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Articles tagged with awards

Award success for Spotlight members and projects cast via The Link

We may be into February, but the awards keep on coming, and it’s great to see so many of our members getting recognition for their excellent performances, and we at Spotlight would like to extend a hearty congratulations to all our members who’ve been nominated or have won an award. Last week saw the National Television Awards, with many Spotlighters richly rewarded. In addition, Spotlight is proud to have played our part in helping to bring together the casts of these much-loved television staples. Serial drama nominees Hollyoaks and EastEnders were cast first via The Spotlight Link, and...

posted on 3rd February 2012 Read full article >>

Spotlight’s weekly news roundup: 27 January 2012

Welcome to Spotlight’s weekly news roundup, where we highlight the news and blogs we’ve enjoyed and want to share with our members and others within the industry, so grab sit back and catch up on the stories you need to know. Awards season steps up a gear It’s been another big week in 2012’s awards season, with more nominations and ceremonies. All eyes were on the Oscars earlier this week, which released its nominations ahead of the big event on February 26. Hugo and The Artist led the pack in terms of nominations and there were several nods for Spotlight members with...

posted on 27th January 2012 Read full article >>

Spotlight’s weekly news roundup: 20 January

Welcome to Spotlight’s weekly news roundup, where we highlight the news and blogs we’ve enjoyed and want to share with our members and others within the industry, so grab sit back and catch up on the stories you need to know. Keep on campaigning Businesses in the West End were celebrating a memorable victory this week as Westminster Council announced they were scrapping proposed evening parking charges. Theatres, performers, Equity and others had campaigned against the proposals, which they claimed would have cost the area’s economy millions, and forced many businesses and performers out of work. Henry Goodman and...

posted on 20th January 2012 Read full article >>

Spotlight at the BAFTAs and Golden Globes

The acting awards are coming thick and fast. No sooner had the Golden Globes winners collected their awards, than the shortlist for the BAFTA film awards were released, and Spotlight has played a part in several of the nominated films and performances. Joe Cornish’s Attack The Block, which is nominated for Outstanding Debut By A British Writer, Director Or Producer, has a strong association with Spotlight. Casting director Nina Gold cast the film here at Spotlight’s Studios in Leicester Square, after first using the Spotlight Link for her breakdown. With a strong Spotlight presence,...

posted on 17th January 2012 Read full article >>

Spotlight’s weekly news roundup: 13 January

Welcome to Spotlight’s weekly news roundup, where we highlight the news and blogs we’ve enjoyed and want to share with our members and others within the industry, so grab sit back and catch up on the stories you need to know. Marvellous musicals BBC Four’s The Story Of Musicals has been attracting a lot of praise and interest from many in the arts world, and is well worth a watch. London Theatre Tickets has a detailed review of the series, looking at how the history of the genre has developed over time. The series is available to watch on BBC iPlayer until...

posted on 13th January 2012 Read full article >>

Spotlight’s weekly news roundup: 9 December

Welcome to Spotlight’s weekly news roundup, where we highlight the news and blogs we’ve enjoyed and want to share with our members and others within the industry. So kick back and read what’s snagged our interest this week. Approaching theatre from a different angle As we move towards the end of the year, there’s plenty of reflective thought from the performing arts industry. At The Arts Desk, Mike Kenny from the West Yorkshire Playhouse tells us why he believes there’s more to children’s theatre than just pantomime. On a similar theme, The Guardian profiles some of 2011’s...

posted on 9th December 2011 Read full article >>

Q&A with Young Dancer Of The Year Courtney George

Last weekend, Courtney George danced away with the Young Dancer Of The Year Award at The Dance Show 2011, after wowing the judges with her self-devised solo routine. As part of her prize, 17-year-old Courtney from Shelley, Huddersfield now has a year’s membership to Spotlight Dancers, a contract with top dance agency Dancers Inc, and a contract to appear to the Clothes Show Live’s Suzuki Fashion Theatre in 2012. We caught up with Courtney to find out more about her winning performance, and what the future holds for this talented young dancer. How does it...

