AWARD SUCCESS FOR SIDESHOW

On the 18th October, members of the cast and crew for ‘Sideshow’ joined more than 400 local theatre enthusiasts at the Winter Gardens, Weston-Super-Mare for the Annual Rosebowl Awards. Now in their 43rd season and reaching an ever widening area of the South West, award nominees and winners are selected from over a hundred dramatic and musical productions. With 17 awards up for grabs the evening was made even more special as Vicky Huggins and Lisa Clifford were nominated for Best Actress in a Musical for their portrayals of Daisy and Violet Hilton in our recent production of ‘Sideshow’. Vicky gave the web site her thoughts on being in Sideshow and the evening's award ceremony.

“Just being a part of the cast and crew for 'Sideshow' was a fantastic experience. I can’t say that there was any aspect of the show that I did not enjoy. Playing the part of Daisy Hilton has been my most challenging role to date and my favourite.

'Sideshow took a huge team effort from everyone, whether they were in the cast, a member of the production team, stage crew, sound, lighting, not to mention the musical aspect of the show! Lisa and I had to work very closely with each other (obviously), but we would not have been able to perform the show without the support network that formed throughout the club.

We were both thrilled to receive a joint nomination for the Rose Bowl for Best Actress in a Musical 2004-5, but went to the awards ceremony with the knowledge that it would certainly be a unique occurrence for the two of us to win. However, this didn’t calm our nerves. It had been 5 weeks since I last saw Lisa, who is now studying at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, so our nerves were mixed with excitement and the need to catch up on all the news and gossip!

Our category was number 15 of 17, so throughout the presentations we gradually got more nervous. Each time an award was given out I sat counting down the categories and the number of bowls on the table! Until there was three! With only three Bowls left on the table I had accepted that we weren’t going to win, surely they would give us one each! Applause as each of the nominees was read out added to the tension and anticipation. The build up was excruciating, heart pounding and palms sweating. Lisa and I held each other’s hands in excitement.

From the moment our names were read out it all became a haze. The applause was deafening; cheering and whistling filled the room. Joined at the hip (as per Daisy and Violet) we stood on the stage while Chris Harris, a well-known pantomime dame, read out the citation. Lisa and I are incredibly proud to have received the award; and thrilled that our hard work, tears and perseverance had paid off, not only in helping to create a fabulous show but to have our own performances recognised in such a prestigious way.

A huge vote of thanks to Theatreworx for including us in their show and to all those who helped make it such a success!”