Now in its 29th year, The Eagle Awards remain one of the highlights of Derby’s cultural calendar, recognising the passion and dedication that fuels the local amateur theatre scene. The awards are named after the stunning Eagle statuette, designed exclusively by Royal Crown Derby, and honour stand-out productions, performances and contributions made throughout the past year.
Caroline Barth, Head of Learning at Derby Theatre and Coordinator of the Eagle Awards, 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.”
Nominees 2025
BEST PRODUCTION OF A PLAY — The Derby Telegraph Award
- Caramba’s Revenge – The Watson Players
- Romeo and Juliet – Derby Shakespeare Theatre Company
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Encore Performing Arts
- Inspector Drake and the Perfekt Crime – Chellaston Players
BEST PRODUCTION OF A PANTOMIME – The Malcolm Sircom Award
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz – The Watson Players
- The Little Mermaid – Little Eaton Players
- Robin Hood and Babes in the Wood – The Enfield Players
- Camelot the Panto – Aston Players
BEST PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL – The Gordon Bewley Award
- Legally Blonde the Musical – Gatepost Theatre Company
- Disney’s Beauty and the Beast – Central Musical Theatre Company
- Sister Act the Musical – Kristian Thomas Collective
- The Addams Family Musical – Beeston Musical Theatre Group
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY – The Timothy Dalton Award
- Jack Anthony (Romeo) – Romeo and Juliet, Derby Shakespeare Theatre Company
- Arden-Caspar Jennison (Christopher) – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Encore Performing Arts
- Daisy Donoghue (Susie Salmon) – The Lovely Bones, Encore Performing Arts
- Mik Horvath (Miss Gibson) – Daisy Pulls it Off, Belper Players
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A PANTOMIME – The Phil Treece Award
- Charlotte Brownsword (Simple Simon) – Jack and the Beanstalk, Chellaston Players
- Jake Perry (The Lion) – The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Watson Players
- Jackson Young (Thermidor) – The Little Mermaid, Little Eaton Players
- Richard Kirkland (Persil) – The Little Mermaid, Little Eaton Players
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL – The Gwen Taylor Award
- Luke Grainger (Lord Farquaad) – Shrek the Musical, Gatepost Theatre Company
- Jake Eyles (Cosmo Brown) – Singin’ in the Rain, Belper Musical Theatre
- Amy Wicks (Sister May Patrick) – Sister Act the Musical, Kristian Thomas Collective
- Sara Evans-Bolger (Florence) – Chess the Musical, Beeston Musical Group
BEST NEWCOMER – The Jo Davison Award
- Hannah Bradford (Maria) – The Sound of Music, Kaleidoscope Players
- Morgan Hemstock (Don Lockwood) – Singin’ in the Rain, Belper Musical Theatre
- Emily Owen (Director) – The Addams Family Musical, Beeston Musical Theatre
- Ann Colgan (Director) – Murder on the Nile, Blind Eye Productions
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT – The Brian Glazebrook Award
- Jonah Williams – Musical Direction, Made in Dagenham the Musical, LEOS Musical Theatre Society
- Adam Guest & Christopher Surridge – Direction, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Encore Performing Arts
- Chris Collington – Direction, Shrek the Musical, Gatepost Theatre Company
- Ken Owen & Neil Jones – Set Design, Romeo and Juliet, Derby Shakespeare Theatre Company
BEST CONTRIBUTION BY A YOUNG PERSON – The Jean Gemmell Award
- Ruby Rutherford (Gretl Von Trapp) – The Sound of Music, Kaleidoscope Players
- William Curtis (Graham O’Grady) – Made in Dagenham the Musical, LEOS Musical Theatre Society
- Max Wilmot (Mole) – Wind in the Willows, Blind Eye Productions
- Ava Chetwyn (Laughalot) – Camelot the Panto, Aston Players
BEST YOUTH PRODUCTION – The David Orange Award
Frozen the Musical Jr. – Belper Junior Musical Theatre Company
EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION & PARTICIPATION – The Derby Theatre Award
- Calamity Jane – LEOS Musical Theatre Society
- Disney’s Beauty and the Beast – Central Musical Theatre Company
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Encore Performing Arts
- Red Riding Hood: A Twisted Pantomime – Drama Incorporated
EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTION TO AMATEUR THEATRE – The Ken and Barbara Pipes Award
Winner to be announced on the evening.
The event will also feature live performances and guest presenters, with further details to be announced in the lead-up to the ceremony.
For more information and The Eagle Awards 2025 updates, visit the Derby Theatre website here: The Eagle Awards 2025 – Derby Theatre or follow us on social media (Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube – @derbytheatre).