posted on 8th December 2011 Read full article >>

Courtney George wins Young Dancer Of The Year 2011

Courtney George (in the blue top) is presented with the Young Dancer Of The Year award Yorkshire youngster Courtney George wowed the judges at The Dance Show in Birmingham last weekend to walk away with the coveted Young Dancer Of The Year award, sponsored by Spotlight. 17-year-old Courtney, a student on Yorkshire’s Young Dancer scheme with the Northern Ballet Theatre, impressed the panel of top industry judges with her superb solo performance in the final. A day of demanding dance and choreography saw hopeful dancers undergo a series of heats in the morning, with just...

posted on 6th December 2011 Read full article >>

Spotlight’s weekly news roundup: 2nd December

Welcome to Spotlight’s weekly news roundup, where we highlight the news and blogs we’ve enjoyed and want to share with our members and others within the industry. So, kick back and read what’s snagged our interest this week. Nominations and awards As we head towards the end of the year, the award ceremonies and nominations gather pace, with several Spotlight members among the winners and nominees. Spotlight young performer Harley Bird (right) went into the history books last weekend when she won Best Performer at the BAFTA Children’s Awards for her role as the voice...

posted on 2nd December 2011 Read full article >>

Stagecoach awards recognise inspirational youngsters

Stagecoach Theatre Arts, the performing schools network for young performers aged between four and 18, have rewarded inspirational young people from across the country at their Children’s Achievement Awards this week. Nigel Lindsay, who stars as Shrek in Shrek The Musical, presented the awards to the youngsters- from all walks of life – who have either faced adversity, demonstrated bravery, shown courage, cared for others and proved they are good role models for young people. Spotlight member Nigel, who was joined by members of the Shrek cast at the presentation, said: “These young people have displayed...

posted on 29th November 2011 Read full article >>

Spotlight’s weekly news roundup: 25th November

Welcome to Spotlight’s weekly news roundup, where we highlight the news and blogs we’ve enjoyed and want to share with our members and others within the industry. So, kick back and read what’s snagged our interest this week. All about the awards The mantelpieces of several Spotlight members will have had a quick rearrangement this week to accommodate their latest awards. Kenneth Branagh and Ralph Fiennes will be recognised for their contribution to the big screen at the British Independent Film Awards next month. Fiennes will receive the Richard Harris award for outstanding contribution to film by and actor, while Branagh will...

posted on 25th November 2011 Read full article >>

Spotlight members triumph at Evening Standard awards

The 57th London Evening Standard Theatre Awards highlighted the best of West End theatre over the past 12 months, and Spotlight is proud to see several of our members rewarded for their outstanding work, while we’ve also had a hand in some of the winning productions. Spotlight members Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller (above) shared the best actor prize for their dual roles in Danny Boyle’s Frankenstein – with the actors taking it in turns to play the scientist and his monster – in one of the hottest tickets of the year. Spotlight member Sheridan...

posted on 21st November 2011 Read full article >>

Young Dancer Of The Year Award nominations close soon

Spotlight’s young dancers only have two more days left to apply for the chance to win a year’s free Spotlight membership and a one-year contract with top dance agency Dancers Inc. Applications for the Young Dancer Of The Year Award 2011, sponsored by Spotlight, close on Friday 21st October. The award is open to dance students aged between 16 and 22 and performers need to be nominated by their school or college teacher or apply through Kelly Taylor at Spotlight. The award is one of the highlights of The Dance Show 2011, part of The Clothes...

posted on 19th October 2011 Read full article >>

Stagecoach launches search for inspirational youngsters

Stagecoach Theatre Arts, the performing schools network for young performers aged between four and 18, have launched a search to find inspirational young heroes as part of their 2011 Stagecoach Theatre Arts Children’s Achievement Awards. The awards, which have been launched with the help of the stars of West End show Shrek The Musical, aims to find and highlight youngsters who have demonstrated outstanding achievement during adversity or deserves recognition for bravery. Spotlight has a close relationship with Stagecoach, including publishing their directory of young performers. We are aware of the difficulties some of the students who attend...

