CHILD’S PLAY REAPS AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
The May Bank Holiday weekend belonged to the Alderney Theatre Group as they travelled to Guernsey for the 76h annual GADOC One Act Play Festival, returning home with a remarkable collection of awards, nominations and glowing praise for their latest production, “Child’s Play”.
Written by renowned Alderney playwright Lee Flewitt and directed by ATG Chair Charlotte Newton, “Child’s Play” captivated audiences and adjudicators alike during their performance on stage at Beau Sejour’s David Fergjson Hall on Friday 22nd May.
The dark comedy – playful on the surface but carrying emotional depth beneath – showcased the growing strength and confidence of Alderney’s thriving theatre scene.
The success continues an extraordinary run for the group at this annual festival. In 2024, Alderney Theatre Group achieved major success with “A Wake”, also written by Lee Flewitt, which subsequently went on to compete and win an award at the National Drama Festival in Coventry. In 2025, the group followed that up by winning two awards for their interpretation of the play “Anger Management”.
With this latest success for “Child’s Play”, the group has now firmly established itself as one of the standout theatre companies in the Channel Islands festival circuit.
This year’s honours were particularly impressive with two big wins:
WINNER
Lee Flewitt -Child’s Play
The Burns Trophy:
awarded for the original unpublished play receiving the highest marks
WINNER
Child’s Play
The Barbara Minta Award
Awarded to the play achieving the festival’s second-highest overall marks
L-to-R (front) Rosie Evans, Alex Flewitt, Marie Roberts, Charlotte Newton
L-to-R (back) Tobias Hanbury, Ian Order, Lee Flewitt, Ronnie Cairnduff
PLUS:
Nomination for Tobias Hanbury
The George Foote Memorial Trophy for best humorous performance
Nomination for Willow Pycroft
The Joan Machon Award for most ;promising performer in an under 21 cast
The nominations reflected the depth of talent within the production’s cast and highlighted the strength of performances delivered throughout the evening.
Tobias Hanbury’s comedic timing drew praise from the adjudicator, while 7-year old Willow Pycroft’s nomination marked a proud moment not only for her but also for her mum, Rosie Evans, who was alongside her in the cast.
Festival audiences responded warmly to the originality humour and emotional balance of “Child’s Play”, with many praising the sharp writing, confident direction and polished performances from the Alderney cast.
For the Alderney Theatre Group, the weekend represented far more than trophies and nominations. It was another exceptional accolade for Alderney’s creative community and proof that the island continues to produce theatre capable of competing and succeeding on a wider stage.
After three consecutive years of festival recognition, the group’s reputation continues to grow and this latest success may well be their finest achievement yet.
Congratulations to the entire cast: Rose Evans, Ian Corder, Tobias Hanbury, Lee Flewitt, Alex Flewitt, Marie Roberts and Willow Pycroft. As well as Director Charlotte Newton, Write Lee Flewitt, Technical Director Ronnie Cairnduff, Costumer Clare Evans and the entire team who put this show on the road on both islands.
The ATG would like to thank Klaudia Kowalewska, David Stanley, Trevor Sanderes, Liz Sumner, Natalie Hildon, Lesley Cairnduff, Ilona Soane-Sands, the ladies at Anchors, Buz White & Tess Woodnutt, Jenny Falla and all the team at GADOC.
ENDS
To view, download or share photographs taken by David Nash during the Alderney performance (13 May), please follow the link below: