11.31°C It’s that time of year again as The Keep Colchester Cool Theatre Awards return to celebrate the very best of local theatre. Formerly known as The Paulies until 2024, the awards continue their tradition of championing community talent – now under the Keep Colchester Cool banner.
This year also marks a few changes. Keep Colchester Cool Theatre Editor Paul T. Davies is joined by fellow reviewer Tim Young, who has helped broaden the number of productions seen and considered.
For the first time ever, the awards will be celebrated live and in person, bringing nominees, performers, theatre-makers and supporters together at the Headgate Theatre for a shared community celebration. The 2025 ceremony will run from 2pm to 5pm on Sunday, 18th January 2026, with ticket details to be announced shortly. The move to a live event marks an exciting moment for the awards, offering everyone the chance to come together and celebrate the incredible talent in Colchester’s theatre scene.
Here are the nominees for 2025:
Best Musical Theatre Actress in a Supporting Role
- Ellie-Marie Chapman for Flounder in The Little Mermaid
- Jackie Grant for Morgan Le Fey in Camelot
- Emma Theedom for Chef Louis in The Little Mermaid
Best Musical Theatre Actor in a Supporting Role
- Charlie Byford for Tom of Warwick/Page in Camelot
- Richard Harrison as Lancelot in Camelot
- Lewis Newman for multi-roles in Tick, Tick… Boom!
- Wayne Setford for Sir Pellinore in Camelot
Best Supporting Actor
- Nick Edgeworth for Stanley Stubbers in One Man, Two Guvnors (HTP)
- George Green for multiple roles in A Christmas Carol (Colchester Theatre Group)
- Will Hooper for Colonel Whittaker in Easy Virtue (Platform)
- Paul Reed for Alfie in One Man, Two Guvnors (HTP)
- Kev Woods for various roles in A Christmas Carol
Best Supporting Actress
- Jess Burden for Pauline Clench in One Man, Two Guvnors
- Helen McCraw for Marion in Easy Virtue
- Donna Potter for various roles, especially Jacob Marley, in A Christmas Carol (Colchester Theatre Group)
- Lorena Saiano for Rachel Crabbe in One Man, Two Guvnors
- Sarah Ellen Young for Madame Xania in The Killing of Sister George
Best Musical Theatre Actress
- Leanne Barber as Sebastian in The Little Mermaid
- Cally Kline for Queen Guenevere in Camelot
- Becki Lee for Ursula in The Little Mermaid
Best Musical Theatre Actor
- George Deadman for King Arthur in Camelot
- Kourosh Nayeri for Jonathan in Tick, Tick… Boom!
- Tom Pleasant for Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid
Best Musical
- Camelot (Platform Musicals)
- The Little Mermaid (Colchester Operatic)
- Tick, Tick… Boom! (St Helena School)
Best Actress
- Sharon Carter, Olivia Rix and Lilly Skeggs for various roles in Our Walk Through The World (joint nomination)
- Laura Hill for Larita in Easy Virtue (Platform)
- Leanne Howard for Dorine in Tartuffe
- Lucia Fox for Elmire in Tartuffe
- Jayne Sheeran for Mrs Madrigal in The Chalk Garden
Best Actor
- Les Chisnell for Scrooge in A Christmas Carol
- Adan Duarte-Dias and Stephen Lello for various roles in Our Walk Through The World (joint nomination)
- Tom Hitchcock for Francis Henshall in One Man, Two Guvnors
Best Director
- Sally Broatch for One Man, Two Guvnors
- Caroline Fritz for Camelot
- Eleanor Kent-Johnson for The Chalk Garden
- Forest Morgan for Our Walk Through The World (HTP)
- The St Helena School Team for Tick, Tick… Boom!
Best Production
- A Christmas Carol – Colchester Theatre Group
- Easy Virtue – Platform Plays and Musicals
- One Man, Two Guvnors – Headgate Theatre Productions
- Our Walk Through The World (HTP)
- The Chalk Garden – Headgate Theatre Productions
Special Award
The Special Award will be announced at the ceremony and is selected personally by Paul T. Davies. It recognises an individual or theatre that has made a significant contribution to supporting and enriching Colchester’s theatre community.
Join us for the Celebration
This first-ever live ceremony promises to be a brilliant afternoon honouring the talent, creativity and dedication of Colchester’s theatre community. Keep an eye out for ticket announcements – we’d love you to join us at the Headgate Theatre to celebrate together.
