PRODUCTIONS of the highest standards were the order of the day for this year’s Wharfedale Festival Of Theatre.

Some entries were sadly hit by Covid-19 problems and had to withdraw but are hoping to be back with a bang for the 2022 - 2223 festival. The festival concluded with a celebration awards evening held at the West Leeds Academy where all entries and lucky nominees gathered together for the first time in three years The festival didn’t run for 2020 - 2021 as people were unable to perform and the 2019 - 2020 was held virtually.

The atmosphere was electric as everyone enjoyed being back together enjoying a stunning visual presentation by festival committee member Allan Hollins. The new festival Secretary Bryan Craven hosted the evening bringing his own style to proceedings and nominees held their breath in the hope of taking home a glittering trophy or two.

Retiring Festival Secretary Pat Riley and long serving Committee member Bernard Riley were honoured with the Spirit Of Theatre award in recognition of their incredible long service and continued work serving the festival.

It was a successful night for Ilkley Playhouse, Ilkley AOS and Upstagers who gained a host of awards for their productions including the big three: Best Drama, Best Musical and Best Pantomime for Here I Belong, Oliver and Goldilocks And The Three Bears.

All photos kindly provided by John Waite www.johnwaitephotography.com

Wharfedale Festival of Theatre results 2021/22

Pantomimes

Best Dame - Harry Hodge (Upstagers)

Best Fairy - Katherine Griffiths (Upstagers)

Best Villain - George Scaife (Upstagers)

Best Principal Boy - Claire Hoyland (LIDOS)

Best Principal Girl - Sophie Massa (LIDOS)

Best Comedy Lead - Joey Wilby (Upstagers)

Best Female Comedy Support - Kayleigh Newsome (LIDOS)

Best Male Comedy Support - Landon Crowther (Upstagers)

Best Cameo - Ross Tonkin & Kyle Walker (LIDOS)

Best Programme - Upstagers

Best Stage Presentation - LIDOS

Best Choreography - Emma Tempest & Donna Wells (LIDOS)

Best Director - John Clark & Andrew Hewitt (Upstagers)

Best Musical Director - Rob Sanders (LIDOS)

Best Pantomime - Goldilocks & the 3 Bears (Upstagers)

Best Pantomime - (Runner up) Cinderella (LIDOS)

Musicals (youth & schools)

Best Actor - Will Barstow (Leeds West Academy)

Best Actress - Millie Fearnley (Kaleidoscope)

Best Supporting Actor - George Luis (Ralph Thoresby School)

Best Supporting Actress - Layla Doyle (Leeds West Academy), Jaime Speight (Leeds West Academy)

Best Cameo - Olivia Stoneman (Kaleidoscope)

Best Programme - Rock of Ages (Leeds West Academy)

Best Stage Presentation - Rock of Ages (Leeds West Academy), Romeo & Juliet (Kaleidoscope)

Best Choreography - Harriet Neal (Leeds West Academy)

Best Musical Director - Katie Grainger (Kaleidoscope)

Best Director Amy - Kate Newsome (Leeds West Academy)

Best Musical - Rock of Ages (Leeds West Academy)

Drama

Best Actor - Luke Lortie (Halifax Thespians)

Best Actress - Rachel Conyers (Ilkley Players)

Best Supporting Actor - Xander Bryan (Halifax Thespians)

Best Supporting Actress - Kay Vann (Ilkley Players)

Best Cameo - Janine Head (STARS)

Best Programme - One Man, Two Guvnors (Halifax Thespians)

Best Stage Presentation - Here I Belong (Ilkley Players)

Best Director - Jay Cundell Walker (Ilkley Players)

Best Drama - Here I Belong (Ilkley Players)

Best Drama (2nd) - Home & Beauty (Fulneck DS)

Best Drama (3rd) - One Man, Two Guvnors (Halifax Thespians)

Musicals (adult)

Best Actor - Mark Allan (Ilkley AOS)

Best Actress - Shelley Lofthouse (Guiseley Theatrical Productions)

Best Supporting Actor - Barnaby Killan (Ilkley AOS)

Best Supporting Actress - Charlotte Foss (Guiseley Theatrical Productions)

Best Programme - Plague (LIDOS)

Best Stage Presentation - Oliver! (Ilkley AOS)

Best Choreography - Mark Allan (Ilkley AOS)

Best Director - Mark Allan (Ilkley AOS)

Best Musical Director - Rob Sanders (LIDOS)

Best Musical - Oliver! (Ilkley AOS)

Best Musical (Runner up) - Plague (LIDOS)

Other awards

Peter Russel Trophy For Technical Excellence - Cinderella (LIDOS)

Festival Rose Bowl for Ambience – Our House, the Musical (Guiseley Theatrical Productions)

Bernard Riley Cup for young performer in an adult production – Barnaby Killan (Ilkey AOS)

Trevor Hallet trophy for Best Comedy Performance – Joey WIlby (Upstagers)

Valerie Jackson Trophy for young dancer/dance group – Basketball team (Ralph Thorseby School)

Keighley Playhouse trophy for best costumed production – Rock of Ages (Leeds West Academy)

Pat Dyson Spirit of Theatre Award – Pat & Bernard Riley

Chairman’s Special Award – Charlotte Wallis – Plague (LIDOS)

Chairman’s Special Award – Clare Richards – Pinocchio (Burley Theatre Group)

Chairman’s Special Award – Josh Harrison – High School Musical (Ralph Thorseby School)

Certificates of Outstanding Performance

LEEDS WEST ACADEMY:

KALEIDOSCOPE: Matt Sheldon, Millie Fearnley, Olivia Stoneman Adam Saines

RALPH THORSEBY SCHOOL: George Luis

CERTIFICATES OF MERIT

LEEDS WEST ACADEMY: Ben Read-Davies, Alfie Harris

KALEIDSCOPE: Matthew Gaul, Ben Potter, Freddie Bullock, Oliver Hardaker, Eleanor Fillingham, Lexie McKerchar, Sadie Cole, Jamie Mutambirwai, Olivia Myers, Ray Cookson Beth Edwards

RALPH THORSEBY SCHOOL: Oliver Hazelgrave, Gabriella Nicholaides, Ruby Koopman, Simon George Masinde, Isabel Ingleson, Greta Dickson, Isabelle Patterson