ABOVE: Steve Saunders is congratulated on winning the Webley Award by Caroline Drewett-Mansell who directed him in the play ‘On Golden Pond’.
Steve Saunders was named Newport’s best actor when he was presented with the prestigious Webley Award at Newport Playgoers Society’s AGM.
Steve won the coveted award for his portrayal of the grumpy old retired professor, Norman Thayer, in the moving family drama ‘On Golden Pond’.
“I was really pleased and proud to be voted the winner of this award, especially as I was up against some very tough competition from some of South Wales’s finest amateur acting talent,” said 50-year-old Steve.
“It was a marvellous production despite all the problems we faced such as having to battle our way to rehearsals in heavy snow.”
Steve had a particularly gruelling rehearsal schedule. As one of the key people responsible for overseeing the electrics for the 2012 Olympics, he left home at four each morning to travel to east London, did a full day’s work and then went straight to rehearsals at the Dolman Theatre in the evening.
ABOVE: Steve as elderly curmudgeon Norman Thayer in a scene from ‘On Golden Pond’ with Pam Elliott who played his wife, Ethel.
The Webley Award is given by Playgoers each year in honour of Thomas Webley, the Society’s first President, who was Principal of Caerleon College, which is now the University of Wales, Newport.
Playgoers are currently rehearsing their new season of eight productions which starts in September with Frank Vickery’s comedy ‘Family Planning’ and also includes the famous comedy ‘The Titfield Thunderbolt’, Terence Rattigan’s drama ‘Separate Tables’ and Alan Ayckbourn’s comedy ‘Role Play’.
