Tina’s Trophy for Excellence in Theatre

The award was created on May 18th 2019, Next Stage’s 25th birthday, to celebrate Excellence in Theatre. The beautiful crystal vase is awarded annually to a member of Next Stage who has excelled within the company either onstage, backstage, around the theatre, or all three.  Given by Next Stage’s Artistic Director Ann Ellison it was named Tina’s Trophy in memory of Ann’s mother. The first recipient was Brian Howe, who has now handed over the trophy to the May 2020 winner: Caroline Groom.

Caroline has been a Next Stager since 1995. An extremely talented actor, Caroline soon became an invaluable member of the company, liked and admired by all. It’s impossible to list all of Caroline’s outstanding onstage performances with Next Stage however we thought we would highlight a few:

In 2000 Caroline gave an informed and sensitive performance as Kyra in Skylight, the show that first took Next Stage to the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough which was run, at that time, by our patron - Sir Alan Ayckbourn. In 2003 Caroline gave a memorably powerful portrayal of Merteuil, the calculating and manipulative protagonist in Les Liaisons Dangereuse. In total contrast, Caroline played the  youthful and vengeful Murganah in The Champion of Paribanou in 2005; and many remember with great fondness Caroline’s portrayal of the mercurial Jean Brodie in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (2011). All three of these shows toured to the Minack in Cornwall, one of Caroline’s favourite venues and where her acting talents have regularly been appreciated in this 700-seater outdoor arena. In 2005 Caroline lead the company as Jacie Triplethree in Comic Potential - the show with which Next Stage opened The Mission Theatre. More recently, in December 2019, continuing a long line of her outstanding Ayckbourn roles, Caroline was seen at The Mission playing Susan in Woman in Mind - an unforgettable performance in which she never left the stage. 

Whether playing tragedy or comedy, Caroline is a consummate actor and one who is neither afraid, nor reluctant to take a supporting role if asked, or to help backstage when required. She is a member of the Next Stage Working Party and is frequently to be seen undertaking Front of House duties at The Mission. Caroline’s insightful and supportive manner with other company members, plus her on stage generosity and skills, mean she is respected and loved by Next Stagers. We trust that Tina’s Trophy will be a constant reminder of that fact in the year ahead. 

Congratulations and thank you Caroline for all that you have given to the company.