This year’s Royston town pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, was a huge success and the local drama group behind it has also presented its two annual drama awards.
Produced by Corvus Amateur Drama Society (CADS), the panto attracted record audiences with almost every one of its six performances sold out long before curtain up.
At Saturday’s matinee, group members were delighted to welcome the panto's author, Cheshunt-based writer Warren McWilliams, to the audience and he was kind enough to visit the cast backstage after the show.
Also at the end of its run, CADS presented its two annual drama awards.
The Fred Sillence Award, named in honour of a former member and one-time editor of the Royston Crow, was given to Peter Heppelthwaite of Limitless Academy in Royston.
The citation said: “The Academy has carved out for itself an enviable reputation locally (and further afield) for excellence in production and performance.
"It has presented over 30 shows in the five years it has been in existence, and recent productions have scooped prizes at many drama festivals.
"It organises a variety of courses on all aspects of drama, dance and singing, and Peter has been able to attract many professionals from the worlds of television, film and theatre to run these.
"Former students speak enthusiastically about the work of the Academy and in particular about Peter himself who, despite a number of health issues last year, continues to put everything into the Academy.
"As a father of three, he is also keen to communicate to the children who attend both the benefits and the fun that the Academy can offer.
"For seemingly boundless exuberance, commitment and sheer hard work, we can think of no one more entitled to this award.”
The Lizzie Houghton Award, also named in honour of a former member and given to someone under the age of 18, was presented to Oliver Eather “for his dedication, commitment and enthusiasm from a very young age”.
The Royston amateur drama group is already gearing up for its next production, which will be a one-act comedy to be entered in the 2023 Welwyn Drama Festival in May.
The Case of the Count Formerly Known as Dracula features a hard-boiled 1940s private eye summoned to Transylvania to investigate the mysterious disappearance of young maidens.
Auditions for the play, which are open to anyone, will take place from 7pm on Monday, February 6 in the Drama Studio at King James Academy Royston (Senior Site).
You can find out more about it, including a full list of characters, by visiting the CADS website www.cadsroyston.org.uk or by emailing cads.secretary@gmail.com
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