Norfolk is a county rich in culture, creativity and diversity. From theatre to music, from visual arts to literature, from dance to media, there is something for everyone to enjoy and appreciate. The Norfolk Arts Awards 2023, which took place on Friday, November 3 at the Ocean Room in Gorleston, celebrated the very best of the county’s arts and culture scene, with awards in 16 categories and special recognition for some of the most influential and inspiring figures in the industry.
The awards ceremony, hosted by ITV’s Chris Page and Aisling Creevy, was a glamorous and festive occasion, with live performances, speeches and surprises. The winners were chosen by a panel of judges, as well as public votes for some of the categories. The awards were sponsored by various local businesses and organisations, such as Mortgages for Actors, The Garage Theatre Trust, Norwich Theatre, Art in Norwich, City College Norwich, the University of East Anglia, Norwich Arts Centre, PBSK Partnership, Swallowtail Print and the EDP.
The Business and the Arts Award, sponsored by Mortgages for Actors, went to Norwich Theatre, which has been a leading cultural venue in the city for over 260 years, hosting a diverse range of shows, events and activities for all ages and backgrounds. Norwich Theatre also won the Jarrold New Writing Award, supported by the John Jarrold Trust, for its innovative project 37 Plays, which commissioned 37 new short plays from local writers, inspired by Shakespeare’s works.
The Dick Condon Theatre Award, sponsored by The Garage, was awarded to the Sewell Barn Theatre’s production of Queers, a series of monologues by Mark Gatiss and other writers, exploring the lives and experiences of LGBTQ+ people in Britain over the past century. The production was praised for its powerful and poignant performances, as well as its relevance and resonance in today’s society.
The Visual Arts Award, sponsored by Art in Norwich, was won by Will Corvidae Sparling, a young and talented artist who creates stunning and surreal paintings, drawings and sculptures, often inspired by nature, mythology and folklore. Sparling’s work has been exhibited in various galleries and venues across Norfolk and beyond, and has attracted attention and acclaim from critics and collectors.
The Music Award, sponsored by City College Norwich, went to Let’s Eat Grandma, a duo of experimental pop musicians, Rosa Walton and Jenny Hollingworth, who have been making waves in the music industry with their unique and innovative sound, blending elements of synth-pop, folk, hip-hop and more. Let’s Eat Grandma have released two critically acclaimed albums, I, Gemini and I’m All Ears, and have performed at festivals and venues around the world.
The Broadcast and Media Award, sponsored by the University of East Anglia, was given to Norwich Theatre’s Norwich Theatre Talks podcast, which features interviews, discussions and insights from theatre professionals, artists and experts, covering topics such as theatre history, production, design, writing and more. The podcast, hosted by Norwich Theatre’s artistic director Stephen Crocker, aims to inform and inspire listeners, as well as to showcase the diversity and excellence of theatre in Norwich and beyond.
The John Hawksley Dance and Musical Theatre Award, sponsored by Jane Hawksley, was presented to Katy Dunne Dance for Wellbeing, a dance company that offers classes and workshops for people of all ages and abilities, with a focus on health, happiness and community. Katy Dunne, the founder and director of the company, is a qualified dance teacher and therapist, who uses dance as a tool for physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
The Diversity Award, sponsored by Norwich Arts Centre, went to Queerfest, a festival of queer arts and culture, organised by Norwich Pride and Norwich Arts Centre. Queerfest, which took place in July 2023, featured a variety of events, such as film screenings, comedy shows, drag performances, talks, workshops and more, celebrating the diversity and creativity of the LGBTQ+ community in Norfolk and beyond.
The Education and Community Award, sponsored by Norwich Theatre, was awarded to The Common Lot’s 100 Years of Mile Cross, a community theatre project that involved over 100 local residents, who created and performed a play about the history and stories of the Mile Cross estate in Norwich, from its origins in the 1920s to the present day. The project, led by Simon Floyd and Emma Jarvis, was a collaboration between The Common Lot, a theatre company that makes shows with and for the people of Norfolk, and Mile Cross Community Festival.
The Peter Barrow Bursary Award, sponsored by PBSK Partnership, was split between two recipients: Alicia Gooch, a singer-songwriter and musician, who performs under the name Amy Nomvula, and Christopher Sainton-Clark, a playwright and theatre-maker, who is the artistic director of Chidatsi Theatre. The award, which offers financial support and mentoring for emerging artists, was presented by Peter Barrow, a former EDP journalist and arts editor, who founded the Norfolk Arts Awards in 2012, along with Stash Kirkbride and Peter Beck.
The Norfolk Icon Award, sponsored by Swallowtail Print, was given to Jack and Tim, a father and son duo of singers and guitarists, who rose to fame after their audition on Britain’s Got Talent in 2021, where they performed their original song The Lucky Ones, which moved the judges and the audience to tears. Jack and Tim, who are from Norwich, have since released their debut album, also called The Lucky Ones, and have performed at various events and venues, including the Royal Variety Performance.
The Outstanding Contribution to the Arts Award, supported by Norwich School, was shared by two recipients: Lucy Farrant, the director of Young Norfolk Arts Trust, a charity that supports and promotes arts and culture for young people in Norfolk, and Emma Jarvis, the co-director of The Common Lot, a theatre company that makes shows with and for the people of Norfolk. Both Farrant and Jarvis were recognised for their dedication and passion for the arts, as well as their impact and influence on the cultural landscape of the county.
The Peter Wilson Special Recognition Award, in partnership with the Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk’s Office, PSE Live and the Autumn Festival of Norfolk, was given to eight recipients, who were honoured for their exceptional service and contribution to the arts and culture in Norfolk during the Covid-19 pandemic. The recipients were: Stuart Malkovich and Kevin Lynch, the owners of the Ocean Room in Gorleston, who offered their venue as a vaccination centre; Ian Johnson, the founder and director of Film East, a film festival that showcases the best of East Anglian cinema; Richard Penguin, a radio presenter and producer, who created the BBC Radio Norfolk’s Upload Show, a platform for local talent and creativity; Alan Waters, the leader of Norwich City Council, who supported the arts and culture sector during the crisis; Stephen Bumfrey, a radio presenter and broadcaster, who entertained and informed the listeners of BBC Radio Norfolk; Dominic Castle, a former editor of Norfolk Magazine, who championed the arts and culture scene in the county; and Angela Kennedy, the director of Norwich Arts Centre, who led the venue’s recovery and reopening after the lockdown.
The Lifetime Achievement Award, in association with the EDP, was bestowed upon Helen McDermott, a veteran broadcaster, presenter and actress, who has been a familiar and beloved face and voice in Norfolk for over 40 years. McDermott, who started her career at Anglia Television in 1980, has hosted various shows and programmes, such as About Anglia, Anglia News, The Mustard Show and The Mid-Morning Show on BBC Radio Norfolk. She has also appeared in numerous theatre productions, such as Calendar Girls, The Ladykillers and The Vicar of Dibley, as well as films, such as Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa. McDermott, who is also a patron of several charities and organisations, such as Break, Nelson’s Journey and The Garage, was praised for her professionalism, charisma and generosity.
The Norfolk Arts Awards 2023 was a memorable and meaningful event, that celebrated the achievements and talents of the county’s arts and culture sector, as well as the resilience and spirit of the community. The awards also highlighted the importance and value of the arts and culture, especially in times of difficulty and uncertainty, and the need to support and protect them for the future. As Peter Barrow, the founder of the awards, said in his speech: “The arts are not a luxury, they are a necessity.”
