Draft:National School Theatre Awards

  • Comment: "the awards provide students with opportunities to showcase their talents and gain confidence in their artistic abilities" - is there a source for this? Many other aspects of this article are non-neutral; the significance section is an opinion. The "2024 winners" is unnecessary information, as this article isn't about the 2024 show, but the awards programme as a whole. External links should be removed from the body of the article. Utopes (talk / cont) 14:12, 12 August 2024 (UTC)

National School Theatre Awards
AbbreviationNSTA
Formation2023
TypeAwards programme
HeadquartersLondon, Covent Garden
Location
Official language
English
Websiteschooltheatreawards.com

National School Theatre Awards (NSTA) is an awards programme in the United Kingdom.

The National School Theatre Awards celebrate excellence in school theatre productions across the United Kingdom. [1] Established to recognise and honour the talent and hard work of pupils and teachers.

History

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The National School Theatre Awards were established with the aim of promoting and recognising the achievements of young performers, while also raising awareness and enhancing children's access to the arts across the UK. Schools from across the UK compete from both Independent and State schools.

The growth of the National School Theatre Awards can be attributed to several factors, including increased awareness of the importance of arts education [2], the dedication of teachers, and the enthusiasm of pupils. According to a UK Government article, art should command an important place in every school. The UK opposition party in July 2023 stated that they would put Arts and Culture at the heart of the curriculum if they were ever to hold power.

Significance

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Beyond recognition, the awards provide students with opportunities to showcase their talents and gain confidence in their artistic abilities.

Additionally, the National School Theatre Awards help raise awareness of the value of arts education within the broader educational landscape. By highlighting outstanding productions, these awards emphasise the role of creative expression in the development of students.

Categories and Awards

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The National School Theatre Awards encompass a variety of categories designed to highlight different aspects of theatrical excellence. The main categories include:

  • Best Play
  • Best Musical
  • Best Actor in a Play
  • Best Actress in a Play
  • Best Actor in a Musical
  • Best Actress in a Musical
  • Best Supporting Actor in a Play
  • Best Supporting Actress in a Play
  • Best Supporting Actor in a Musical
  • Best Supporting Actress in a Musical
  • Best Male Musical Solo
  • Best Female Musical Solo
  • Best Ensemble
  • Best Choreography by a Pupil
  • Kavanagh Award for Outstanding Contribution
  • Best Set, Lighting or Sound Design by a pupil

Each category aims to celebrate the diverse talents and skills involved in school theatre productions.

2024 Winners

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2024 Winners[3]
Category Winner Production School
Best Actress in a Play Francesca Ramshall Lord of Flies Trent College
Best Actress in a Play Lottie Jones The Red Shoes Beaumont School
Best Actor in a Play Harry Swash Adult Child/Dead Child Gosfield School
Best Actor in a Play Silas Hopkins Incident at Vichy Fulham Boys School
Best Actor in a Musical Matthew Lowrey Les Misérables School Edition Wellington College[4]
Best Actor in a Musical Jacob Guyler Les Misérables School Edition Westcliff High School for Boys
Best Actress in a Musical Ella Firth Legally Blonde Stafford Grammar School[5]
Best Actress in a Musical Sara Traynor-Herenda Addams Family Watford Grammar School for Girls
Best Supporting Actress Lily Moss Les Misérables School Edition Westholme School[6]
Best Supporting Actress Mila Stavrik Oliver! Sibford School
Best Supporting Actor Sal Swinburne Billy Elliot the Musical King's College School, Wimbledon
Best Supporting Actor Samuel Eartholl The Little Mermaid Farlingaye High School
Best Male Musical Solo Brandon McGuiness Addams Family Epsom College
Best Male Musical Solo Gabriel Williams Les Misérables School Edition Westcliff High School for Boys
Best Female Musical Solo Vanessa Gillions Beauty and the Beast Emmanuel College
Best Female Musical Solo Maya Cornelius Shrek the Musical Jo Richardson Community School
Best Play Edgeborough School A Midsummer Night’s Dream Edgeborough School
Best Play Chiswick School Animal Farm Chiswick School
Best Choreography by a Pupil Emily Reed Tap Nation, Velocity Sandringham School
Best Set, Lighting or Sound Design by a Pupil Daniel Bevan Matilda Jr. Meole Brace School
Best Ensemble Beechwood School Oliver! Beechwood School
Best Ensemble Ashfield School Fame Ashfield School
Kavanagh Award for Outstanding Contribution by a Pupil Oli Spooner Beaumont School
Best Musical Production King's College, Wimbledon Billy Elliot the Musical King's College School, Wimbledon[7]
Best Musical Production Avon Valley School Mary Poppins Avon Valley School

