Helping to live the dream

Drama enthusiasts in Dumfries and Galloway received a welcome boost this week with the Ian Wardlaw Drama Trust awards.

The awards this year have helped to fund five young people to follow their hearts’ desire at various prestigious theatrical establishments hosting a variety of courses.

Trustee Linda Wardlaw said: “We are impressed by the choice of courses offered this year, screen acting being a first.”

The trust set up in 1994 in memory of Guild of Players member Ian Wardlaw and is passion for drama, seeks to inspire amateurs of all ages to improve in every area of theatre work. Each year the awards help a number of young people advance in their careers in the performing arts.

This year’s awards ceremony was held at the new Primrose and Gordon offices in Newall Terrace, Dumfries. The recipients are 16-year-old Jack Nurse from Kirkcudbright, who will attend a directing course at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow; 26-year-old Michael Murray of Dumfries, received help towards a screen acting course at the University of West Scotland in Ayr; Claire Nicholson, aged 18 of Moniaive, will learn dance and drama at Stow; and 14-year-old Kirsty Pickering, from Dalbeattie, and Dumfries’ Jennifer Donnelly, aged 16, will both attend courses at the Scottish Youth Theatre in Glasgow.