On Sunday 20 July at 7pm, we are once again thrilled to be playing host to the The Eagle Awards. Now in its 29th year, we will be bursting onto the Derby Theatre stage with pzazz, panache and in the presence of some of the most exciting talent in the region. The Eagle Awards showcases and celebrates the wealth of amateur theatre in Derby and Derbyshire and is one of the highlights of the region’s cultural calendar.
Derby and the surrounding areas are fortunate to have one of the country’s largest and most vibrant Amateur Theatre communities and awards, of a beautiful Eagle designed exclusively by Royal Crown Derby, will once again be presented to individuals and companies who have excelled in key areas. Amateur translates as ‘for the love of it’ and The Eagle Awards celebrate, promote and recognise this love and the wonderful array of theatre it produces each year.
Caroline Barth (Head of Learning, Derby Theatre and Eagles coordinator) said:
“The Eagle Awards is one of the city’s highlights of the arts and cultural calendar for non-professional artists and companies from across the region. The event is a wonderful opportunity for artists, companies and audiences alike to celebrate and recognise the fantastic talent and achievements of these companies. Once again, the judges have seen an amazing array of shows, and the judging has been incredibly tough. We look forward to seeing and welcoming all nominees, other members from the amateur theatre community and audiences on the evening.”
The nominations for 2025 are:
The Derby Telegraph Award for BEST PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
- The Watson Players for Caramba’s Revenge
- Derby Shakespeare Theatre Company for Romeo and Juliet
- Encore Performing Arts for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
- Chellaston Players for Inspector Drake and the Perfekt Crime
The Malcolm Sircom Award for BEST PRODUCTION OF A PANTOMIME
- The Watson Players for The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
- Little Eaton Players for The Little Mermaid
- The Enfield Players for Robin Hood and Babes in the Wood
- Aston Players for Camelot the Panto
The Gordon Bewley Award for BEST PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL
- Gatepost Theatre Company for Legally Blonde the Musical
- Central Musical Theatre Company for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
- Kristian Thomas Collective for Sister Act the Musical
- Beeston Musical Theatre Group for The Addams Family Musical
The Timothy Dalton Award for BEST PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY
- Jack Anthony (Romeo) in Romeo and Juliet for Derby Shakespeare Company
- Arden-Caspar Jennison (Christopher) in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time for Encore Performing Arts
- Daisy Donoghue (Susie Salmon) in The Lovely Bones for Encore Performing Arts
- Mik Horvath (Miss Gibson) in Daisy Pulls it Off for Belper Players
The Phil Treece Award for BEST PERFORMANCE IN A PANTOMIME
- Charlotte Brownsword (Simple Simon) in Jack and the Beanstalk for Chellaston Players
- Jake Perry (The Lion) in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz for The Watson Players
- Jackson Young (Thermidor) in The Little Mermaid for Little Eaton Players
- Richard Kirkland (Persil) in The Little Mermaid for Little Eaton Players
The Gwen Taylor Award for BEST PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL
- Luke Grainger (Lord Farquaad) in Shrek the Musical for Gatepost Theatre Company
- Jake Eyles (Cosmo Brown) in Singin’ in the Rain for Belper Musical Theatre
- Amy Wicks (Sister Mary Patrick) in Sister Act the Musical for Kristian Thomas Collective
- Sara Evans-Bolger (Florence) in Chess the Musical for Beeston Musical Group
The Jo Davison Award for BEST NEWCOMER
- Hannah Bradford (Maria) in The Sound of Music for Kaleidoscope Players
- Morgan Hemstock (Don Lockwood) in Singin’ in the Rain for Belper Musical Theatre
- Emily Owen (Director) on The Addams Family Musical for Beeston Musical Theatre
- Ann Colgan (Director) on Murder on the Nile for Blind Eye Productions
The Brian Glazebrook Award for OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
- Jonah Williams for Musical Direction on Made in Dagenham the Musical for LEOS Musical Theatre Society
- Adam Guest & Christopher Surridge for Directing The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time for Encore Performing Arts
- Chris Collington for Directing Shrek the Musical for Gatepost Theatre Company
- Ken Owen & Neil Jones for the set of Romeo and Juliet for Derby Shakespeare Theatre Company
The Jean Gemmell Award for BEST CONTRIBUTION BY A YOUNG PERSON
- Ruby Rutherford (Gretl Von Trapp) in The Sound of Music for Kaleidoscope Players
- William Curtis (Graham O’Grady) in Made in Dagenham the Musical for LEOS Musical Theatre Society
- Max Wilmot (Mole) in Wind in the Willows for Blind Eye Productions
- Ava Chetwyn (Laughalot) in Camelot the Panto for Aston Players
The David Orange Award for BEST YOUTH PRODUCTION
- Belper Junior Musical Theatre Company for Frozen the Musical Jr.
The Derby Theatre Award for EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION & PARTICIPATION
- LEOS Musical Theatre Society for Calamity Jane
- Central Musical Theatre Company for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
- Encore Performing Arts for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
- Drama Incorporated for Red Riding Hood: A Twisted Pantomime
The Ken and Barbara Pipes Award for EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTION TO AMATEUR THEATRE
To be announced on the night.
Gallery
Presenters and acts who will perform on the evening will be announced in due course…