Awards for Studio's Hamlet (From Salisbury Journal)

Awards for Studio's Hamlet

4:49pm Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Entertainments By Anne Morris

FRIDAY night saw triumph for Studio Theatre’s production of Hamlet. At the annual Daily Echo Curtain Call Awards in Southampton, held at the De Vere Grand Harbour Hotel, the amateur dramatic company’s production almost swept the board in the Shakespeare category.

Stewart Taylor was named best actor (Hamlet), Rachel Fletcher best actress (Gertrude), Alistair Faulkner best supporting actor (Polonius) and Lesley Bates Best Director.

This represented four out of the potential five awards in the Shakespeare category.

Four hundred nominees attended the evening’s event, which also saw a win for Studio’s James Coughlan in the best actor in a comedy category for his role as Justin in Role Play.

Both Role Play and Hamlet were enthusiastically reviewed by the Journal when they were performed last year in Salisbury at the drama group’s theatre in Ashley Road.

Studio’s production of Hamlet, performed in the summer of 2011, had been included in the Royal S h a k e s p e a r e Company’s Open Stages project, designed to narrow the gap between amateur and professional theatre. Open Stages co-ordinator Ian Wainwright sent a message to the Curtain Call organisers to say how delighted the RSC was that Shakespeare was being recognised in the awards.

Daily Echo editor Ian Murray and entertainments editor Lorelei Reddin hosted the glittering awards ceremony. Holby City actor Guy Henry, who has also performed extensively with the Royal Shakespeare Company, presented the awards.

A delighted Lesley Bates said: “We are all really thrilled that Studio did so well at the awards and for Hamlet to win all four of the categories where we had nominations was just amazing. It was a fantastic evening for all of us and for James Coughlan as well.”