Issue 348 – Two prestigious awards for FAOS

FROME Amateur Operatic Society has received two prestigious awards for their recent production of ‘Return to the Forbidden Planet.’Members of the Frome Amateur Operatic Society took time out from their rehearsals for the forthcoming production of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ to attend the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) South West Awards Dinner in Torquay on Saturday 3rd March. They returned with the awards which they presented to the stage crew last week. The production won the ‘District 10 (East Somerset and South Wiltshire) Achievement Award’ as the most outstanding production in that region in 2011, and the ‘Stage Electrics Award for Technical Achievement ‘for the whole of the South West for the set build and IT that accompanied the production. Chairman and director, Andrew Carpenter, and choreographer, Sue McNamee, picked up the awards on behalf of the society in Torquay and then Andrew, in his capacity as a NODA representative himself, presented the ‘Technical Achievement’ award to those whom he described as “really deserving it” at a ‘Beauty and the Beast’ rehearsal the following Monday. Whilst the set for ‘Beauty and the Beast’ is not homemade, it will be one of the most spectacular sets ever seen on the Memorial Theatre stage and the backstage team or ‘Black Gang’ as they are called (because they always wear black clothing so as not to be seen) is looking forward to the undoubted challenges it will bring.Tickets are already on sale for ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and people are urged to buy their tickets early to ensure they get the seats of their choice and to avoid disappointment. The Memorial Theatre box office is open from 9.30am – 1.00pm from Monday – Saturday. The show runs from Tuesday 15th – Saturday 19th May at 7.30pm with one matinee performance on 19th May at 2.30pm. Andrew Carpenter says, “Why not come and witness this very impressive backstage crew in action? They are officially the best in the South West!”Pictured: left to right, Andrew Carpenter Presents Steve Scammell Head of Concepts Design and Set Construction,  Sue McNamee Choreographer, Will Davis Deputy Stage Manager, Andy Tawse Set Builder and not pictured Terry Stewart IT Manager