Budding talent takes centre stage for youth theatre ‘Oscar’ awards

A Wolverhampton youth theatre hosted its fifth glitzy awards night to celebrate the achievements of its members.

Central Youth Theatre Awards night at Ramada by Wyndham Park Hall Wolverhampton.The Joe Hancock Award for Most Improved Male Junior awarded to Oliver Green, 9.

Central Youth Theatre (CYT), based at Newhampton Arts Centre, held its version of the Oscars, the annual Follow Spot Awards at the Ramada Resort Park Hall Hotel on Thursday.

The annual ceremony, which began in 2015, marks the achievements of the group’s members and celebrates the artistic programme that CYT offers to Wolverhampton’s young people.

The glamorous event included a red carpet, formal dress code and engraved glass trophies.

Central Youth Theatre Awards night at Ramada by Wyndham Park Hall Wolverhampton. In Picture L>R: Hayley Meehan, Padraig Meehan, 18, and Sean Meehan

Central Youth Theatre Awards night at Ramada by Wyndham Park Hall Wolverhampton. In Picture L>R: Gill Green, Isla Green, 9, Mum Rebecca Green, Oliver Green, 9, and Paul Green

Central Youth Theatre Awards night at Ramada by Wyndham Park Hall Wolverhampton. In Picture L>R: Tamara Nestoret and Sienna Nestoret, 12.

Central Youth Theatre Awards night at Ramada by Wyndham Park Hall Wolverhampton. In Picture L>R: Faye Campbell, 21, and Katie Somers, 20.

Central Youth Theatre Awards night at Ramada by Wyndham Park Hall Wolverhampton. The Rebecca Mansley Award for Most Improved Female Junior awarded to Anya Sarpal, 10.

Central Youth Theatre Awards night at Ramada by Wyndham Park Hall Wolverhampton. The Fraser Price Award for Best Junior Actor awarded to Sam Thompson, 11.

Central Youth Theatre Awards night at Ramada by Wyndham Park Hall Wolverhampton. The Tim Routledge Award for Best Junior Actress awarded to Olivia Burrows, 11.

There were 16 award categories and winners of each prize had been voted for by CYT members and audiences throughout the last 12 months.

Winners included Olivia Burrows aged 11 for Best Junior Actress, Sam Thompson aged 11 for Best Junior Actor, Anya Sarrpal aged 10 for the Rebecca Mansley Award for Most Improved female junior and Oliver Green aged nine for the Joe Hancock Award for more improved male junior.

The Andrew McCarthy Award for Best Production went to Laurel and Hardy, The Tim Routledge Lifetime Achievement Award to Tilly Petford, The Gazebo Award for Best Actress went to Roisin Murphy and The Tom Parry Award for Best Actor to Zak Wadley.

Central Youth Theatre Awards night at Ramada by Wyndham Park Hall Wolverhampton. In Picture L>R: Cory McClane, 17, and Kyle Husted, 17.

Holly Parry, co-director of CYT, said: “The Follow Spot awards is a fantastic opportunity to look back at the busy year we have had and to celebrate the personal and performance achievements of our members.

“It’s also a great chance for parents, former members and supporters of the youth theatre to come along and see what we’ve been up to and get an idea of our plans for the future.

“We are extremely grateful to all of our sponsors for the evening including the Ramada Resort Park Hall Hotel as without the support we would be unable to continue with our Follow Spot Awards.”

Central Youth Theatre Awards night at Ramada by Wyndham Park Hall Wolverhampton

The team at the Ramada Resort Park Hall Hotel sponsored the venue and catering for the event, with former members sponsoring the trophies.

Sponsors include world famous lighting designer, Tim Routledge who recently won the Knight of Illumination Award for lighting Stormzy’s headline set at Glastonbury last year and film set decorator, Liz Griffiths who recently finished working on HBO blockbuster sci-fi comedy series Avenue 5 starring Hugh Laurie.

Angela Bir, owner of the hotel, said: “We are really pleased that the Central Youth Theatre chose our hotel to host its annual Follow Spot Awards.

Central Youth Theatre Awards night at Ramada by Wyndham Park Hall Wolverhampton. In Picture L>R: Dan Kirk, Skye Stanley, 10, and Stephanie Kirk.

“We feel privileged to sponsor the awards of Wolverhampton’s leading youth theatre group and it should be an amazing evening, with such a group of talented, young people, who one day may work professionally in the TV and film industry.”