The Savoy Youth Theatre annual awards ceremony was held on Friday 7th September and was attended by the mayor, members of the Rotary club and local businesses.

The night is a special one for the youngsters but this year it meant so much more following on after the dramatic setbacks that the youth theatre has had to face this year.

Sam Densham gave a moving speech that encapsulated all that youth theatre means for the young people and indeed the local community. The children who received the awards time and time again thanked her personally and expressed how much youth theatre meant to them.

Youth theatre for many children is a place where they can call home and take ownership over their learning. Indeed the two comperes of the evening (Jack Thomson and Isla Corbjin) had devised a formal yet funny script and the children entertained the audience with songs from the last performance year.

The event wouldn’t have been possible without the unfailing support from parents and local businesses. They particularly to thank Shane Wallace from Nelson Honey, David Tovey from Monteas, Mary Mahabir from the White Swan Tearooms, Lisa and Mark from Timpsons, and Karin from Granny Browns Sweet Shop.

David Tovey was pleased to be able to help out saying, “The Savoy Youth Theatre is an amazing group for building confidences, creating team working experience, developing a caring camaraderie and I hope will grow from strength to strength, helping to prepare the brilliant younger members of our community for the awesome future that lies ahead of them. From Friday evening’s award ceremony I have to say extremely well done to everyone involved in The Savoy Youth Theatre.”

Mary Mahabir said she was only too happy to be asked to present a prize at the awards ceremony for ‘best actor’.

Her tea shop in White Swan Court is opposite the building where the devastating fire earlier this year wiped out many of the costumes and wrecked the youth theatre’s base.”The fire was a huge shock to the group and I was utterly distraught to see the devastation that morning.?It was a heart-breaking sight to see the flames, it took your breath away,” she said. Mary opened up her doors to the firemen that day and supplied tea and cake to the emergency workers and when the cleaning up process started, she helped supply hot water and cleaning materials, as well as more cake!

She hosted their launch of “Alice in Wonderland” last year and held a mad hatters tea party and formed a bond with many of the youngsters and budding actors over the years.

Sam Densham said, “The Youth Theatre has risen from the ashes and will continue to go from strength to strength, providing invaluable, accessible skills and learning for all young people who come through its doors.