The Echo Curtain Call Awards

The Daily Echo Curtain Call Awards are the most prestigious event on the local amateur dramatics calendar. They give the actors, actresses, directors, costume designers, set designers, choreographers and everyone else who contributes both on stage and behind the scenes the chance to get some much-deserved praise. The Maskers Theatre Company have been regularly nominated and have received many awards. Nomination are usually made in November/December each year and the awards are announced in January/February of the following year. The awards are given at at a prestigious annual dinner.

“As the editor of the Daily Echo said in ‘Hollywood has its Oscars; London its Baftas and now Southampton has its Deccas'. And what a glittering and exciting evening this annual event is!

Daily Echo has sponsored an Award ceremony for amateur theatre, open to groups from across their region. The whole of the magnificent Winchester Guildhall is taken over for the evening, with the main auditorium transformed by a dazzling array of motorised gobo's, pinspots, lasers and spotlights, creating the perfect setting to display the sartorial achievements of luvvies from the four corners of Hampshire.

A champagne reception provides limitless opportunities to try to put names to faces you haven't seen for ages, and then each group moves to its own tables for an excellent three course dinner, with all wine included.

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama
Hazel Burrows for Hannah in Little Women

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Comic Drama
Graham Buchanan for Nikita in Swan Song

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Comic Drama
Angharad Price for Sylvia in By the Half

Best Actor in a Comedy or Comic Drama
Rob Praine for Tom Jones in Tom Jones
John Souter for Suetlovidov inSwan Song

Best Actress in Comedy or Comic Drama
Avril Woodward for Madam in By the Half

Best Actor in a Comedy or Comic Drama
Johnny Hearn for An Ideal Husband
Steve Clark for Educating Rita

Best Actress in a Comedy or Comic Drama
Jo Iacovou for Educating Rita

Best Performance in an Opera
Hazel Burrows for The Beggars Opera

Best Director of a Comedy or Comic Drama
Ken Hann for Educating Rita

Best Director of a Shakespeare Play
Brian Stansbridge For The Comedy of Errors

Best Supporting Actress in a Shakespeare Play
Jo Russell for The Comedy of Errors

Albie Minns as a ruthlessly paternal comedy Sergeant Major in Accrington Pals

Adam Taussik As a fawning, cringe-worthy characterisation, perfect for the role in Pride and Pejudice

Allegra Carlton as Lady Catherine de Bourgh in Pride and Pejudice The personification of haughtiness.

Susannah Lawther. as Elizabeth in Pride and Pejudice. An intriguing mix of coquettishness and boldness.

Best Actor in a Comedy/Comic Drama
Matt Avery and Jonny Carrington for The Wind in the Willows

Production of the Year
The Philanthropist “this sharp production gave an evening to savour”

Comedy/Comedy Drama Best Actor
Matt Avery as Philip in The Philanthropist--- “Outstanding. A perfectly judged performance”

Comedy/Comedy Drama Best Actor
Matt Avery as Aubrey in Tons of Money - “expert timing and versatility”

Comedy/Comedy Drama Best Actress
Kate Grundy as Louise in Tons of Money “excellent”

Best Director
Albie Minns for The Philanthropist “tight direction gave full rein to this play’s humour”

Best Supporting Actor
Albie Minns as Doolittle in Pygmalion “strong and versatile”

Best Supporting Actress
Rachael Courage as Celia in The Philanthropist “her strident portrayal was outstanding”
And close to home there is also David Jupp who performed with RAODS in Quartet “snappy elastic expressions”

Best Actor in a Shakespeare Play
John Souter as Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor

Best Actor in a Drama
Matt Avery as Laurie in Cheek

Best Supporting Actor
Albie Minns as Andy and Steve Tizzard as Fred in Moonlight

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama.
Sheana Carrington as Bel in Moonlight

Best Newcomer for Set Design
Joe Diggins set design for Death and the Maiden

Best Lighting and Effects
Tony Lawther and Lawrie Gee – Best Lighting and effects for Death and the Maiden

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama
Matt Avery as Jack in The Herbal Bed.
Philip de Grouchy as Master Goche – The Herbal Bed.

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama
Susannah Lawther as Marguerite – The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Best Actress in a Shakespeare Play
Belinda Drew as Lady Macbeth - Macbeth.

And, although not for Maskers productions, some further Maskers nominated for awards

Best Director of an Opera and for Best Set
Albie Minns for Yeoman of the Guard