The Guide Awards: Who won what at this year’s celebration of the Portsmouth region’s arts and culture

ARTIST Pete Codling did the double at last night’s Guide Awards when he won not only the Best Visual Artist category but also the Special Achievement trophy.
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The winners were announced in a special gala ceremony in front of a packed house at the Kings Theatre in Southsea last night.

The awards were set up to celebrate the best in arts and culture from across our region. And readers voted in their thousands throughout December for their favourites in the 13 different categories, representing music, theatre, art, comedy and film-making.

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The Special Achievement Award is not voted on, but is someone we believe has made a significant contribution to the cultural life of the region.

Pete Codling, who won Best Visual Artist and the Special Achievement trophy at The Guide Awards. Picture: Habibur RahmanPete Codling, who won Best Visual Artist and the Special Achievement trophy at The Guide Awards. Picture: Habibur Rahman
Pete Codling, who won Best Visual Artist and the Special Achievement trophy at The Guide Awards. Picture: Habibur Rahman

Joanne Bushnell, the director of the Aspex Gallery at Gunwharf Quays has known Pete for 20 years and she said: ‘He is an extremely deserving recipient of this award. His contribution to the creative and cultural life of Portsmouth over more than 25 years has been outstanding.

‘Many will have interacted with his public artwork without even realising, finding one of his One Million Pebbles on Southsea beach, walking through a set of gates or sitting on street furniture in the City Centre.

‘A highly skilled draughtsman, his drawings are outstanding, best represented last year in the stunning installation Soup of Soul made specifically in response to Portsmouth Cathedral, during his residency in its hermitage.

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‘Pete is representative of the creative energy and talent we have in spades in this city.’

Winners of Best Local Short Film, Guilt, Abbie Jones, Annabelle Boyant, Lucy Goodyear and Shenali Karunatilake. Picture: Habibur RahmanWinners of Best Local Short Film, Guilt, Abbie Jones, Annabelle Boyant, Lucy Goodyear and Shenali Karunatilake. Picture: Habibur Rahman
Winners of Best Local Short Film, Guilt, Abbie Jones, Annabelle Boyant, Lucy Goodyear and Shenali Karunatilake. Picture: Habibur Rahman

On receiving his second award of the night, a visibly emotional Pete told the audience how much he loved the city, and that the award wasn’t just for him but for all visual artists.

There was also entertainment provided by some of the nominees and winners including solo acts Tom Bryan and Lily Garland. Members of CCADS performed a scene from Best Amateur Show winner The King’s Speech, while Charlie Frame of The Portsmouth Players sang Gethsemane from Jesus Christ Superstar – a turn which earned him the Best Amateur Actor prize.

And the night was opened with a one-off performance by members of Portsmouth Players, CCADS and South Downe Musical Society doing songs from Les Miserables.

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Hosts, the Kings’ creative director Jack Edwards and the Kings’ CEO Paul Woolf also produced a seemingly endless string of wince-inducing jokes.

Jack Edwards, left, and Paul Woolf hosting The Guide Awards. Picture: Habibur RahmanJack Edwards, left, and Paul Woolf hosting The Guide Awards. Picture: Habibur Rahman
Jack Edwards, left, and Paul Woolf hosting The Guide Awards. Picture: Habibur Rahman

Former Special Achievement co-winner, for her part in founding the Urban Vocal Group, Amba Tremain brought the house down as her band The Diva Revue even pulling several of the audience up on stage to dance.

The News’s editor Mark Waldron watched the show and said afterwards: ‘Once more, The Guide Awards have shown just how much creative talent we have in the area. Congratulations to all our winners.’

THE WINNERS AND RUNNERS-UP

BEST COMEDY SPONSORED BY PORTSMOUTH GUILDHALL

Best Comedy winner, Hetty Austin. Picture: Habibur RahmanBest Comedy winner, Hetty Austin. Picture: Habibur Rahman
Best Comedy winner, Hetty Austin. Picture: Habibur Rahman

Winner: Hetty Austin

Runner-up: Jake Young

BEST DJ

Winner: Pete Scathe

Runner-up: Alex Dutton

BEST BAND, SPONSORED BY THE WEDGEWOOD ROOMS

Winner: Fake Empire

Runner-up: Colour of The Jungle

BEST SOLO ACT, SPONSORED BY BH LIVE

Winner: Lily Garland

Runner-up: Megan Linford

BEST EVENT, SPONSORED BY VICTORIOUS FESTIVAL

Winner: D-Day 75 Commemorations

Runner-up: Wickham Festival

BEST PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTION

Winner: Matilda The Musical, Mayflower Theatre

Runner-up: Les Miserables, Mayflower Theatre

BEST AMATEUR PRODUCTION, SPONSORED BY THE GAIETY BAR

Winner: The King’s Speech, by CCADS at The Square Tower

Runner-up: Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of The Baskervilles by Fareham Musical Society at Ferneham Hall

BEST AMATEUR MUSICAL, SPONSORED BY KINGS THEATRE

Winner: Bugsy Malone, at the Kings Theatre

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Runner-up: Jesus Christ Superstar, by Portsmouth Players at the Kings Theatre

BEST AMATEUR ACTRESS

Winner: Lauren Kempton for My Fair Lady by CCADS

Runner-up: Leigh Cunningham for The Deep Blue Sea by Bench

BEST AMATEUR ACTOR

Winner: Charlie Frame for Jesus Christ Superstar

Runner-up: Jonathan Fost for The King’s Speech

BEST CLASSICAL

Winner: Portsmouth Baroque Choir

Runner-up: Portsmouth Choral Union

BEST ARTIST, SPONSORED BY ASPEX GALLERY

Winner: Pete Codling

Runner-up: Sasha Damjanovic

BEST FILM, WITH PORTSMOUTH FILM SOCIETY AND MAKING WAVES

Winner: Guilt, dir Annabel Bryant and Shenali Karunatilake

Runner-up: Family Night, dir Caleb Johnston

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT

Pete Codling

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