The winners were today announced for theatrical charity Acting For Others’ inaugural Presidential Awards.
The awards celebrate the most supportive and successful fundraisers, who have helped the charity raise £380,000 over the previous twelve months.
The Golden Bucket Award, London, which is awarded to the Theatreland show which raised the most money through bucket collections went to The Book Of Mormon. Other recipients included Bill Kenwright Limited (Tour De Force Award – for most supportive touring production company) and Brian Sears and KJ Hippensteel from the cast of The Book Of Mormon (Super Hero award – for individuals nominated by theatre managers and supporters of the charity who worked above and beyond to support it).
The awards were attended by Acting for Others President Dame Judi Dench, along with awards presenters including Dame Maggie Smith, Tamzin Outhwaite and Samantha Bond.
The ceremony took place today at Piccadilly cabaret bar Live at Zedel, and was hosted by Ben Forster, currently starring in The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre.
Acting For Others is an umbrella organisation that represents 15 UK theatrical charities and uses the funds it raises to offer emotional and financial support to members of the entertainment industry who have fallen on hard times through illness, injury or circumstance.
Saturday 20 May sees the return of the annual West End Bake Off, taking place at The Actor’s Church St Paul’s, in aid of Acting For Others. Participants from West End Shows including School Of Rock, The Book Of Mormon and Les Miserables, will compete for the prize of best West End bakers, judged by Dame Barbara Windsor, Arlene Phillips and Janie Dee.
More information can be found on the charity’s website.
Full list of winners:
TOUR DE FORCE AWARD – for most supportive touring production company.
Winner: Bill Kenwright Limited
SILVER SERVICE AWARD – for best service at One Night Only event at The Ivy.
Winners: George Layton, Tamzin Outhwaite and Samantha Bond
WEST END BAKE OFF AWARD – for best support at the West End Bake Off 2016.
Winner: Christopher Biggins
TOP TWEETER AWARD – for best social media support.
Winner: Michael Wharley
WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT YOU AWARD – for individual(s) within the industry who help to ensure the bucket collections are successful and actively promote the collections throughout their companies.
Winner: Rainier Koeners and Tamsin Newberry (ATG),
SUPER HERO AWARD – for an individual(s) nominated by theatre managers and supporters of Acting for Others who has worked above and beyond to support the charity.
Winner: Brian Sears and KJ Hippensteel from the cast of The Book of Mormon
THE GOLDEN BUCKET AWARD, LONDON – for most money raised through the bucket collections by a show in London.
Winner: The Book of Mormon raising £42,810.33.
THE GOLDEN BUCKET AWARD, REGIONAL – for most money raised through the bucket collections by a regional theatre.
Winner: Edinburgh Playhouse raising £7,506.93.