posted on 22nd September 2011 Read full article >>

Applications for Young Dancer Of The Year Award 2011 now open

Reckon you can move your body like Nicole Scherzinger or fancy yourself as the next Derek Hough? Up and coming dancers now have the chance to prove their ability by applying for the Young Dancer Of The Year Award 2011, sponsored by Spotlight. After last year’s fantastically high standard of competition, we’re once again looking for dance students aged between 16 and 22 to show they’ve got what it takes to perform their best moves in front of the judging panel, and thousands of spectators. The winner of the award takes home a year’s free membership to...

posted on 16th September 2011 Read full article >>

2011 Spotlight Prize winners announced

The winner of this year's Spotlight Prize is Kurt Egyiawan, from Guildhall. Kirsty Oswald, from Rose Bruford, won the Highly Commended award. Kurt performed ‘Best Man Speech’ by Ben Lloyd-Hughes, adapted from a play by Glyn Maxwell. Kirsty performed a scene from ‘The Art of Success’ by Nick Dear. They beat stiff competition from a total of 22 talented acting students, all of whom had already been chosen as the very best actors graduating from the UK's most prestigious drama schools this year. Competing for the Spotlight Prize, the young performers had just three minutes each to impress...

posted on 20th July 2011 Read full article >>

Spotlight members win at BAFTA Television Awards 2011

Congratulations to Spotlight members who won at the BAFTA Television Awards 2011 on Sunday 22nd May The Academy's Television Craft Awards and Television Awards celebrate the very best industry talent behind-the-scenes and in front of the camera. Leading Actor: Daniel Rigby - Eric and Ernie (BBC Two) Leading Actress: Vicky McClure - This Is England ’86 (Channel 4) Supporting Actor: Martin Freeman - Sherlock (BBC One) Supporting Actress: Lauren Socha - Misfits (E4) Entertainment Performance: Graham Norton - The Graham Norton Show (BBC One) Male Performance in a Comedy Programme: Steve...

posted on 25th May 2011 Read full article >>

Applications are now open for the Alan Bates Bursary 2011

Spotlight are proud to announce sponsorship of the Alan Bates Bursary 2011. The bursary is awarded to a promising young actor at the outset of their career, who is graduating this year from an NCDT accredited acting course. A panel of high profile and well-respected actors decides the recipient of the prize. The Bursary is open to any actor under the age of thirty, graduating in 2011 from an NCDT accredited BA Acting course or an NCDT accredited 2 year diploma in Acting. The Bursary is worth £2000 and comprises of: ...

posted on 21st March 2011 Read full article >>

Spotlight members win at the Whatsonstage.com Awards 2011

Well done to Spotlight members David Suchet and Zoë Wanamaker who won the Spotlight best Actor / Actress in a play award. Sheridan Smith and Glee's Jonathan Groff were also among the winners of the 11th annual Whatsonstage.com Awards 2011 sponsored by Spotlight. The winners were announced last night (20 February 2011) during a star-studded concert at the West End's Prince of Wales Theatre. Theatregoers voted for their favourites across 26 different award categories between 3 December, when the nominations were announced, and 31 January. This year over 45,000...

posted on 21st February 2011 Read full article >>

Casting plaudits to Nina Gold CDG for The King’s Speech

It's been an amazing week for UK feature film 'The King's Speech'.  As well as being the number one film in the UK for the second week running, Colin Firth won a Best Actor in a Motion Picture award at the Golden Globes for his performance as King George VI.  The film also received 14 British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) nominations including Best Actor (Colin Firth), Best Supporting Actor (Geoffrey Rush) and Best Supporting Actress (Helena Bonham-Carter).  Other Spotlight members rounding out the cast include Derek Jacobi, Eve Best, Jennifer...

posted on 21st January 2011 Read full article >>

Orange Wednesdays Rising Star nominees announced

The nominees for the Orange Wednesday Rising Star 2011 award have just been announced and four out of the five are Spotlight members.  The nominees are Gemma Arterton, Andrew Garfield, Tom Hardy, Aaron Johnson and Emma Stone. The Orange Rising Star Award was established in 2006 in honour of Mary Selway, the highly-respected, BAFTA-winning British casting director who died in 2004.  Previous winners of the award and fellow Spotlight members are Noel Clarke, James McAvoy and Eva Green. Click here for more information on the nominees and how to vote. ...

