural calendar.
On Sunday 16 July at 7pm, we are once again thrilled to be playing host to The Eagle Awards. Now in its 27th year, and following a long, 3-year break, the awards will make a much-awaited, in-person return, bursting back onto the Derby Theatre stage with pzazz, panache and in the presence of some of the most exciting talent in the region.
Derby and the surrounding areas are fortunate to have one of the country’s largest and most vibrant Amateur Theatre communities and awards, of a beautiful Eagle designed exclusively by Royal Crown Derby, will once again be presented to individuals and companies who have excelled in key areas. Amateur translates as ‘for the love of it’ and The Eagle Awards celebrate, promote and recognise this love and the wonderful array of theatre it produces each year.
The nominations for 2023 are:
The Derby Telegraph Award for BEST PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
Derby Shakespeare Theatre Company for The Merchant of Venice
Encore Performing Arts for Frankenstein
The Marlowe Players for Dirty Dusting
Quarndon Amateur Dramatic Society for One Night in Lockdown
The Malcolm Sircom Award for BEST PRODUCTION OF A PANTOMIME
Chellaston Players for Sinbad the Sailor
Kaleidoscope Players for Sleeping Beauty
Kristian Thomas Company for Jack and the Beanstalk
Watson Players for Alice in Wonderland
The Gordon Bewley Award for BEST PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL
Beeston Musical Theatre Group for Fiddler on the Roof
The Cast for Assassins
Gatepost Theatre Company for Kinky Boots
Kristian Thomas Collective for Curtains
The Timothy Dalton Award for BEST PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY
Kheenan Jones (The Creature) in Frankenstein for Encore Performing Arts
Sonia Hardy (Jo) in Entertaining Angels for The Marlowe Players
Jane Roots (Hilary) in Cheshire Cats for Etwall and Mickleover Players
Richard Whitehorn (Peter Castle) in One Night in Lockdown for Quarndon Amateur Dramatic Society
The Phil Treece Award for BEST PERFORMANCE IN A PANTOMIME
Chris Grantham (Dame Trott) in Jack and the Beanstalk for Kristian Thomas Company
Peter Harrison (Dame Edna Average) in Dick Whittington and His Cat for St Nicholas Players
Samantha Hempsall (Deadly Nightshade) in Sleeping Beauty for Kaleidoscope Players
Neve Smith (Rumpelstiltskin) in Rumpelstiltskin for Little Eaton Players
The Gwen Taylor Award for BEST PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL
Anna McAuley (Lilli Vanessi/Katherine) in Kiss Me Kate for LEOS Musical Theatre Company
Adam Guest (Tevye) in Fiddler on The Roof for Beeston Musical Theatre Group
Lottie Lodge (Mrs. Lovett) in Sweeney Todd for Gatepost Theatre Company
Daniel Surj (Lola/Simon) in Kinky Boots for Gatepost Theatre Company
The Jo Davison Award for BEST NEWCOMER
Lu Anthony (Choreographer) on Fiddler on the Roof for Beeston Musical Theatre Group
Chris Collington (Musical Director) on Sweeney Todd for Gatepost Theatre Company
Chris Grantham (Director) on Assassins for The Cast
Charlotte Howarth (Musical Director) on Fiddler on the Roof for Beeston Musical Theatre Group
The Brian Glazebrook Award for OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
Martin Smith and Helen Norton for the set on Dick Whittington and His Cat for The Enfield Players
Mark Green for the set on Kinky Boots for Gatepost Theatre Company
Clare Snape for the self-written play for One Night in Lockdown for Quarndon Amateur Dramatic Society
Christine Booth for the costumes on Rapunzel for Stargazers Drama Group
The Eagles’ Judges Award for THE BEST CONTRIBUTION BY A YOUNG PERSON
James Breen and Ted Osborn (Tommy Stubbins) in Doctor Dolittle for Central Musical Theatre Company
Finn Eden (Joseph) in Joseph for Belper Musical Theatre Juniors
Max Fuller (Angel) in Rent for Kristian Thomas Youth Company
Hannah Raziq (Reuben) in Joseph for Belper Musical Theatre Juniors
The David Orange Award for BEST YOUTH PRODUCTION
Kristian Thomas Youth Company for Rent
Belper Musical Theatre Juniors for Joseph
The awards for the Ken and Barbara Pipes Award for Exceptional Contribution To Amateur Theatre and Celebrating Equality, Diversity and Inclusion will also be presented and announced on the evening.
Confirmed presenters of The Eagle Awards 2023 include Gwen Taylor, Alicia Dring, Pamela Davison, Martyn Williams from BBC Radio Derby, Morgan Brind from Little Wolf Entertainment, Steve Dunning, Zena Hawley and Wyn Hinks. Some of the acts performing on the night include: Terrianne Lloyd-Jones (winner of Derby Vision); Derwent Brass, Ignite Choir, Belper Musical Theatre Juniors, Kristian Thomas Collective and Donna Briscoe-Greene.