Star date: 3rd August 2018

LIBBY HALL WINS BEST NEWCOMER AWARDS AT GM FRINGE

16 year old Salford schoolgirl, Libby Hall has won two awards at the Greater Manchester Fringe Festival for her debut play Things We Tell The Hours After Midnight.

The cast from Salford Arts Theatre's Young Performers Company, aged between 11 and 16, also won Best Ensemble for the play at the awards... "I'm so overwhelmed with emotions" says Libby, who also performed in her drama.

Full details here...

"This proves what electric performances come from giving young people the freedom of expression..." Roni Ellis 

When the Salford Star interviewed 16 year old Libby Hall about having her play, Things We Tell the Hours After Midnight, staged at Salford Arts Theatre as part of GM Fringe, she was nervous, excited but also apprehensive...

"My hopes are that the show sells well, audiences enjoy it and can appreciate the message I'm trying to put across" she said, citing Shelagh Delaney as inspiration.*

Now, Libby has not only stormed the Fringe, she's won two top awards. She bagged the Best Newcomer award, while the cast from Salford Arts Theatre's Young Performers Company, aged between 11 and 16, won Best Ensemble for the play, which Libby also appeared in.

She was also awarded a Development Prize in the New Writing category, and wins a free place on a Write for the Stage course next autumn.

"There are no words to explain what I feel after winning Best Newcomer and Best Ensemble at the Greater Manchester Fringe awards" says Libby "I'm so overwhelmed with emotions. I'm delighted for the cast receiving Best Ensemble, I've watched them work tirelessly to bring my script to life and I'm absolutely buzzing they've been recognised for the brilliant job they all did. I'm very grateful."

Roni Ellis, who manages Salford Arts Theatre and the Young Performers Company adds: "From the beginning of the process I knew this was play was going to be something special. Libby has a gift and I am honoured to be a part of that. Her debut play proves her writing is special. 

"I can't wait to see what is next because this is not going to be the last we see of Libby and her writing" she explains "The young performers, including Libby, have thrown themselves into the rehearsals and have worked like a true ensemble, so to win Best Ensemble makes me burst with pride. I always work in collaborative way even with our young performers company at Salford Arts Theatre and this proves what electric performances come from giving young people the freedom of expression". 
 
*To read the Salford Star interview with Libby – click here

Photo by Craige Barker shows Libby with the Lord Mayor of Manchester Councillor June Hitchen and Roni Ellis from Salford Arts Theatre.

Greater Manchester Fringe Awards...
 
Most Innovative Use of Space: Westernized in a pop up saloon (marquee outside 53two)
Also nominated were:
This Wide Night in the King's Arms Vaults
The Thermos Museum in various locations around the King's Arms
China Plates and Pearl Earrings in the Hat Works Museum in Stockport
 
Best Comedy: Garry Starr Performs Everything at the King's Arms
Also nominated were:
Private Fears in Public Places at Salford Arts Theatre
Mandy Tootill: Twin Peaks at the Castle Hotel
Trolley Girls at Gullivers
The Thermos Museum at the King's Arms
 
Best Comedy Play: Trollope
Also nominated were:
Auntie & Me
Peg & Bessie
Up the Bunting
Westernized
 
Best Revival: A Different Way Home
Also nominated were:
Private Fears in Public Places
Jnr JB Shorts
Auntie & Me
King Lear (Alone)
Romeo & Juliet
 
Best Newcomer: Libby Hall for Things We Tell The Hours After Midnight
Also nominated were:
Powerhouse Town
Pretty Evil
The Egoist
Rescued

Best Ensemble: Salford Arts Theatre's Young Performers Company for Things We Tell The Hours After Midnight
Also nominated were:
Stolen Thread Productions for Jnr JB Shorts
Leoe & Hyde for Guy a new musical
Open Quote for Lady Business
Forked Theatre for Motherlogues
Dick & Lottie for Private Fears in Public Places

Best Spoken Word: Marlon Solomon for Conspiracy Theory: A Lizard's Tale
Also nominated were:
Cathianne Hall for The Girl in the Grate and Jowanna Rose for Me, You and Godzilla Too
Bob Young for King Lear (Alone)
Brian Gorman for One Man Bond
Rosa Wright for The Love Calculator
Quina Chapman for Fan Girl

Write for the Stage New Writing: 18 Victoria by Cody Dangle-Orians and How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse by Jonathan Hall. Both plays will now be published.
Also nominated were:
OUT by Stewart Campbell
Wendy to the Waterfall by Matthew Smith

Best Actor: Darren Scott in A Different Way Home
Also nominated were:
Amy Forrest in This Wide Night
Stephen Donald in Up The Bunting!
Leni Murphy in OUT
Nicole Evans in A Fine Life
Julie Edwards in A Fine Life
Gemma Brodrick-Bower in Don't Cha Wish Your Scouser Was Boss Like Me
Ali Khan in Trollope
Stacey Harcourt in I'm Gonna Jump

Best Drama: China Plates and Pearl Earrings by Jade Jones at the Hat Works in Stockport
Also nominated were:
The Truth About Blokes by Trevor Suthers
Wendy to the Waterfall by Matthew Smith
On Behalf of the People by Ray Castleton
The Egoist by John Tueart
Peg & Bessie by Drew Tosh
Lionman by Dapertutto Theatre
18 Victoria by Cody Dangle-Orians
OUT by Stewart Campbell
This Wide Night by Chloe Moss
Oldham Coliseum Theatre's Pick of the Greater Manchester Fringe: POP
Also nominated were:
I'm Gonna Jump
Trollope
This Wide Night
Motherlogues

Canal St Online Pick of the Fringe: Once A Year on Blackpool Sands
Also nominated were:
Guy
Blackpool, What A Shit Place To Die
How To Survive A Zombie Apocalypse

Spirit of the Fringe: Neil Davidson's Thermos Museum

The Greater Manchester Fringe Awards were sponsored by Write for the Stage, Gordon's Pink Gin, Oldham Coliseum, King's Arms in Salford and 53two.