If there’s one thing that pantomime people know, it’s the importance of a good costume to attract attention and create a good impression. That was certainly the case at G Live in Guildford, filled with colour, sequins and panache as panto performers, producers, creatives and enthusiasts gathered to hear the results of the 2024 Pantomime Awards last night (18 June).

The event marked the third year of these awards, presented by the UK Pantomime Association (UKPA) after 70 judges visited 259 venues to see more than 728 performances. During a ceremony that saw performances from Rob Madge, Matthew Siviter, Tweedy and young performers from event sponsor Stagecoach, awards were presented to a wide range of performers and creatives from across the UK. Headline awards included one to Twins FX for Outstanding Achievement. Known for their crocodiles, flying buses and illusions, the Twins (Gary and Paul) lead a team at their base in Dorset that can create any effect imagined by a producer – and quite a few that might not have been thought of just yet. The award mentioned their “exceptional contribution” to the “true magic of pantomime.”

Three Special Recognition Awards were announced; the first of these to the Macrobert Arts Centre in Stirling, who received theirs for Achievement in Inclusive Practice for their production of Aladdin set in Discotopia which celebrated female empowerment, LBQT+ narratives and inclusive casting. Also recognised were the Latin America-set Cinderella at the Theatre Chipping Norton, which won for Achievement in Innovation, and panto dame Michael J. Batchelor, who has said UKPA “perfected the art of costuming the Dame” and also plays the role himself each year.

Other dames featured in the awards too, with the Christopher Biggins Award for Best Dame going to Ben Roddy, Widow Twankey in Aladdin and regular performer at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury. The award for Best Sisters went to Iain Lauchlan and Andy Hockley from Cinderella at the Belgrade, Coventry.

Ben Roddy was not the only winner from Canterbury; also the recipient of awards were Paul Hendy for Best Script, and Chris Wong for Best Contribution to Music. Also a winner of more than one award was the Birmingham Hippodrome production of Jack and the Beanstalk - for Best Pantomime (over 900 seats) as well as Best Comic for Matt Slack – who appeared on video to accept the award, together with newly arrived baby.

The Best Pantomime award is split into three categories according to audience size, with that for mid-range theatres (500-900 seats) going to Sleeping Beauty at the Gordon Craig, Stevenage and in the under 500 seat category, the winner was Aganeza Scrooge at the Tron, Glasgow. All pantos need villains to represent the forces of evil, and among a list of experienced baddies, it was Wendi Harriott who won Best Villain for her appearance in Sleeping Beauty at the Watersmeet, Rickmansworth. Opposing these evil forces were a host of fairies and forces for good, and the winner of the Carmen Silvera Award for Best Magical Being was Amanda Henderson from Jack and the Beanstalk at Rhyl.

Many of the awards went to experienced panto performers, but UKPA also recognises those at the beginning of their career or making their first foray into the genre. Best Newcomer to Pantomime went to Benjamin Armstrong (Aladdin, Poole) and Best Early Career Newcomer was Jewelle Hutchinson (Cinderella, Nottingham Playhouse).

UKPA quite rightly gives non-gendered awards for principal roles; the Barbara Windsor Award for Principal Lead this year went to Alexandra Mardell for her Goldilocks at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth; and the Secondary Lead award went to Lotti Brogan, who was in Dick Whittington at King’s Lynn Corn Exchange. Representing those other roles that define different titles, Ben Tanner won Best Supporting Artist for his goose in Mother Goose at Derby Arena.

Their names may not be familiar but the Ensemble play a vital role in filling out the character list, and often covering principal roles too. Winners of the Best Ensemble Award this year were the team from Mother Goose at Cambridge Arts, and it seems only fair to name them all: Danielle Cato, Oliver Imeson, Sophie Karaolis, Sarah Jane Lowe, Louis Parkins and Luke Stone. Ensuring panto performers tell their stories clearly, and sing and dance as required, are a host of choreographers and directors. The award for Best Choreographer this year went to Myles Brown (Beauty and the Beast, Assembly Hall Tunbridge Wells) and Best Director was Simon Fielding (Cinderella, Towngate Basildon).

UKPA also remembers and celebrates those creatives whose backstage work contributes to the phenomenon that is pantomime. The award for Best Set Design went to David Shields (Grand, Wolverhampton) and that for Best Costume Design to Dawn Allsopp (Snow White, Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds). The award for Sound Design went to Nigel Bayliss (Sleeping Beauty, Theatre Royal Bath) and that for Lighting Design to Jamie Corbidge (Cinderella, Swansea Grand).

UKPA is a charity that explores, shares and celebrates pantomime by investigating the genre’s rich past, engaging with contemporary practice and inspiring the future. UKPA Chair Simon Sladen said: “Congratulations to all the nominees and winners at The Pantomime Awards 2024! There is such a wealth of talent across the pantomime industry, which these awards truly acknowledge and celebrate. Pantomime is an important and integral aspect of British culture, and one the UK Pantomime Association is proud to champion.”

The full list of nominees in each category can be seen on the UKPA website here, along with photos of winners with their awards here.

UKPA: https://pantomimeassociation.co.uk