Meet the Winners of 2023's Bridget Cassé Award.
/It is that time of the year to recognise the hard work and dedication of some of our talented members of Next Stage Youth with the presentation of The Bridget Cassé Award for Excellence in Youth Theatre. The award was inaugurated in 2010, in memory of a talented Next Stage actress - Bridget Cassé - who was a much-loved Next Stage Youth tutor. The beautiful glass trophy is awarded in September to the individual in Next Stage Youth who has shown theatrical talent, enthusiasm, a willingness to help out and a positive attitude towards fellow members.
Next Stage Youth tutors who have worked with the group over the past twelve months nominate youthers for this prestigious award from which a Winner, a Runner-Up and a Highly Commended recipient are selected.
We are delighted to announce that the thirteenth winner of the prestigious Bridget Cassé Award in 2023 is Phoebe Bartlett. The Runner up is Dara Tiernan and Malena Agathangelou has been Highly Commended.
[pictured from left to right] Artistic Director Ann Ellison BEM with Bridget Casse award winner phoebe bartlett and runner-up dara tiernan
Phoebe is a popular and well-deserved winner of this year’s trophy. She has demonstrated her talent as well as her commitment to the company throughout the year with excellent attendance records and an enthusiastic attitude that she brings to every session and rehearsal.
During the year, Phoebe has taken part in an Under-19’s Group Acting entry in the Mid-Somerset Drama Festival, helping to win the Crisp Cowley trophy with her group’s extract from The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Simon Stephens. Phoebe performed in Next Stage’s adult production The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole: The Musical in March 2023 and most recently she wowed audiences in her role as Anita in West Side Story: School Edition. Her hard work and dedication in all of these dramatic outings has not gone unnoticed. Congratulations Phoebe on your well-deserved award!
Runner up, Dara Tiernan, was a very close contender for the trophy this year, she too is a friendly and talented member of the company and a recipient of 2022’s Come You Giants bursary, using it to fund tuition for her LAMDA exam. Her most recent acting credits include one of the school girls in The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole: The Musical as well as fantastically depicting the boisterous and complex character of Anybodys in West Side Story.
Malena Agathangelou is Highly Commended in this year’s nominations, which recognises her natural flair for acting, particularly evident in her most recent role as A-Rab in West Side Story.
We want to thank all three of this year’s recipients once again for bringing such enthusiasm and energy to Next Stage Youth and supporting their peers whenever they can. Congratulations to you all!
