THEATRE groups across East Lancashire are celebrating nominations in the National Operatic and Dramatic Association’s North West regional awards.

Individual and company performances are lined up in categories to be announced during the annual conference weekend at Manchester’s Mercure hotel on May 3 to 5.

Youth productions will be honoured on the Saturday, with adult societies gathering on the Sunday. East Lancashire covers two NODA districts, areas three for Burnley, Pendle and Todmorden, and 12 for Blackburn, Hyndburn, the Ribble Valley and Rossendale.

See the youth nominations in next week’s Curtain Raiser.

NOMINATIONS Best supporting male in a musical: Steve Grist, The Beadle, Sweeney Todd, Pendle Hippodrome Theatre Company (PHTC); Patrick Walsh, Gaston, Beauty And The Beast, Rossendale Amateur Operatic Society; Best supporting female in a musical: Joanne Gill, Felicia Gabrial, The Witches of Eastwick, Burnley Light Opera Society (BLOS); Katie Cowburn, Lois Lane, Kiss Me Kate, Clitheroe Parish Church AODS; Best supporting male in a drama: Tim Mason, Private Pike, Dad's Army, PHTC; Geoff Baron, John, Calendar Girls, Blackburn Arts Club (BAC); Best supporting female in a drama: Dorothy Broughton, Mrs Gray, Dad's Army, PHTC; Best male comedy performance: Andy Fraser, Mr Basford et al, Teechers Todmorden Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (TAODS); Best female comedy performance: Heather Nicholas, Widow Corney, Oliver!, St Cuthbert’s Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society; Best staging: The Witches of Eastwick, BLOS; The King And I, Accrington Theatre Group (ATG); Best choreography: Anthony Williams, The Witches of Eastwick, BLOS; Emily Friend The King And I, ATG; Best musical direction: Lisa Manley, Sweeney Todd, PHTC; Best leading male in a musical: Nicholas Gunn, Bill Snibson, Me And My Girl, Blackburn Musical Theatre Company (BMTC); Best leading male in a drama: Chris Berry, George, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, TAODS; Dylan Allcock, Eddie, Blood Brothers, Blackburn Drama Club (BDC); Best leading female in a drama: Katrina Heath, Martha, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, TAODS; Claire St Pierre, Emily Bronte, Bronte, BDC; Best artistic direction of a musical: Howard G Raw, Sweeney Todd, PHTC; Best artistic direction of a drama: John Spooner, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, TAODS; Gayle Knight, The Curious Savage, Oswaldtwistle Players; Best pantomime: Jack And The Beanstalk, Bacup Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (BAODS); Best concert/revue: From Bow Bells to Broadway, BAODS; Best G&S production: Patience, Blackburn G&S Society; Best drama: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, TAODS; Calendar Girls, BAC; Best musical: Sweeney Todd, PHTC; Me And My Girl, BMTC.