posted on 10th January 2011 Read full article >>

Spotlight members feature in 68th Golden Globe nominations

The 68th annual Golden Globe nominations were announced earlier in the week and as one would expect numerous Spotlight members feature in the acting categories.  Congratulations to the following actors and actresses and good luck on the night! BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA Colin Firth (The King's Speech) BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS - DRAMA Helena Bonham Carter (The King's Speech) BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR - DRAMA Andrew Garfield (The Social Network) BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN...

posted on 16th December 2010 Read full article >>

Spotlight Best Actor & Actress in a Play Nominations Announced

The nominees for the Spotlight Best Actor and Actress in a Play category at the 2011 Whatsonstage.com awards were announced last Friday at a star studded affair at Cafe de Paris in London.  Photos from the event can be viewed by clicking here.  The Spotlight Best Actor in a Play nominees are: Benedict Cumberbatch – After the Dance at the National, Lyttelton David Suchet – All My Sons at the Apollo Matthew Macfadyen – Private Lives at the Vaudeville Rory Kinnear – Hamlet at the National, Olivier & Measure for Measure at the Almeida...

posted on 6th December 2010 Read full article >>

Spotlight Best Actor NSDF10 opens in The Wind in the Willows

Rupert Lazarus, winner of the Spotlight Best Actor prize at NSDF10 is playing Toad in Theatre 503’s production of The Wind in the Willows which opens tonight. The play by Kenneth Grahame and adapted by James Phillips will be performed by the NSDF10 Ensemble from Wednesday 1st December to Saturday 18th December 2010 at Theatre503 in Battersea and is suitable for children aged 6+ years.  To book tickets, here are the details: Box Office 020 7978 7040 or book on-line at: www.theatre503.com NSDF is celebrating its 56th year of producing, programming and supporting the...

posted on 1st December 2010 Read full article >>

Alan Bates Bursary winner announced!

We are pleased to announce this year’s winner of The Alan Bates Bursary is Spotlight member Ivanno Jeremiah (RADA). Runners up to the award were fellow Spotlight members Tom Secretan (LAMDA) and Nick Blakeley (Bristol Old Vic). The bursary presentation will take place at the Actors Centre on Thursday 10th June at 3:30pm. The award will be presented by Zoe Wanamaker, currently starring in the acclaimed West End production of ALL MY SONS. The recent RADA graduate was selected by judges Richard E Grant and Lesley Sharp, from over 200 entrants, to...

posted on 4th June 2010 Read full article >>

Interview with Lauren O’Neil – 2009 Spotlight Prize Winner

In 2009 Lauren O’Neil graduated from Guildhall School of Music and Drama and won the Spotlight prize for best actress. This year she opened in her first professional stage role in ‘Women Beware Women’ at the National Theatre and will also be appearing on our TV screens in ‘Lewis’ on Sunday.  Will Davies, Spotlight Casting & Agent Liaison, spoke with her about her origins as an actress, her training at Guildhall and her industry experiences since winning the Spotlight prize. · Obvious question but did you always know you wanted to be an actress? Not at all, when...

posted on 20th May 2010 Read full article >>

Spotlight Prize winner Lauren O’Neil opening at National Theatre

Last year’s Spotlight Showcase best actress winner Lauren O’Neil is appearing in ‘Women Beware Women’, which opens tonight at the National Theatre.  Playing the role of Bianca, Lauren is co-starring alongside fellow Spotlight members Harriet Walter, Raymond Coulthard and Nick Blood, a 2008 Spotlight Prize Nominee!    This year’s Spotlight Showcase is scheduled to take place on the 20th July.  22 drama students who have been nominated by their CDS drama school as the best actor from their graduating year. will perform to an exclusive VIP audience of agents, casting professionals and others. ...

