The Guide Awards: Best Amateur Musical winner, Bugsy Malone at the Kings Theatre
With a cast of 50 young people aged from eight to 21, Bugsy Malone was an in-house production for the Kings Theatre.
Jacqueline Willis, choreographed the show and accepted the award on their behalf.
‘It was the first one they've done and it's obviously proved a great hit so we’re very, very proud, and very surprised because it's a huge category.
‘I’m really chuffed for the kids.
‘They had 10 days and they put on a full scale musical in 10 days during the Easter holidays last year so I’m really proud of them.’
No stranger to The Guide Awards for her work with the Portsmouth Players, Jacqueline was thrilled to help win this trophy.
‘I’m born and bred in Portsmouth and learned to dance in Portsmouth.
‘And then to get to choreograph in your home theatre is just a dream come true, so I’m very, very, very proud of the kids.’
Jacqueline will be back choreographing the next Kings’ production, Annie, which has just been cast.
‘We started off with about 300 children at the first round of auditions, then it was 80, and we've now got our cast of about 40, so it was a very tough process, but the talent we’ve got here in Portsmouth with the kids in the arts is just amazing.’