Patrons

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The National School Theatre Awards are supported by a group of patrons who offer their expertise and attend the events. These patrons include actors and industry professionals who are passionate about theatre and arts education.

Patron
Callum Turner Actor
Kara Tointon Actress and Winner of Strictly Come Dancing[8]
Jo Joyner Actress
Chris Ma Musical Director
Zoe Boyle Actress
Eoin Mallon Vocal Coach and Producer
James Taylor Music Director
Tracy Dorrington Founder, Drama Matters
Francesca Bradley Casting Director

Friends of the National School Theatre Awards include Olivier and BAFTA award winners:[9] [10] [11] [12]

Name
Monica Dolan Actress
David Bradley Actor

These patrons not only lend their names to the awards but also actively participate in promoting and supporting the event. Their involvement helps to raise awareness and encourage more schools to participate; elevating school theatre across the UK.

References

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  1. ^ * https://schooltheatreawards.com
  2. ^ "Chiswick School celebrates newfound popularity with parents. Article from Chiswick Calendar highlighting Chiswick School's transformative nature of the arts and its win at the National School Theatre Awards, as part of an ongoing celebration and commitment to school improvement". Chiswick Calendar. 2 July 2024.
  3. ^ "National School Theatre Awards 2024 winners announced. Article from Westendtheatre.com announcing the winners of the National School Theatre Awards 2024, providing a comprehensive list of winners and insights into the awards ceremony". Westendtheatre.com. 2 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Wellington College students shine at National School Theatre Awards. Coverage from Golf Post on Wellington College students' outstanding performance at the National School Theatre Awards, highlighting the school's achievements and student talent". Golf Post.
  5. ^ "Dynamic performing arts program at Stafford Grammar School achieves national recognition. Independent coverage from Express and Star on Stafford Grammar School's success at the National School Theatre Awards, highlighting the school's dynamic performing arts program and its national recognition". Express and Star. July 2024.
  6. ^ * "Westholme School takes home a win at National Theatre Awards. In-depth coverage from Lancashire Telegraph on Westholme School's success at the National Theatre Awards, highlighting the school's achievements and the significance of their win". Lancashire Telegraph. 28 June 2024.
  7. ^ "King's Billy Elliot production receives national recognition. King's College School's news article detailing their national recognition for the production of Billy Elliot at the National School Theatre Awards, highlighting the school's achievements and the production's impact". King's College School.
  8. ^ * "Kara Tointon wins Strictly Come Dancing - BBC News coverage of Kara Tointon's victory on Strictly Come Dancing, highlighting her performances and journey throughout the competition". BBC News.
  9. ^ "Olivier Awards 1991 winners". Official London Theatre.
  10. ^ "TV BAFTAs 2014: Broadchurch's David Bradley wins Best Supporting Actor". The Independent. 19 May 2014.
  11. ^ "Monica Dolan, Maggie Smith BAFTA TV 'Appropriate Adult,' 'Downton Abbey'". Hollywood Reporter. 27 May 2012.
  12. ^ "Olivier Awards 2019: List of winners". The Guardian. 7 April 2019.
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