It's the Oscars........Kent style!

WARNING:   This post may contain lots of unnecessary 'parental proud gushing' on several occasions so readers of a nervous disposition  may find the content too disturbing to read!!

Yes we are a very proud family indeed. My youngest son won the Young Players Trophy at the Kent Drama Association Awards on Saturday evening for 'Best Young Player'. It was for his acting role of 'Douglas' in the Hayes Players production of 'Shadowlands' ( film buffs will remember the film version one for Antony Hopkins as CS Lewis). My son played an American boy who is the son of the lady that Lewis falls in love with!

Here he is ' in character'!

He was nominated by the adjudicator along with 2 others ( who I might add were 17ish years old!) who had taken part on other productions. Those 3 had been selected from 19 plays that had taken part in the festival. So to be nominated was a fantastic result anyway.


Anyway, we had to dress up and head out to Whitstable where the Oscars awards were going to take place.

Proof that we scrub up well!

Once there, we mingled with all the other nominees whilst drinking posh fizzy stuff ( well coke for him anyway!) and generally checking out all the competition and wishing everyone luck in true 'luvvy' style.


Then we were ushered into the little theatre were the awards got under way.We had 10 of us from our production including our nominees for 'Best Actress', 'Best Supporting Role' and 'Best Actor' ........see I told you just like the Oscars!
My son category was the first of our nominees to be awarded ( and that was about half way through the ceremony itself). As it got closer I became more and more nervous for him. We had really gone with no expectations as we knew he was up against much older actors with more experience, so we really went for the jolly.
The adjudicator did a detailed chat of all the nominees for each category before announcing the winner. As he spoke about my son I couldn't believe the fantastic things he was saying. He spoke about him and his acting as though he was an adult and did not mention his tender age at all.

Then the moment arrived..........'And the winner of the 'Best Young Player' category is....................................
OMG DID HE JUST SAY MY SON'S NAME??????????

I am in so much shock that it only hits me as I see my son walk up onto the stage to get his trophy and certificate! The rest of the group are cheering and clapping just as proud as I am, however I can only manage to wipe away my tears ( typical bloody mum thing to do!).

The play itself went on to win 'Best Actress', 'Best Supporting Role' and the director got Runner up in her category. The play overall came 4th out of 19 productions!!!! We were all pretty speechless but loved every minute of it.

The adjudicator said ' he is one to watch in the future'!!
 His words not mine, but who am I to argue.........................................and if he ever is in the position of sitting in an Oscars seat I will probably pee my pants with excitement!  YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Break a leg........

That's what the 'luvvies' say in the theatre world isn't it?

Well for the last few months my youngest has been rehearsing for a local play ( 3 times a week) due to open tomorrow night until Saturday. It's the story of CS Lewis ( Narnia man) in his later years, when he meets and marries and American lady ( who dies in the end.........sorry to ruin it!) My son plays her son ' Douglas' ( complete with American accent).

This is his first 'proper' role in a full play not children based etc. He has done really well to fit in and be around adults without messing about too much. They all think he's funny, charming, adorable ( but what do they know!!!!), and love him to bits.

Tonight we had the last dress rehearsal before opening tomorrow, and as far as I can see he is not nervous at all. I think I will be more nervous for them all by the time the curtain goes up!!!

I  never really understood how much goes into putting on a production like this, and totally have a new found admiration for the people that not only act in the play but also all those who help in the back round ( costumes, set design, props, backstage organisation etc etc). I will never look mockingly at amateur dramatics societies again!!

I take my hat off to my 10 year old son who seems to take it all in his stride, but seems to pull off this acting malarkey very well. I think I would rather stick hot pins in my eyes than to put myself in front of an audience and try to 'entertain' them.

Not stopping at that, he has also received a call back from an audition he attended last week for an advertisement, which he has to attend in London tomorrow before his 'opening' night!!!!

I truly don't know how he does it, for me it's enough to bring on an episode of IBS!!!!!! (Yes I know too much information).

Anyway good luck to them all..........and break a leg! ( just not literally.......please)