Forget the Oscars, it’s Frome’s FAOS awards!

FROME Amateur Operatic Society hosted its prestigious annual dinner dance and Star Awards on Saturday 20th April to recognise and honour outstanding performances during the previous year. 

This year it was held at the newly re-furbished Warminster Civic Centre and was a lavish affair as always. The Star Awards was hosted by society chairman, Andrew Carpenter who presided over the following awards:

• Best Female Singer sponsored by Millers Electrical Contractors and presented by director Martin Miller: Stephanie Hoar for Showstoppers

• Best Male Singer sponsored by Me Time and presented by owner Lucy Tawse: Tom Carpenter for Beauty and the Beast

• Best Dancer sponsored by Danceworks and presented by principal Debbie Haines: Lottie Ball for Dick Whittington & His Cat

• Best Comic Performance sponsored by Andrew St. John Discotheques and presented by owner Tom Carpenter: Norm Langley for Beauty & the Beast

• Unsung Hero sponsored by White Row Country Foods and presented by representative Gillian Hayward: Carolyn Stacey

• Best Actress sponsored by NVB Architects and presented by FAOS treasurer Norman Elmer: Jo Plenty for Beauty and the Beast

• Best Actor sponsored by The Coventry and presented by manager Anne Dimery: Davey Evans for Beauty and the Beast

• Award of Excellence sponsored by Andrew Carpenter Consultancy Ltd and presented by owner Andrew Carpenter: Andy Tawse

• Members’ Award of Appreciation sponsored by Frome Memorial Theatre and presented by chairman of the Trustees Humphrey Barnes: Sally Langley

• Best Newcomer sponsored by The Frome Times and presented by editor Ian Drew: Teresa Bray for Beauty and the Beast

• Outstanding Contribution sponsored by Salisbury Printing and presented by account manager Julie Horne: Martin Sergeant

• Best Young Female Performer sponsored by The Somerset Standard and presented by editor Philip Welch: Lily Morrison for Around the World in 80 Days

• Best Young Male Performer sponsored by CW Accountancy and presented by FAOS president Bob Stannard: Ben Hardy-Phillips for Around the World in 80 Days and Dick Whittington & His Cat (collected by Oli Wareham)

• Best Overall Performance sponsored by Orchardleigh House & Estate and presented by proprietor Chris Vincent: Tabi Cox for Beauty and the Beast

• Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by The Little Flower Company and presented by Hollie White: Heather Singer

This occasion always precedes the society’s spring production which this year is ‘The Sound of Music’ with the menu reflecting the country in which the musical is set, in this case Austria.

Tickets for the show are already on sale and going very well with ticket sales at record levels for this period before a production. Therefore you are encouraged to contact the Memorial Theatre box office on 01373 462795 or the web site at www.fromememorialtheatre.org.uk to book your tickets. This is going to be one good family night out so please don’t miss it.