Big drama is set for East Lancashire's ‘Oscars’

More than 300 people will gather at Ewood Park, Blackburn, for the NODA North West district three awards with 23 societies battling it out for the honours.

Categories include best actors and actresses, directors, musical directors and choreographers in more than 30 plays and musicals performed during the past 18 months.

Also included are the behind-the-scenes teams for best staging and technical effects, choreography and costumes.

Youth productions and pantomimes also feature among the nominations.

Friday’s extravaganza will feature a cabaret by the cast of Todmorden AODS’s Footloose.

Mum-of-three Collette Wells, who has battled cancer for the past 10 years, will be the guest of honour.

There will be trade stands, offering a range of theatrical services – as well as more general goods – for sale.

BEST STAGING, SET OR TECHNICAL: Technical: UV Genie’s cave, Aladdin, Bacup AODS; The Magic Carpet, Aladdin Recycled, Padiham Performers Society; UV scene, Snow White, That’s Entertainment.

Lighting: 42nd Street and Chess, Clitheroe Parish Church AODS (Clitheroe); Patrick Keane, Sweet Charity, Blackburn Musical Theatre Company (BMTC); High School Musical 2, Rossendale Amateur Youth Section (RAYS); Chess, Burnley Light Opera Society (BLOS). Stage management: Peter Pan, Todmorden AODS (TAODS). Set: Blood Brothers, Bacup AODS; My Fat Friend, TAODS; Peter Pan, TAODS; Footloose, TAODS; Mack and Mabel, TAODS; Outside Edge, Christmas Carol and The Lady Killers, Blackburn Drama Club (BDC); Anything Goes and Sweet Charity, BMTC; Anything Goes, Pendle Hippodrome Youth Theatre (PHYT); Don’t Dress For Dinner, Pendle Hippodrome Theatre Company (PHTC); The Hot Mikado, Rossendale AOS (RAOS); Pinocchio, St Mary’s Pantomime Group; Chess, BLOS; Sweeney Todd, BLOS. Set design and build: Dying Matters and Neville’s Island, Oswaldtwistle Players (OP); Outside Edge, Clitheroe; Chess, Clitheroe; The Titfield Thunderbolt and Dead Guilty, Blackburn Arts Club (BAC); Waiting For Giro, Houghton Players; The Importance Of Being Earnest, Caught In The Net and Ghost Writer, Rossendale Players; Little Red Riding Hood, St Cuthbert’s Darwen; Show 2009, Todmorden Gang Show; Andrew Broadley, Anything Goes, St Cuthbert’s Burnley.

BEST COSTUME: Oliver! and Aladdin, Bacup AODS; 42nd Street, Chess and Outside Edge, Clitheroe; Seussical, Mack And Mabel, and Peter Pan, TAODS; A Christmas Carol and The Ladykillers, BDC; The Titfield Thunderbolt, BAC; Little Red Riding Hood, St Cuthbert’s Darwen; Anything Goes and Sweet Charity, BMTC; Sweeney Todd, BLOS; Cinderella, Burnley Pantomime Society; Oh What A Lovely War, Greenbrook Methodist AOS; Puss In Boots, Greenbrook Methodist Church Pantomime Society; Waiting For Giro, Houghton Players; Anything Goes, PHYT; A Little Night Music and The Scarlet Pimpernel, PHTC; High School Musical 2, RAYS; The Hot Mikado, RAOS; The Importance Of Being Earnest, Rossendale Players; Little Red Riding Hood, St Cuthbert’s Darwen; Pinocchio, St Mary’s Pantomime Group; Show 2009, Todmorden Gang Show.

BEST SUPPORTING MALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL: Bacup AODS: The Full Monty - Roger Wilson (Dave), David Hargreaves (Harold), Michael Howarth (Malcolm); Oliver! - David Rhodes (Bill Sykes).

