On Sunday, the 2016 Mousetrap Awards took place at the Charing Cross Theatre and I was delighted to be there to witness the humbling ceremony, presented by and starring Mousetrap Theatre Projects young members.
The Mousetrap Theatre Projects charity works to bring the joy of theatre to those less fortunate than others, who may not usually get the opportunity to go to the West End that often. 18-23 year olds with learning difficulties or from less fortunate backgrounds are able to get up close and personal at special relaxed performances with meet and greet opportunities with the casts and even the chance to see and feel some of the props and costumes from the shows.
The 2016 awards (which were voted for by the Mousetrap Theatre Projects young members) included new and interesting categories like ‘The Show I Had To Tweet About’, ‘Moment That Gave Me Goosebumps’ and the ‘Set I Want To Live In’. Kerry Ellis and the show Wicked won three awards for the ‘Moment That Gave Me Goosebumps’ (Defying Gravity), ‘Best Female Performer’, and the Apollo Victoria Theatre for ‘Most Welcoming Venue’. Sadly Kerry couldn’t be there to collect the awards as she had just landed back in London after her concert tour with Brian May and Carrie Hope-Fletcher (who won ‘Most Awe Inspiring Vocal’ for On My Own from Les Mis) was unable to attend due to rehearsals for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The award for ‘Can Someone Get Me A Ticket To…’ went to the Book of Mormon and London cast members KJ Hippensteel and Asmeret Ghebremichael, (Elder Price and Nabalungi) were there to collect the award.
The Mousetrap Theatre Projects is an amazing charity that I would love to do more work with in the future as these young adults are the next generation of theatre goers and it is so important that we help to make sure the amazing shows the West End has to offer are accessible to all types of people.
Find out more about the Mousetrap Theatre Projects charity
Full list of 2016 WINNERS
Show I had to tweet about
Memphis
Collected: John Brant, producer, SB Theatricals
Moment that gave me goosebumps
Defying Gravity (Wicked)
Best Female Performer
Kerry Ellis (Wicked)
Best Male Performer
Benedict Cumberbatch (Hamlet/ Barbican)
Collected: Lucie Lovatt, producer, SF Productions
Most awe-inspiring vocal
Carrie Hope Fletcher (On My Own, Les Mis)
Most Welcoming Venue
Apollo Victoria
Collected: Vicky Ngoma & Emma Dankersten, front of house and box office team
Most thought- provoking storyline
War Horse
Collected: Simon Wolfe, cast (Arthur)
Set I want to live in
The Lion King
Collected: Nic Greatrex, Senior Marketing Manager, Disney Theatricals
Can someone get me a ticket for…
Book of Mormon
Collected: KJ Hippensteel and Asmeret Ghebremichael, cast (Elder Price and Nabalungi)
Costume I want in my Wardrobe
The red boots (Kinky Boots)
Collected: Karen Short and Nina Kendall, Wardrobe Supervisors
Photo: Alex Rumford
