Sussex theatre company award winners announced after successful 2025 season
Sussex amateur theatrical company Southwick Players has looked back at a superb season of plays at the annual SPOSCARS awards night.
For the first time, an independent panel of judges viewed the four plays in the 2025 season and decided the winners of the major awards.
The Beauty Queen of Leenane in April was directed by Nettie Sheridan, Great Expectations in July was directed by Richard Lindfield, The Unfriend in September was directed by Sarah Papouis, and Abigail's Party in December was directed by Gary Cook.
Debbie Creissen, president, said The Beauty Queen of Leenane was a lovely Irish show, a 'challenging and amazing' production in which she had the pleasure of appearing.
Great Expectations had an ensemble cast with some outstanding individual performances, The Unfriend was a fabulous comedy and the Player's entry in the Brighton and Hove Arts Council Drama Awards 2025, and Abigail's Party was a classic that proved extremely popular with audiences.
The judging panel included actor and director Suse Crosby, Wick Theatre stalwart Bob Ryder, long-standing Players member Sue Gullen and journalist Elaine Hammond, who has reviewed many Players productions over the years.
Suse, speaking on behalf of the judges, said: "As always, this was a wonderful season of plays with different styles, direction, acting and actors, and, of course, story. It was so good to have such a mix of crowd pleasers and classics, as well as hidden gems.
"While we know that running a theatre company has to overall at least break even, it's so heartening to see and be part of Southwick Players, who understand that one of the joys of theatre is when it opens you up to new ideas and stories, not staying in a safe spot, that success is measured in quality, not quantity of seats sold."
Winner of best overall production was The Beauty Queen of Leenane, while the best director award went to Richard Lindfield.
Three awards went to the cast of The Beauty Queen of Leenane – Jaqueline Jordan, who played Maureen Folan, and Debbie Creissen, who played Mag Folan, were joint winners of best female actor, and Guy Steddon, who played Pato Dooley, won best supporting actor.
Mark Best, who played Peter in The Unfriend, won best male actor and Ellie Mason, who played Angela in Abigail's Party, won best supporting female actor. Best cameo performance went to H Reeves, who played The Neighbour in The Unfriend.
Other winners included Dean Common for best technical achievement and Mandy Reeves, who was voted Players Player.
The 2026 season will feature Murder on the Nile in April, The Dresser in July, The Country Wife or Girls Just Wanna Have Fun in October and the pantomime Rapunzel in January 2027. Visit southwickplayers.org.uk for more information.