Blackburn Musical Theatre Company (BMTC): Bernard Kennedy (Daddy Brubeck); Anything Goes - Jeremy Scholey (Sir Evelyn Oakleigh). Burnley Light Opera Society (BLOS): Chess - David Gill (Mr Molokov); Sweeney Todd - Richard Sanderson (Signor Pirelli), Mark Robinson (Anthony). Clitheroe Parish Church AODS (Clitheroe): 42nd Street - David Hulme (Billy). Greenbrook Methodist AOS: Oh What A Lovely War - Daniel Bend. Pendle Hippodrome Theatre Company (PHTC): Crazy For You - Richard Sanderson (Bella Zangler); Kiss Me Kate - Davis Slater (General Harrison Howell). Pepperpot Hill Theatre Group: Sweeney Todd - Robert Toner (Anthony). Rossendale AOS (RAOS): The Hot Mikado - Pete Astbury (Pooh Bah), Rhys Roberts (Mikado). St Cuthbert’s AODS Burnley: Anything Goes - Darren Lindley (Moonface Martin). Todmorden Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (TAODS): Footloose - Rhys Roberts (Willard), James Claxton (Chuck); Mack and Mabel - James Claxton (Fatty Arbuckle).

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE ACTOR IN A MUSICAL: Bacup AODS: The Full Monty - Janice Purslow (Vickie); Oliver! - Liz Woods (Mrs Sowerberry). BMTC: Sweet Charity - Anna Mansell (Helene), Susan Wilkin (Ursula March); Anything Goes - Sarah Chew (Hope Harcourt), Sally Hindle (Bonnie). BLOS: Chess - Joanne Gill (Svetlana); Sweeney Todd - Hannah Davis (Johanna). Clitheroe: 42nd Street - Lesley Haworth (Dorothy); Chess - Bethany Clews (Svetlana). PHTC: Crazy For You - Elizabeth Wellock (Irene); A Little Nigth Music - Jessica Hemingway (Anne). Pendle Hippodrome Youth Theatre (PHYT): Anything Goes - Jessica Hemingway (Bonnie). Pepperpot Hill: Sweeney Todd - Rachel Duffy (Johanna). RAOS: The Hot Mikado - Sally Bromley (Katisha). St Cuthbert’s Burnley: Anything Goes - Nichola Barrett (Bonnie). TAODS: Footloose - Alexandra Scott (Rusty), Rachel Rogers (Ethel); Mack and Mabel - Katrina Heath (Lottie Ames).

BEST MALE LEAD IN A MUSICAL: Bacup AODS: The Full Monty - Joel Brown (Jerry). BMTC: Sweet Charity - Jeremy Scholey (Oscar Lindquist); Anything Goes - Nicholas Gunn (Billy Crocker). BLOS: Chess - Simon Westwell (Anatoly), Adam Whittle (Freddie); Sweeney Todd - Simon Westwell (Sweeney Todd). Clitheroe: 42nd Street - Brian Haworth (Julian Marsh); Chess - Paul Sockett (Anatoly). PHTC: A Little Night Music - Mike McKeown (Frederick); Crazy For You - Rob Hartley (Bobby Child); Kiss Me Kate - Mark Raynor (Petruchio). PHYT: Anything Goes - Rob Hartley (Billy Crocker). Pepperpot Hill: Sweeney Todd - Andy Teirney (Sweeney Todd). RAOS: The Hot Mikado - Paul McGowan (Ko-Ko). St Cuthbert’s Burnley: Anything Goes - Martyn Green (Billy Crocker). TAODS: Mack and Mabel - Martin Cook (Mack); Footloose - Dave Barker (Ben).

BEST FEMALE LEAD IN A MUSICAL: Bacup AODS: The Full Monty - Jodie Potter (Georgie); Oliver! - Sophie Lord (Nancy). BMTC: Sweet Charity - Lyndsay Pilkington (Charity); Anything Goes - Geraldine Metcalfe (Reno Sweeney). BLOS: Chess - Vicki Stott (Florence); Sweeney Todd - Joanne Gill (Mrs Lovett). Clitheroe: 42nd Street - Katie Cowburn (Peggy Sawyer); Chess - Dawn-Marie Nicholls (Florence). PHTC: A Little Night Music - Jill Harrison (Desire); Crazy For You - Catherine Cox (Polly); Kiss Me Kate - Wendy Watson (Lilli Vanessi). PHYT: Anything Goes - Emily Williamson (Reno Sweeney). Pepperpot Hill: Sweeney Todd - Rachel Upton (Mrs Lovett). RAOS: The Hot Mikado - Charlotte McGrory (Yum-Yum). St Cuthbert’s Burnley: Anything Goes - Lyndsay Pilkington (Reno Sweeney).

TAODS: Footloose - Jade Harman (Ariel); Mack and Mabel - Alexandra Scott (Mabel).

BEST SUPPORTING MALE ACTOR IN A PLAY: Bacup AODS: Blood Brothers - Michael Howarth (Narrator). Blackburn Drama Club (BDC): Outside Edge - David Batterby (Dennis); The Ladykillers - Clive Stack (Louis), Paul Heyes (One Round). Clitheroe: Outside Edge - Ben Briscoe (Kevin). Houghton Players: Waiting For Giro - Paul Santus (Joe). Oswaldtwistle Players: Neville’s Island - Chris Knight (Gordon). PHTC: Don’t Dress For Dinner - Richard Sanderson (Robert). Rossendale Players: Caught In The Net - Neil Tramner (Stanley Gardner); The Importance Of Being Earnest - Paul Higginbottom (Doctor Chasuable); The Devil At Midnight - Paul Kenny (Jack Burns). TAODS: Deliver Us From Evil - John Tattersall (Tim Bestwood).

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE ACTOR IN A PLAY: Bacup AODS: Blood Brothers - Clare Round (Mother). Blackburn Arts Club (BAC): Fools Rush In - Judith Clare (Mrs Coot); The Killing Of Sister George - Julie Hopkinson (Madame Xenia). BDC: Outside Edge - Wendy Ranwell (Ginnie). Clitheroe: Outside Edge - Kelly Steed (Maggie). Houghton Players: Waiting For Giro - Joanne Ingham (Tasha). PHTC: Don’t Dress For Dinner - Angela Boult (Suzette). Rossendale Players: Caught In The Net - Penny Griffin (Barbara); The Devil At Midnight - Hazel Mrozek (Liz). TAODS: Deliver Us From Evil - Brenda Bell (Emmaline Rawlins).

BEST MALE LEAD IN A PLAY: Bacup AODS: Blood Brothers - Jed Hull (Mickey), Daniel Starkie (Eddie). BAC: The Titfield Thunderbolt - Tony Lewis (Mr Blakeworth and Sam Weech). BDC: Outside Edge - Clive Stack (Roger); A Christmas Carol - Jeffrey Moxham (Ebenezer Scrooge). Clitheroe: Outside Edge - Steve Cooke (Roger). Houghton Players: Waiting For Giro - Robin Brown (Ben). Oswaldtwistle Players: Neville’s Island - Derek Partlin (Neville). PHTC: Don’t Dress For Dinner - Jon Ranwell (Bernard). Rossendale Players: Caught In The Net - Michael Whewell (John Smith); Ghost Writer - Gary Woodhall (Edward). TAODS: Tom Dick And Harry - Martin Cook (Tom); My Fat Friend - Nick Turner (Henry).

