A sun-blessed Buxton Festival Fringe 2013 has concluded with the Awards Ceremony at the Dome, home of Fringe sponsor, the University of Derby, Buxton.
Chair Stephanie Billen welcomed performers, Fringe Friends and supporters, reminding them that although the awards recognise excellence, not everyone can win, and that not being nominated was simply a reflection of the intense competition and high quality of the Fringe. "I have huge admiration for your dedication, passion and talent", she added going on to thank Fringe supporters including the University, The Cavendish Arcade, Trevor Osborne of the Osborne Group, High Peak Borough Council, Fringe Friends and The Old Hall Hotel who sponsored the awards certificates.
In a very competitive Theatre category the production award went to the striking all-female Titus Andronicus from Smooth Faced Gentlemen and Three's Company, winning for the second year running. Titus Andronicus also collected the new John Beecher Memorial Award for original, challenging work with high production values. Vice Chair Keith Savage made a moving tribute to this exceptional Buxton figure, a historian and writer who was a supporter of the Fringe and Underground Venues but died last year aged 25 of cancer.
Acting awards went to Sian Weedon for Jordan and Liam King for The Zoo Story, while Mark Reid picked up the new writing accolade for intense drama, The Gambit.
In youth theatre the awards went to local group REC Youth Theatre Company's two shows; Red Red Shoes winning the production award, and Siobhan Piercy getting the young actor prize for Pan-o-rama. There were local winners in many of the categories; stone and water's Return of the Tiny! Pirates in For Families; the Buxton Food and Drink Fair in Other Events; Buxton Drama League's Shakespeare Jukebox for Street Theatre; Litton Poetry Festival in Spoken Word; and Buxton Film's Open Shorts.
The Music category was as strong as ever and this was recognised in five awards; Derbyshire City & County Youth Orchestra were given the Large Ensemble prize for their summer concert; K'antu Ensemble scooped the award for a Small Ensemble in the Classical Tradition with Sounds & Songs of Renaissance Europe, whereas Small Ensemble in World Music went to Africa Entsha and their Golden Voices of the Township; Rachel Johnson won Instrumental Performance for her Flute Recital, and Sara Whichelow Vocal Performance for Classical Music Through the Ages.
Local artists triumphed in Visual Arts. The event prize went to Sue Prince for Painted Tales at Buxton Museum and Art Gallery, while the artist award went to Amanda Cirillo for her work Civic Engagement at the Derbyshire Open.
In Comedy, Wes Zaharuk collected the Individual award for his fun show Perfectly Bananas, and the Show award went to Morgan and West for A Grand Adventure. Brick Wall Ensemble collected the Dance award for A Rose by Another Name, and the Music Festival at St Peter's Church was named Spirit of the Fringe. Details of all the nominations and winners can be found on http://www.buxtonfringe.org.uk.
Stephanie announced that it was her last year as Fringe chair saying that: "In these sizzling two weeks or so your shows have moved me, made me laugh and excited me - sometimes all in the one performance. Over the five years I have been chair I have been privileged to have a great team behind me and that has enabled me to give the Fringe an even more solid foundation on which to build for the future."
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