Buxton Festival Fringe was hailed 'the best ever' by chair John Wilson at Sunday's Awards Ceremony held for the first time at the University of Derby Buxton's impressive Dome.
Also the biggest ever, the Fringe featured 470 performances from 116 entrants in every field from drama to dance and visual arts to music.
Wilson explained that some tough decisions had had to be taken with the immense drama category being split into several sections so that more than one production could be honoured with a prize. Oleanna, a late entry performed by Free Range Theatre, scooped two prizes, the coveted Best Production Award and Best Actor for Hugo Chandor. In Music, it was decided that two favourites - the vibrant Zimbabwean choir Siyaya (replacing Nqi Ngqo) and American vocal quintet Uncloistered - were so different that they could not really be compared and should share a prize.
Wilson was keen to point out that: 'Everyone who has taken part in this Fringe is indispensable. We recognize excellence but at the core of the Fringe is an acceptance of anything - we will not select and we will not censor... It is from this vast wellspring of creativity that this flower of excellence has been selected.'
He saluted 2006 Fringe as a truly international Fringe with acts from as far away as Canada and Africa and lamented that the day after the Fringe finished would seem 'as flat as yesterday's warm, stale beer.'
In a difficult year that had seen the unexpected withdrawal of funding from High Peak Borough Council, Wilson praised those who had come to the Fringe's rescue including Derbyshire County Council, the University of Derby Buxton, the Buxton Spa Hotel Project and above all the Friends of the Fringe, whose membership had massively increased. He also thanked supporters such as The Old Hall Hotel, Fringe Desk manager Jasmine Harmer, the Fringe Committee and all the performers themselves, giving a special mention to newcomers Underground Venues and guitarist Hojo who had appeared on the Carnival Float and on Fringe Sunday as well as proving a ubiquitous figure around the town. 'Hojo is the spirit of the Fringe', he said.
This year it was decided that instead of cash prizes, the reward for award-winners would be free entry to next year's Fringe. The eagerly-awaited list of nominations and awards was announced as follows:
Nominations:
Naked Soul of Kirk Godless (Tam Hinton)
Ticky-Tock (2pt of the Telemaphone Trilogy) Face/Wrong Productions
Barbara Nice
Play on words - Three's Company
Winner: Naked Soul of Kirk Godless (Tam Hinton)Nominations:
Jasofula Latin Band - Sensational Salsa
Bobroskov's Dream and Other Stories - Abalino Dance Theatre
The Dreaming Tree - Split Soul Dance Theatre
Winner: Bobroskov's Dream and Other Stories - Abalino Dance TheatreNominations:
Make Him Cure Me - Tictek Productions
On the Sidelines - AJN Productions
Oleanna - Free Range Theatre
Burton's Last Call - Dotted Line Productions
What the Dickens - Tongue in Cheek
The Mother's Bones - Kate Burlinson in association with the Weird Sisters
Silent Joys and Broken Toys - Vista Theatre Company
A Story for when We're Grandads - Random Productions
Winner: Oleanna by Free Range TheatreNominations:
George Telfer - Burton's Last Call
Alan Fielden - Blind and Flying Doctor
Patrick McConnell - A Story for when We're Grandads
Winner: Patrick McConnell - A Story for when We're GrandadsNominations:
Kim Voisey-Youldon in productions from 1623 Theatre Co
Andrew Norris - On the Sidelines*
Bina Widdowson - Chopin and the Eurovision Song Contest
Corrine Sawyer - Make Him Cure Me
George Telfer - Burton's Last Call*
Kath Burlinson - The Mother's Bones*
Louise Nulty - What the Dickens
Karen Odemark - Embrace
Hugo Chandor - Oleanna*
Lucy Gradwell - Oleanna
Ian Curley - Paperboys
*shortlisted
Winner: Hugo Chandor - OleannaNominations:
Ticky Tock (Pt 2 of Telemaphone Trology) - Face/Wrong Productions
Play on Words - Three's Company
Winner: Play on Words - Three's CompanyNominations:
Oliver Saville - Anorak of Fire
Lucy Bromilow - Yesterday
Yacein Al-Shaater - Play on Words
Anna Grady - Who's a Big Boy Now?
Florence Jones - Where's Waldo?
Winner: Lucy Bromilow - YesterdayNominations:
Derbyshire Open - Buxton Museum and Art Gallery
Pump Room Art and Craft
Wildest Dreams - Buxton Museum and Art Gallery
Winner: Derbyshire Open - Buxton Museum and Art GalleryNominations:
Armelle Perrin - Itinerary
Robert Wilson - The Audience from Derbyshire Open
Paul Smith - Grizzly Tales
Red Point Studios - Pixelated
Fran Halsall - Two Rivers
Winner: Robert Wilson - The Audience from Derbyshire OpenNominations:
Robin Hood Retold - Pals Productions
It's Taking Ages - Buxton Museum and Art Gallery
Rap Around with Mozart - Bexton Primary School
Alice and her Sister in Wonderland (Young REC Theatre Company)
Winner: Robin Hood Retold - Pals ProductionsNominations:
Lute Songs - Accordes
Tapestry of the Senses - Aitone
Amaretti Chamber Orchestra
Bewitched - Rachel Pennell
Siyaya Arts
Unearthing Musical Jewels and Italian Musical Theatre of the Mind - Unclositered
Yorkshire Music - Sam Dunkley
Joint Winners: Siyaya Arts and Unearthing Musical jewels by UncloisteredNominations:
Anna Le Hair - And the Living is Easy
Benjamin Powell - High peak orchestra
Laura Tanner - Mozart Marathon
Nicola Bright and Linda Simcock - Orchestra of King Edward Musical Society of Macclesfield
Winner: Benjamin Powell - High Peak OrchestraNominations:
I Love New York - Aimster Productions
Mark Twain Lectures - Morals Lecture and Hannibal Years
A Pleasing Terror - Nunkie
Winner: Mark Twain Lecture - Hannibal YearsNominations:
Outer Fringe at Brierlow Bar
Shakespeare Juke Box
Winner: Outer Fringe at Brierlow BarFOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT PRESS OFFICER STEPHANIE BILLEN ON 01298 79351 or Send message to Press
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