Dozens gathered at The Brook in Soham at the weekend as Viva Arts and Theatre Group held its annual awards ceremony.
Guests at the ceremony included Viva president Michael Fenton Stevens, Viva vice president Clare Buckfield and Viva’s founding patron Sir James Paice.
This year’s special guest was West End star and television actor John Partridge, who is best known for playing Christian in Eastenders.
Entertainment on the night came from the cast of Viva’s Beauty and the Beast, who performed ‘Be Our Guest’. Zara Minns, Joseph Beach and Jake Overy also performed a ‘Hairspray’ medley while Riley Williams performed solo, and Dan Lane and Max Bovingdon as a duo.
The awards ceremony closed with music from Soham Comrades Band.
And the winners were…
• Dresden Goodwin won the Anastasia Billinge Award for Viva Youth Theatre Member of the Year. It was voted for by the Viva members and presented by Viva vice president and TV/theatre star Clare Buckfield.
Delia Tickner won the Stella Award which was presented by Viva’s longest serving trustee Ann Roberts.
• David Tickner won the James and Ava Paice Best Actor Award. It was presented by Viva’s founding patron and long-time supporter Sir James Paice.
• Mary Barnes won the Ann Tuite Best Actress Award, which was presented by Viva’s past chairman of the trustees and honorary life member Anne Tuite.
• Radha Bilimoria won the Sheila Steafel Comedy Award which was presented by Viva’s president and TV/theatre star Mike Fenton Stevens.
• Daniel Allgood won the Harvey Prize for Best Ensemble Performance. It was presented by Clare Buckfield.
• Phyllida Hickish won the Angela Bocking Shield for Musicianship, which was presented by founder of the National Youth Music Theatre and West End Director Jeremy James Taylor OBE.
• Kate Rollinson won the Brackenridge Prize for Dance, which was presented by award sponsor Kylie Brackenridge.
• Philip Midgley won the Unsung Hero Award, which was presented by Viva patron, actor, author and radio presenter Richard Spendlove.
• Joseph Beach won the Sir John Baird Award for Young Actor of the Year, and Holly Pryke won the Lady Baird Award for Young Singer of the Year. Both awards were presented by Viva’s president and TV/theatre star Liza Goddard.
• Emma Gilbey was presented with the Robert and Lisa Barnes Best Supporting Actress Award by Viva trustee Robert Barnes.
• Geoff Fisher took home the Michael Fenton Stevens Best Supporting Actor Award. It was presented by Viva’s president and TV/theatre star Mike Fenton Stevens.
• Callum Moffat won the Liza Goddard Comedy Performance Award.
• Jenny Tayler-Surridge won the Hobbs Cup for Viva Member of the Year, which was presented by Sir James Paice.
• Katie Kirkpatrick won the Viva Youth Theatre Trustees Award for Leadership. It was presented by June Cannie, education leadership advisor from The Moller Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.
• Alison O’ Connor won the Harry Fletcher Backstage Award. It was presented by Julius Green, West End producer, former Society of London Theatre board member, theatre author, newspaper columnist and fellow of Corpus Christi College.
• Siobhan Fordham won the Vivienne Smart Junior Member of the Year Award. It was presented by Gordon Smart, Viva honorary life vice president.
• Rob Barton won the Josh Schumann The Show Must Go On Award, which was presented by Sir James Paice.
• Richard Hayward won the Jean Macrae Award for Musical Contribution. It was presented by Mike Fenton Stevens.
• Kerry Hibbert won the Ruth Francis Award for Special Contribution to Viva Youth Theatre. It was presented by Liza Goddard
• Riley Williams won the Stephen Kenna Triple Threat Award. It was presented by West End/TV star John Partridge.
• Keith Gallois and Judith Collingswood won the Richard Spendlove Director of the Year Award.
• Max Bovingdon won the Dan Schumann Shield for Dedication and Commitment, which was presented by John Partridge.
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