Drama awards & winners
Corvus Amateur Drama Society makes two annual awards, usually in January, either after a performance of the pantomime or at a suitable club event.
The Fred Sillence Award, named in honour of a former member and editor of the Royston Crow, is given "for outstanding contribution to the performing arts". It is open to anyone aged eighteen or over and living in Royston or the surrounding villages who has made a significant contribution to theatre or drama in the previous twelve months.
The Lizzie Houghton Award, also named in honour of a former member of the society, is given "for outstanding contribution to youth drama". It is open to anyone up to the age of eighteen living in Royston or the surrounding villages who has made a significant contribution to theatre or drama in the previous twelve months - this could be in a school, a club, a theatre or dance group, on stage, backstage, or for music or scriptwriting.
Nominations can be made for either award by anyone from the local area, and the committee will then vote on who should receive each award. Award nominees do NOT have to be a member of CADS, or have been involved with CADS performances. These awards are open to all comers.
The Fred Sillence Award
for outstanding contribution to the performing arts
2024 winner: Claire Hogan
Previous winners
2023- Peter Heppelthwaite
2022 - Martin Maynard
2021 - Michael Young
2020 - Shaunaid Crosby
2019 - Rupert Jordan
2018 - Donna Sleight
2017 - Georgina Wootten
2016 - Joe Symonds2015 - Barbara Perry
2014 - Wendy Watts
2013 - Emma Shaw
2012 - Craig Maddox
2011 - Pauline Rowe
2010 - David Atkins
2009 - Louise Atkins
2008 - Jenny Warburton
2007 - Phil Rowe
2006 - Alison Bass
2005 - Emma Daintrey
2004 - Mike Holland
2003 - Barbara Maylor
2002 - Kathy Young
2001 - Kerry Hay
2000 - Joe Daintrey
The Lizzie Houghton Award
for outstanding contribution to youth drama
2024 winner: [not presented]
Previous winners
2023 - Oliver Eather
2022- Sam Durrant
2021 - [not presented]
2020 - Year 10 KJAR technicaL team
2019 - Ellis Hughes
2018 - Heather Lawrence
2017 - Faith Crockford
2016 - Amy Jordan2015 - Daniel Gee
2014 - Alex Crockford
2013 - Nicky Paton
2012 - Alice Atkins
2011 - Scott Handley
2010 - Jenni Richards
2009 - Eliot Ruocco-Trenouth
2008 - Chloe Montrose
2007 - Ruth Turner
CADS Achievements
Of course, CADS has also won a fair number of prizes and awards over the years for its efforts! Items in bold were won, items in normal font were nominated.
2023 - Don't Blame it on the Boots - Welwyn Drama Festival -Third Prize; Michael Young: nominated for Best Director; also nominated for Best Stage Presentation and for the adjudicator's special award
2022 - The Blonde Bombshell - Welwyn Drama Festival - Roy Maddox: Best Unpublished Play
2021 - Strangers on a Film - Cambridge Festival of Drama - Second Prize; Martin Maynard: Best Individual Performance; Michael Young: nominated for Best Supporting Performance; also nominated for technical achievement
2021 - Seven Movies - Welwyn Drama Festval - Adjudicator's Special Award; Kathy Young: Performance Award; Michael Young: Director's Award and nominated for performance award
2018 - Romance is Dead - Cambridge Drama Festival - Backstage Endeavour Award; Rebecca Aloneftis nominated for best actress; Nicky Paton nominated for best actor; Mark Hamblin nominated for best cameo performance
2014 - Turn to Face the Change (2014) - Sawston Drama Festival - Tamsin Cowley: Best Technical
2013 - Turn to Face the Change (2013) - Welwyn Drama Festival - Adjudicator's Special Award; Ben Pierson nominated for best actor; Claire Hogan nominated for best actress
2013 - Turn to Face the Change (2013) - Cambridge Drama Festival - Michael Young: Best Cameo Performance; Tamsin Cowley: Best Sound; Ben Pierson nominated for best actor; Claire Hogan nominated for best actress; Ian Cowley nominated for best actor
2011 - Caught in the Act - Cambridge Drama Festival - Best Overall Play; Jordan Worland: Best Actor; Bernadette Parsons nominated for best actress
2008 - The Case of the Prince Formerly Known as Hamlet: a Justin Thyme Mystery - Cambridge Drama Festival - Audience Appreciation Award; Joe Daintrey: Best Sound
2007 - A Separate Peace - Cambridge Drama Festival - Best Overall Play; Audience Appreciation Award; Amy Marks: Best Cameo Performance
2006 - The Last Bread Pudding (2006) - Cambridge Drama Festival - Audience Appreciation Award; Kathy Young: Best Cameo Performance