St Albans amateur dramatics company nominated for awards

Susie Wyeth as Kate getting to grips with Danny Smith as Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew. Picture: David Martin (Image: Archant)

Breakaway Theatre Company has been nominated in three of the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) east district three 2017-2018 awards.

These awards were set up by the east district three representative, Nova Horley, in order to recognise talent around the Harpenden, Redbourn, St Albans, Luton, Dunstable and Bovingdon area.

Shelley Healy is up for Best Director for her recreation of The Vagina Monologues, Saleema Brohi has been shortlisted for Best Female for her part in The Vagina Monologues, and Danny Smith and Susie Wyeth have been nominated for Best Duo for their depictions of Petruchio and Katherina in The Taming of the Shrew?.

The Vagina Monologues was only Susie’s second appearance with the theatre company, debuting in a murder mystery last year.

Rehearsals for Breakaway Theatre Company's performance of The Taming of the Shrew. Picture: Clare Waller (Image: Archant)

Susie congratulated Shelley on an “incredible” play: “The collection of monologues is so powerful, with everything from people who have gone through gender transition, to abuse and rape, to people discovering themselves and the whole piece together was an amazing piece of work and Shelley is so passionate.

“I am really pleasantly surprised that Danny and I got nominated. We had a lot of fun and worked hard in getting the relationship right in two difficult characters and it was flattering to be nominated.”

The outdoor Shakespeare production, put on at the Inn on the Park near Verulamium Lake, was long-standing Radio Verulam presenter Danny’s debut performance.

He said: “I am thrilled and surprised to be nominated with Susie for such an award. I am incredibly proud of our work in this, our Shakespeare debut, and am grateful for all of the cast and crew for their belief in us.

Breakaway Theatre's production of The Vagina Monologues [Picture: John Jennings] (Image: ® John Jennings 2018)

“It truly is an honour to be nominated.”

Winners will receive a certificate at the NODA east district three meeting on September 16.

Nova set up the awards because “as the district representative I was feeling that there are lots of people who don’t get recognition”.

“Breakaway always do great productions and since I have been doing the awards they have always figured somehow.”

Rehearsals for Breakaway Theatre Company's performance of The Taming of the Shrew. Picture: Clare Waller (Image: Archant)

NODA has been working to help and support amateur theatre companies since 1899.

Picture: Sebastian Springer (Image: Archant)

Picture: Sebastian Springer (Image: Archant)

Picture: Sebastian Springer (Image: Archant)