posted on 27th April 2010 Read full article >>

Most promising actress & actor at NSDF announced

Spotlight are proud to announce that this year’s winners of the Spotlight Award for most promising actress and actor at the National Student Drama Festival are Rachel Helen Shaw and Rupert Lazarus.      Rupert and Rachel are studying at Leeds University and appeared in Ravenrock Theatre Company’s production of ‘Phaedre’s Love’ by Sarah Kane.  Each receives £150 prize money and  free membership of Spotlight for a year.  This year’s NSDF featured the usual mix of great productions and performances, enthusiastic students from across the UK and some amazing speakers including Mike Leigh, Christopher Ecclestone, Thelma...

posted on 7th April 2010 Read full article >>

Spotlight sponsors the Alan Bates Bursary 2010

Spotlight are proud to announce sponsorship of the Alan Bates Bursary 2010. This Bursary is awarded annually to a promising young actor, at the outset of their career. Sir Alan Bates was the Patron of the Actors Centre from 1994 until his death in 2004. He cared passionately about the craft of acting and about the cause of young actors entering the profession. The Alan Bates Bursary was endowed to commemorate his inspirational work on behalf of the Actors Centre and will be awarded annually to an actor of exceptional talent. This year's recipient will be...

posted on 24th March 2010 Read full article >>

Spotlight members win big at this year’s Olivier Awards

             Big congratulations to all the Spotlight members who won awards at Sunday's Olivier Awards. They are Aneurin Barnard, Eddie Redmayne, Iwan Rheon, Mark Rylance, Maggie Smith, Samantha Spiro, Rachel Weisz and Ruth Wilson. Plaudits too to all the performers who were nominated in the actor/actress categories. On the dance side of things, Stephen Mears won Best Theatre Chorographer for Hello Dolly! at the Open Air and the Rambert Dance company won the award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance. For a full list of the winners...

posted on 23rd March 2010 Read full article >>

Famous faces from Spotlight's past

Since 1927, Spotlight's pages have featured hundreds of famous faces.  The Hall of Fame is a compilation of our favourite actor and actress photos from stage and screen.  To view ‘When They Were Children’, ‘James Bond 007’, ‘Academy Award Winners’ and many more, click here. Tags: actor, actress, awards, film, photo, spotlight, stage

posted on 22nd March 2010 Read full article >>

Spotlight members nominated for Baftas

Eight Spotlight members are on the shortlists for this year’s Baftas, which were released today. The nominations also include five films that were cast via Spotlight. The awards’ leading actor shortlist includes Colin Firth (for A Single Man) and Andy Serkis (for Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll). Carey Mulligan is nominated in the leading actress category for her role in An Education. Christian McKay (Me and Orson Welles), Alfred Molina (An Education) and Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds) are on the supporting actor shortlist, while Anne-Marie Duff and Kristin Scott Thomas are both in the running for...

posted on 21st January 2010 Read full article >>

Spotlight members nominated for Rising Star BAFTA

Two Spotlight members have been shortlisted for this year’s Orange Rising Star BAFTA Award. Nicholas Hoult and Carey Mulligan are among five nominees for the award, whose winner is decided by public vote. Best known for his roles in the 2002 film About A Boy and in E4’s Skins, Hoult stars in Tom Ford’s directorial debut film, A Single Man, which is due for release in the UK next month. Mulligan won critical acclaim and a Golden Globe Award nomination for her role in An Education and will star opposite Susan Sarandon and...

posted on 14th January 2010 Read full article >>

Success for Spotlight Members at British Independent Film Awards

Congratulations to Spotlight members Tom Hardy, Carey Mulligan, Anne-Marie Duff and John Henshaw, who swept the board at the British Independent Film Awards ceremony, held last night in London. Tom Hardy won Best Actor for his role in Bronson, Carey Mulligan took home the Best Actress award for An Education, Anne-Marie Duff received Best Supporting Actress for Nowhere Boy and John Henshaw’s performance in Looking for Eric earned him the Best Supporting Actor award. Duncan Jones’ critically-acclaimed Moon, cast on the Spotlight Link, won Best British Independent Film and Best Debut Director, and In The Loop – also cast...

posted on 7th December 2009 Read full article >>