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.
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
2018 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
2017 Season Winners
Best Sound
Failand Drama Circle: Little Shop Of Horrors
Best Creative Lighting
CUDOS: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Best Props
Motiv8 Productions Juniors: The Little Mermaid
Best Stage Management
CUDOS: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Best Original Set
Fusion Young Performers: Oliver!
Best Original Costume
Cary Amateur Theatrical Society: Addams Family
Bright* Technical Award (Youth)
Fusion oung Performers : Oliver!
Bright* Technical Award (Adult)
Failand Drama Circle: Little Shop Of Horrors
Best Performer 13 & Under
The Young Musical Theatre Co: Alice In Wonderland Arabella Lake (10)
Best Female 16 & Under
Spectrum Musical Theatre Group: Sister Act Ruby Corlett
Best Male 16 & Under
The Southwest School of Dance: Barnum Toby Turley
Best Youth Cameo
Clevedon Light Opera Club Juniors: Honk! Des Coghlan-Forbes
Best Supporting Youth
Tri-art & Merlin Theatre Company: Les Miserables Dillon Berry
Best Youth In Lead Role
(Joint Winners)
Castaway Theatre Group: Bugsy Malone Jessamy Bowditch
Tri-art & Merlin Theatre Company: Les Miserables Patrick Withey
Best Female 17-21
Spectrum Musical Theatre Group: Sister Act Holly Wadsworth
Best Male 17-21
Exit Stage Left: Edges Lucas Porter
Best Cameo
Clevedon Light Opera Club: Hairspray Nadya Callahan
Best Supporting Female
Yeovil Amateur Operatic Society: 9 To 5 Jennifer Holland-Brewer As Judy
Best Supporting Male
Glastonbury & Street Musical Comedy Society: Guys And Dolls Liam Frampton
Best Female In Lead Role
Tickenham Drama Group: Into The Woods Chelsie Hemmings
Best Male In Lead Role
Muses Theatrical Productions: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Shaun Driver
Adjudicators' Award
Cary Amateur Theatrical Society: Addams Family CATS Makeup Team
Moderator's Award
Motiv8: Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Showstopper
Bridgwater Operatic Society: 42nd Street
Best Youth Chorus
Fusion Young Performers: Oliver!
Best Adult Chorus
Weston-Super-Mare Operatic Society: Half A Sixpence
Challenge Trophy
Clevedon School: Guys And Dolls Jamie Williams & Construction/Paint Team
Best Choreography
Bridgwater Operatic Society: 42nd Street
Best MD
Clevedon Light Opera Club: Hairspray Mim Cartwright
Best Director
Glastonbury & Street Musical Comedy Society: Guys And Dolls Paul Townsend
Small Venue Trophy
Runners up: SCAMP: Murder Ballad
Winners: Tickenham Drama Group: Into The Woods
Best Youth Production
Runners up: The South West School of Dance: Barnum
Joint Winners:
Fusion Young Performers: Oliver!
Tri-art & Merlin Theatre: Les Miserables
Best Production
Runners up: Clevedon Light Opera Club: Hairspray
Winners: Tickenham Drama Group: Into The Woods