The 2022 Brighton & Hove Arts Council drama awards ceremony was held at Brighton Girls, Montpelier Road, Brighton on Tuesday, 13th December 2022.
The categories, nominees and winners were:
1) Best set design
Nominees:
- Southwick Players for “The House They Grew Up In”
- Henfield Theatre Company for “Pressure”
- Burgess Hill Theatre Club for “One Man Two Guv’nors”
Winner:
Burgess Hill Theatre Club for “One Man Two Guv’nors”
2) Best costume design
Nominees:
- Jo Kerns for “The Thrill Of Love”, Hurst Players
- Lyn Fryer and team for “Pressure”, Henfield Theatre Company
- Laurel Bowker, Clare Spicer and team for “Plaza Suite”, Rottingdean Drama Society
Winner:
Laurel Bowker, Clare Spicer and team for “Plaza Suite”, Rottingdean Drama Society
3) Best stage crew
Nominees:
- Wick Theatre Company for “Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (abridged)”
- Hurst Players for “The Thrill Of Love”
- Southwick Players for “The House They Grew Up In”
Winner:
Hurst Players for “The Thrill Of Love”
4) Best sound design
Nominees:
- Ian Somers for “The Thrill Of Love”, Hurst Players
- Dave Barrett for “Pressure”, Henfield Theatre Company
- The Technical Sound Team for “One Man Two Guv’nors”, Burgess Hill Theatre Company
Winner:
Dave Barrett for “Pressure”
5) Best lighting design
Nominees:
- Martin Oakley and Suse Crosby for “Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (abridged)”, Wick Theatre Company
- Steve Somers for “The Thrill Of Love”, Hurst Players
- Mike Cawte and Steve Sheppard for “Pressure”, Henfield Theatre Company
Winner:
Steve Somers for “The Thrill Of Love”, Hurst Players
6) Best publicity
Nominations
- Suse Crosby for “Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)”, Wick Theatre Company
- Bob Sampson and Sam Hile for “The Thrill of Love”, Hurst Players
- Archie Tipple for “One Man Two Guvnors”, Burgess Hill Theatre Company
Winner:
Suse Crosby for “Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)”, Wick Theatre Company
7) The Padley award for best supporting actor (male)
Nominations
- Phil Balding as Jack Gale in “The Thrill of Love”, Hurst Players
- Trevor Hodgson as Colonel Irving P Krick in “Pressure”, Henfield Theatre Company
- Robert Marcus as Ron Hubley in “Plaza Suite”, Rottingdean Drama Society
Winner:
Robert Marcus as Ron Hubley in “Plaza Suite”, Rottingdean Drama Society
8) The Padley award for best supporting actor (female)
Nominations
- Lyn Snowdon as Doris Judd in “The Thrill of Love”, Hurst Players
- Kim Asperling as Sophie in “The House They Grew Up In”, Southwick Players
- Stephanie Somerville as Pauline Clench in “One Man Two Guvnors” , Burgess Hill Theatre Club
Winner:
Stephanie Somerville as Pauline Clench in “One Man Two Guvnors” , Burgess Hill Theatre Club
9) The Vaughan Rees award for best actor (male)
Nominations
- Anthony Leigh as Daniel in “The House They Grew Up In”, Southwick Players
- Rebel Atkinson as Group Captain James Stagg in “Pressure”, Henfield Theatre Company
- Robson Ternouth as Francis Henshall in “One Man Two Guvnors”, Burgess Hill Theatre Group
Winner:
Rebel Atkinson as Group Captain James Stagg in “Pressure”, Henfield Theatre Company
10) The Vaughan Rees award for best actor (female)
Nominations
- Karrin Greirson as Ruth Ellis in “The Thrill of Love”, Hurst Players
- Debbie Creissen as Peppy in “The House They Grew Up in”, Southwick Players
- Emily Norman as Lt. Kay Sommersby in “Pressure”, Henfield Theatre Company
Winner:
Debbie Creissen as Peppy in “The House They Grew Up in”, Southwick Players
11) Best technical achievement
The award for best technical achievement went to Henfield Theatre Company for “Pressure”.
12) The Gabbus Denney award for best director
Nominations
- Tony Brownings for “The Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged)”, Wick Theatre Company
- Sarah Papouis for “The House They Grew Up In”, Southwick Players
- Sophie Davies and Pippa Jones for “One Man Two Guvnors”, Burgess Hill Theatre Company
Winner:
Sarah Papouis for “The House They Grew Up In”, Southwick Players.
13) The Arthur Churchill award for excellence
The “Excellence Award” goes collectively to a team of three talented performers for their amazing teamwork and their acting brilliance. This year it was awarded to Jaqueline Harper, Mark Best, and Dan Dryer for “The Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged)”, Wick Theatre Company.
14) The Adjudicator’s Award
The Adjudicator’s Award went to a young rising star of the future – Param Paresh as Ben in “The House They Grew Up In”, Southwick Players.
15) The Bea Waters challenge cup for best overall production
The ‘best overall production’ award went to “The House They Grew Up in“, Southwick Players.
All photos by Nick Ford www.nickfordphotography.co.uk