BEST FEMALE LEAD IN A PLAY: BAC: The Titfield Thunderbolt - Andrea Cawley (Lady Edna Chesterford); The Killing Of Sister George - Anne Baron (June Buckridge). BDC: Outside Edge - Jan Barker (Miriam); The Ladykillers - Muriel Eccles (Mrs Wilberforce). Clitheroe: Outside Edge - Rose Dummer (Miriam). Houghton Players: Waiting For Giro - Carol McCann (Brenda). PHTC: Don’t Dress For Dinner - Marina Butterworth (Jacqueline). Rossendale Players: Caught In The Net - Angela Foulds (Mary Smith); The Importance Of Being Earnest - Sharon Brown (Lady Bracknell); The Devil At Midnight - Kimberley Howard (Nicki White). TAODS: My Fat Friend - Sarah-Jane Kitchen (Vicky).

BEST MUSICAL: Bacup YTES: Annie; Bacup AODS: Oliver!; Blackburn Musical Theatre Company (BMTC): Sweet Charity, Anything Goes; Burnley Light Opera Society (BLOS): Chess, Sweeney Todd; Clitheroe Parish Church AODS: Chess, 42nd Street; Pendle Hippodrome Theatre Company (PHTC): A Little Night Music, Crazy For You; Pendle Hippodrome Youth Theatre (PHYT): Anything Goes; Pepperpot Hill Theatre Group: Sweeney Todd; Rossendale AOS (RAOS): The Hot Mikado; St Cuthbert’s AODS Burnley: Anything Goes; Todmorden AODS (TAODS): Mack and Mabel, Footloose.

BEST ARTISTIC DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL: Regina Arkwright, Bacup YTES: Annie; Clare Round, Bacup AODS: Oliver!; Gary H Worthy and Tony Fry, BMTC: Sweet Charity, Anything Goes; Anthony Williams, BLOS: Chess, Sweeney Todd; Anne Grogan, Clitheroe: 42nd Street; Michael Dawson, Greenbrook Methodist AOS: Oh What A Lovely War; Richard Sanderson, PHTC: Crazy For You; Stephen Burrows, PHTC: A Little Night Music; Jon Ranwell, PHTC: Kiss Me Kate; Angela Boult, PHYT: Anything Goes; Lisa Tierney, Pepperpot Hill: Sweeney Todd; Chris Lawton, Rossendale Amateurs Youth Section (RAYS): High School Musical 2; Roger Nuttall, RAOS: The Hot Mikado; Janet Gilbert and Susan Barrett, St Cuthbert’s AODS Burnley: Anything Goes; Justine Sutcliffe, TAODS: Footloose; Rachel Rogers, TAODS: Mack and Mabel.

BEST MUSICAL DIRECTION: Julia Killick, Bacup YTES: Annie; Julia Killick, Bacup AODS: Oliver!; Phil McAuley, Bacup AODS: Aladdin; Graham Helm, Bacup AODS: The Full Monty; Paul Nicholls, BMTC: Sweet Charity, Anything Goes; Simon Murray and Adam Whittle, BLOS: Chess; Simon Murray, BLOS: Sweeney Todd; Anthony Williams, BLOS: The Magic Of The Musicals; Chris Andrews, Clitheroe: 42nd Street; Roger Purcell, Clitheroe: Chess; Nick Sanders, Pepperpot Hill: Sweeney Todd; Barry Jackson, PHTC: A Little Night Music; Lisa Manley, PHTC: Crazy For You; Lisa Manley, PHYT: Disco Inferno; Dan Cox, PHYT: Anything Goes; Dr Dill, RAOS: The Hot Mikado; Ross Johnson, RAYS: High School Musical 2; Brian Townend, St Cuthbert’s AODS Burnley: Anything Goes; Helen Clarkson, TAODS: Footloose, Seussical, Mack and Mabel.

