The nominations for the Swan Theatre are in as artsrichmond once again recognises the best in local theatrical talent. Amateur theatre groups, including Richmond Shakespeare Society, Teddington Theatre Club and Old Hamptonians’ Amateur Dramatic Society, have received multiple nominations for the awards that will be handed out at the Hampton Hill Playhouse on September 27.

Best Design Gordon Edwards (set) and Jean Goodwin (lighting) for Mary Stuart (TTC)Gary Stevenson, Mike Elgey , Alan Corbett & Carolyn Williams (artwork) for A Christmas Carol (TTC) (TTC) Jean Goodwin (set) for The Price (TTC) Chris Hurles (set design) for Moonlight & Magnolias (RSS) Annie Collinette & Susan Conte (overall design) for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (BCP)

Best Child Actor aged 14 & under Joe Meredith as Young Scrooge and Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol (TTC) Lauren Gilbert as Gladys Herdman in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (Edmundians) George Abbott for various parts in I Hate Shakespeare (RSS Youth) Ciara Diver for various parts in I Hate Shakespeare (RSS Youth) Chris Capon for various parts in I Hate Shakespeare (RSS Youth)

Best Supporting Actress Liz Madgwick as Nurse Kelly in Harvey (RSS) Kelli White as Leah in My Sister in this House (Journeyman Theatre Co) Sue Miller as Miss Poppenghul in Moonlight & Magnolias (RSS) Julie Davis as Angela in Abigail’s Party (OHADS) Mandy Stenhouse as Moxie in Relative Values (TTC)

Best Supporting Actor Nigel Cole as Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester in Mary Stuart (TTC) Nigel Oatway as Sylvestro in Scapino (SMDG) John Mortley as Ben Hecht in Moonlight & Magnolias (RSS) Andy Smith as Frank in The Memory of Water (OHADS)

Best Supporting Male Performer in a Musical John Pyle as Don Alhambra in The Gondoliers (Hounslow Light Opera) Nick Phillips as Sir John Tremayne in Me & My Girl (Barnes Charity Players) Stuart Turnbull as Mr. Fezziwig & Old Joe in A Christmas Carol (TTC)

Best Supporting Female Performer in a Musical Tracy Frankson as the Ghost of Christmas Past in A Christmas Carol (TTC) Linda Sirker as Sister Amnesia in Nunsense (TTC) Bee Wilkinson in Godspell (TOpS) Faye Ellingham in Godspell (Tops)

Best Female Performer in a Musical Alexa Bushell as Sally Smith in Me & My Girl (Barnes Charity Players) Sue Bell as Mother Superior in Nunsense (TCC)

Best Male Performer in a Musical Peter Beaven as John the Baptist/Judas Iscariot in Godspell (TOpS) John Pyle as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol (TTC)

Best Actress Nikki Squire as Mona in Days of Wine & Roses (RSS) Frances Billington as Winnie in Happy Days (RSS) Joolz Connery as Teresa in The Memory of Water (OHADS) Norma Beresford as Madame Danzard in My Sister in this House (Journeyman Theatre Co) Susie Baxter as Anna in Anna Karenina (Q2 Players)

Best Actor Andy Smith as Laurence in Abigail’s Party (OHADS) Stephen Taylor as Sassoon in Not About Heroes (TTC) James Hammond as Owen in Not About Heroes (TTC) Francis Abbott as Alastair in Whipping it Up (RSS) Simon Mitelman as David O. Selznick in Moonlight & Magnolias (RSS)

Cygnet Award Abigail’s Party directed by Harry Medawar (OHADS) My Sister in this House directed by Bob Dilley (Journeyman Theatre Co) Last Tango in Little Grimley & Last Panto in Little Grimley directed by John Bellamy (OHADS) Anna Karenina directed by Polly Beauwin (Q2 Players)

Best Musical Production A Christmas Carol, directed by Ken Mason, Musical Director Will Williams (TTC) Godspell directed by Gill Wade, Choreography Babette Langford, Musical Director Dave Roberts (TOpS)

Best Production of a Play Not About Heroes directed and designed by Chris Burton (TTC) The Price directed by David Lewsey (TTC) Moonlight & Magnolias directed by Maxina Cornwell (RSS) Much Ado about Nothing directed by John Gilbert (RSS)

The nominations for the Best Young Actress and Actor aged 15-19 will be announced at the end of July. ,

TTC – Teddington Theatre Club RSS – Richmond Shakespeare Society SMDG – St. Mary’s Drama Group, Hampton BCP – Barnes Charity Players OHADS – Old Hamptonians’ Amateur Dramatic Society TOpS – Twickenham Operatic Society