Thringstone's Ace Community Theatre triumphs at Leicestershire Pantomime Awards

Thringstone-based Ace Community Theatre Group took home one of the big prizes at the Pantomime Alliance of Leicestershire Awards on Saturday.

They won the prestigious David Pollard Cup for Best Pantomime, for their production of Sleeping Beauty.

The pantomime, written by their director, Scott Coleman, was performed at Iveshead School's Theatre, Shepshed, in January to packed audiences who were treated to a show full of laughter, energy and magical moments.

The awards night, held at Braunstone Civic Centre, was themed Salute to Pantomime, celebrating the best of local amateur theatre.

Ace Community Theatre's team proudly took to the stage to receive the David Pollard Cup, with Scott joking: "The cup is really heavy!"

The group said each performance of Sleeping Beauty received rave reviews, with audiences praising the show's humour, creativity and high production quality.

The production featured dazzling costumes, hilarious slapstick comedy, and high-energy musical numbers that kept audiences thoroughly entertained. The theatre group added that the villain's mischievous antics, the fairy godmother's magical moments,and the comedic timing of the Dame made it a pantomime to remember.

Alongside winning Best Pantomime, the group also secured an impressive five additional awards, including:

Best Under-11 – jointly won by Eli-J and Amelie
Best Pantomime Animal – won by Kodie
Best Script (written by Scott Coleman)
Best Dancing (special recognition to Hugglescote Dance and Drama Group)
Best Singing

In addition to their wins, they were nominated in several other categories, including Best Director, Best Sound, Best Principal Boy, Best Villain, Best Supporting Male, Best Wildcard, Best Backstage, and Best Set Design.

The awards night itself was a spectacular celebration of local talent, bringing together theatre groups from across Leicestershire.

The atmosphere was electric, with cheers erupting as Ace Community Theatre was announced as the winner of the David Pollard Cup for Best Pantomime. The team celebrated in style, taking to the stage to collect their trophy, an unforgettable moment for the entire cast and crew.

Scott said: "Winning Best Pantomime for Sleeping Beauty is an incredible honour, and knowing that it was a script I wrote makes it even more special.

"Our cast and crew worked tirelessly to bring this story to life, and I'm beyond proud of every single person who played a part in making it such a success. A huge thank you to our audience, supporters, and the wonderful community that continues to champion local theatre!"

Beyond their theatrical success, Ace Community Theatre is more than just a Theatre Group. It is also dedicated to giving back to the community.

Recently, they donated £1,000 to the Derby and Burton Hospital Intensive Care Unit Fund, a cause close to their hearts after Scott received life-saving care at Queen's Hospital, Burton.

The group is run entirely by volunteers, from costume designers and set builders to lighting technicians and front-of-house staff. Every member plays a vital role in making each production a success, and the group extends its thanks to the local community for their unwavering support.

Ace Community Theatre is always on the lookout for new members, whether on stage or behind the scenes. If you have a passion for acting, singing, dancing, or working backstage in areas like set design, sound, and lighting, they would love to hear from you!