BEST CHOREOGRAPHER: Clare Round: Oliver! Bacup AODS; Katie-Louise Fry, BMTC: Sweet Charity, Anything Goes; Anthony Williams, BLOS: Chess; Lindsay Pollard, Clitheroe: 42nd Street; Anne Grogan, Clitheroe: Chess; Susan Chippendale, PHTC: Crazy For You; Catherine Cox, PHTC: The Scarlet Pimpernel; Sarah Jones, PHTC: Kiss Me Kate; Catherine Cox, PHYT: Anything Goes; Janice Condon, St Cuthbert’s AODS Burnley: Anything Goes; Alexandra Scott, TAODS: Footloose; Emma Winslow, TAODS: Mack and Mabel.

BEST PLAY: Bacup AODS: Blood Brothers; Blackburn Drama Club (BDC): Outside Edge, A Christmas Carol, The Ladykillers; Clitheroe: Outside Edge; Oswaldtwistle Players: Dying Matters, Neville’s Island; PHTC: Don’t Dress For Dinner; Rossendale Players: The Importance Of Being Earnest, Caught In The Net; TAODS: My Fat Friend.

BEST ARTISTIC DIRECTION OF A PLAY: John Bartlett, Bacup AODS: Blood Brothers; Geoff Baron, Blackburn Arts Club (BAC): The Titfield Thunderbolt; Alison Bell, BAC: Fools Rush In; Jenny Hodkinson, BDC: Outside Edge; Paul Mason, BDC: A Christmas Carol; Dorothy Perkins, BDC: The Ladykillers; Jon Ranwell, Clitheroe: Outside Edge; Louis Ward and Richard Torpey, Hoghton Players: Waiting For Giro; Gayle Knight, Oswaldtwistle Players: Dying Matters; Paul McGowan, Oswaldtwistle Players: Neville’s Island; Paul Mason, PHTC: Don’t Dress For Dinner; Carole Bardsley, Rossendale Players: Caught In The Net; Mark Storton, Rossendale Players: The Devil at Midnight; Martin Cook, TAODS: My Fat Friend.

BEST PANTOMIME: Aladdin, Bacup AODS; Cinderella, Burnley Pantomime Society (BPS); Puss In Boots, Greenbrook Methodist Church Pantomime Society; Aladdin Recycled, Padiham Performers Society (PPS); Little Red Riding Hood, St Cuthbert’s Darwen; Pinocchio, St Mary’s Pantomime Group; Snow White, That’s Entertainment.

BEST PANTOMIME CHARACTER: Michael Howarth: Wishee Washee, Aladdin, Bacup AODS; Kevin Kay: Buttons, Cinderella, BPS; Jack-James Hargreaves: Puss In Boots, Puss In Boots, Greenbrook Pantomime; Debbie Thew: Princess you too, Aladdin Recycled, PPS; Dave Gallagher: Dame, Little Red Riding Hood, St Cuthbert’s Darwen; Robin Wolfendale: The Wolf, Little Red Riding Hood, St Cuthbert’s Darwen; Mary Flanagan: Signor Verruca, Pinocchio, St Mary’s Pantomime Group; Oliver Holdsworth Miller: Sammy, Snow White, That’s Entertainment.

BEST YOUTH PRODUCTION: Bacup YTES: Annie; PHYT: Disco Inferno, Anything Goes; RAYS: High School Musical 2; TAODS: Peter Pan, Seussical.

BEST YOUTH PERFORMER IN A YOUTH PRODUCTION: Georgia Rose-Smith: Annie, Annie, Bacup YTES; Emily Williamson: Reno Sweeney, Anything Goes, PHYT; Joe Bury: Troy, High School Musical 2, RAYS; Hannah Phillips: Gabriella, High School Musical 2, RAYS; Simon Dewsnip: Peter Pan, Peter Pan, TAODS; Callum Macrae: Cat In The Hat, Seussical, TAODS; Sadie Pinnell: Dog Nanny, Peter Pan, TAODS.

BEST CONCERT OR REVUE:The Magic Of The Musicals, BLOS; Celebrate The Noughties, Clitheroe Parish Church AODS; Beltin Out Broadway, Pepperpot Hill; Show 2009, Todmorden Gang Show.