The David Beach
The David Beach Competition
The David Beach Competition for Musicals came into being in 2002, at the suggestion of David Beach himself. Hitherto it had been part of the Phoebe Rees Competition for full length plays, but it was felt that we needed a separate panel of adjudicators with a particular expertise in judging musical theatre, and also that the Competiton should have its own Moderator who could travel round to see all the entries. The David Beach Youth Competition runs in parallel for youth musicals.
Musical Theatre groups flocked to join the SFD so as to be able to compete with each other, and the entries flooded in. They have increased steadily each year and now rival the Phoebe Rees in terms of the number of groups taking part.
The season runs, officially, from 1st December to 30th November. The panel meets in December to review all the entries and to agree a number of nominations for performances of particular merit in each of the 30 categories. The winner of each is chosen after detailed debate, overseen by the Moderator, and the trophies are awarded at The David Beach Presentation Evening which takes place in March each year.
More details are available to individual SFD Members and to Club Contacts under Documents & Resources in the left hand menu, where you can find out about how productions are marked and see the list of trophies to be awarded.
Pam and David Beach at the 2010 Awards
2019 Season
Entry forms: it is now possible to fill in your entry form and submit it on line. Click here to view, or to request a printable version if you prefer.
The Panel
Moderator: Ian Hurdman
Adjudicators: Andy Marchant, Chris Bailward, Jadi Carlyon, Dendy Harris, Linda Mumford and Beth Hancock
David Beach Coordinator: Angie Hurdman
2018 Season Winners
Best Sound: Exit Stage Left Disenchanted
Best Creative Lighting: Weston-Super-Mare Operatic Society CATS
Best Effects: SCAMP Midlife-The Crisis Musical
Best Props: Cary Amateur Theatrical Society Oh What A Lovely War
Best Stage Management: Topaz Dance Studio Thoroughly Modern Millie
Best Made Set: Clevedon School Calamity Jane
Best Made Costume: Crewkerne United Dramatic And Operatic Society Spamalot
Bright Technical (Youth): Clevedon School Calamity Jane The Amazing Stagecoach
Bright Technical (Adult): Bridgwater Operatic Society My Fair Lady Fantastic Digital Scenery
Best Performer 13 And Under: Clevedon Light Operatic Club Juniors High School Musical Desmond Coglan-Forbes as Ryan
Best Male 14-16: Fusion Young Performers Cats Alfie Yates as Asparagus/Growltiger
Best Male 14-16: Fusion Young Performers Cats Lennie Stanford as Skimbleshanks
Best Male 16 and under: Tickenham Drama Group Oliver! Ollie Painter as The Artful Dodger
Best Female 16 and under: Tri.Art In The Heights Millie Weare as Abuela
Best Female 17-21: Beatnik Theatre Company Avenue Q Leah Driver as Kate Monster
Best Male 17-21: Tri.Art In The Heights Oliver Edwards as Benny
Best Youth Cameo: Fusion Young Performers Cats Nicky Rush as Mr Mistofelees
Best Youth Supporting Performer: Exit Stage Left Grease Scarlett Swales as Rizzo
Best Youth Female in Lead: Young Musical Theatre Club Addams Family Jaimi Bartlett as Morticia
Best Youth Male In Lead: Yeovil Amateur Pantomime Society Hairspray Jr Ashleigh Payne as Link Larkin
Best Cameo: Weston-Super-Mare Operatic Society Cats Ashley Brown as Old Deuteronomy
Best Supporting Female: Muses Theatrical Productions Singin' In The Rain Leah Farmer as Lina Lamont
Best Supporting Male: Bridgwater Operatic Society My Fair Lady Andrew Carpenter as Alfred P Doolittle
Best Female in Lead: Muses Theatrical Productions Singin' In The Rain Samantha Aylott as Kathy Selden
Best Male in Lead: Bridgwater Operatic Society My Fair Lady Phil Turley as Henry Higgins
Showstopper: Yeovil Amateur Operatic Society Top Hat Act I Finale: Top Hat, White Tie, Tails
Showstopper: Bridgwater Operatic Society My Fair Lady Doolittle And Company: I'm Getting Married In The Morning
Best Youth Chorus: Castaways Theatre Group Peter Pan
Best Chorus: Weston-Super-Mare Operatic Society Cats
Challenge Trophy: Topaz Dance Studio Thoroughly Modern Millie
Adjudicator's Award: Exit Stage Left Disenchanted Big Tits
Moderator's Award: Clevedon Light Opera Club: Jeff Prescott for Being An Amazing Bloke
Small Venue Trophy: Crewkerne United Dramatic And Operatic Society Spamalot
Best Choreography: Weston-Super-Mare Operatic Society Cats
Best Musical Director: Fusion Young Performers Cats David Pitts
Best Direction: Beatnik Theatre Company Avenue Q Alan Ferguson And Will Poulton
Best Youth Show Runners Up: Castaways Theatre Group Peter Pan
Best Youth Show: Tri.Art In The Heights
Best Show Runners Up: Bridgwater Operatic Society My Fair Lady
Best Show: Weston-Super-Mare Operatic Society Cats