A spokesperson for the festival said: “Productions of the highest standards were the order of the day for this year’s festival and we were delighted to welcome some new entries this year.” This year’s “mini Oscars” were held at the West Leeds Academy where all entries and lucky nominees from adult, youth,and schools gathered together to celebrate a year full of drama, pantos and musicals. Singers from Ilkley Upstagers entertained the audience to open proceedings, then a stunning visual presentation by committee member Allan Hollins gave a glimpse of the variety of productions which were in the festival this year.
Winners of Wharfedale Festival Of Theatre 2024 Pantomime Addingham Pantomime Group Pat Dyson Spirit of Theatre Award – Addingham Pantomime Group Drama Unlimited Chairman’s Special Award Outstanding performance – The Babes – Drama Unlimited – “Babes in the Wood” ILKLEY UPSTAGERS Best Pantomime Fairy Amy Watt Best Pantomime Villain George Scaife Best Pantomime Principal Boy Sophie Holdsworth Best Pantomime Principal Girl Olivia Leather Best Pantomime Programme Robin Hood Best Pantomime Stage Presentation Robin Hood Best Pantomime Choreography Robin Hood Best Pantomime Director John Clark, Andrew Hewitt & Joey Wilby Best Pantomime Musical Director Phil Walsh Best Pantomime Robin Hood LIDOS Best Pantomime Dame Mark Gale (LIDOS) Best Pantomime Male Support James Pegg (LIDOS) Best Pantomime Cameo Graham Siddle & Adrian Marshall (LIDOS) Best Pantomime (Runner up) Jack and the Beanstalk (LIDOS) Innovation – LIDOS – “Jack and the Beanstalk” Relaxed and Signed performances STARS Best Pantomime Comedy Lead Dave Collins (STARS) Best Pantomime Female Support Lydia Fish (STARS) Chairman’s Special Award – Outstanding performance So Hi, So Lo, So Shy, So Wot, So So – STARS – “Aladdin” MUSICALS (YOUTH & SCHOOLS) Roundhay School Best Actor Euan (Roundhay School) Best Supporting Actor George as Lord Farquaad (Roundhay School) Best Cameo Orla as Gingerbread “Gingy” (Roundhay School) Best Stage Presentation Shrek (Roundhay School) Best Musical Director Chris Johnson (Roundhay School) Best Director Rachel Tustain (Roundhay School) Best Musical Shrek (Roundhay School) Merit & Outstanding Certificates characters in “Shrek” Lawnswood School Best Actress Isabel as Belle (Lawnswood School) Best Supporting Actor Blaize as Lumiere (Lawnswood School) Best Musical (Runner up) Beauty and the Beast (Lawnswood School) Merit & Outstanding Certificates characters in “Beauty & The Beast” Leeds West Academy Best Actress Hayden (Taylor McKessie) (Leeds West Academy) Best Supporting Actress (Leeds West Academy) Best Programme Matilda Jnr (Leeds West Academy) Festival Rose Salver for Ambience – Leeds West Academey “Matilda Jnr.” Merit & Outstanding Certificates characters in “Matilda” Ilkley Musical Theatre Society Best Choreography Jo Sproston & Mark Allan (Ilkley Musical Theatre Society) Merit & Outstanding Certificates characters in “The Wiz” MUSICALS (ADULT) Guiseley Theatrical Productions Best Actor James Windle (Guiseley Theatrical Productions) Best Supporting Actress Catherine Gregory Best Choreography Kimberley Grillo (Guiseley Theatrical Productions) Best Director Rick Hyland (Guiseley Theatrical Productions) Best Musical (Runner Up) School of Rock (Guiseley Theatrical Productions) Trevor Hallet trophy for Best Comedy Performance – Dan Mirren – Guiseley TP “School of Rock” Yeadon Theatre Company Best Actress Lucy Boniface (Yeadon Theatre Company) Best Supporting Actor David Kirk (Yeadon Theatre Company) Chairman’s Special Award – Nun’s Chorus led by Joan Kay Mother Abbess – Yeadon Theatre Company – “Sound of Music Best Programme The Sound of Music (Yeadon Theatre Company) Best Stage Presentation The Sound of Music (Yeadon Theatre Company) Best Director Anita Adams (Yeadon Theatre Company) Best Musical Director Adam Boniface (Yeadon Theatre Company) Best Musical The Sound of Music (Yeadon Theatre) Ilkley Musical Theatre Society Best Actress Rachel MacMahon “Sunset Boulevard” Keighley Playhouse trophy for best costumed production – Ilkley AOS “Sunset Boulevard” Best Supporting Actress Catherine Gregory “Sunset Boulevard” Best Cameo Gary Holmes (Ilkley Musical Theatre Society) Valerie Jackson Trophy for young dancer/dance group – Joze School of Dance – Ilkley AOS Jnrs – “The Wiz” DRAMA Fulneck Dramatic Society Best Actor Peter Oxtoby Best Actress Claire Andrews Best Supporting Actor Paul Cullingord & Greg Adams Best Drama (2nd) Pygmalion Adel Players Best Stage Presentation Two Best Drama (3rd) Two Guiseley Theatrical Productions Best Programme Brassed Off Best Director Rick Hyland Best Drama Brassed Off Peter Russel Trophy For Technical Excellence - “Brassed Off” Bernard Riley Trophy for young performer in an adult production; Lily May as Shane Guiseley TP ; “Brassed Off” Chairman’s Special Award – Clifton & Lightcliffe Brass Band - – “Brassed Off” Integration in a drama STARS Best Supporting Actress Jane Collins (STARS) Halifax Playhouse Best Cameo Ged Marescaux.
