Award For Stars Of Billy Elliot

The Best Actor award at the Laurence Olivier Awards was given jointly for the first time. The Award went to James Lomas (15), George Maguire (15) and Liam Mower (13). The three boys shared the lead role in Billy Elliot in the West End. They are the youngest people to receive the award.

And Before Spamalot There Is Whistle Down The Wind

There are rumours that when The Woman in White finishes in London on the 25th of February, the theatre will show Whistle Down The Wind before Spamalot arrives on the 2nd of October. Whistle Down The Wind will probably run from the 15th of March to the 12th of August - but don't quote me on that!

The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare

If you love Shakespeare then you're going to love the RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company). They are producing every Shakespeare play in one season at Stratford Upon Avon. And if you love Patrick Stewart, then you're going to be even happier, because Stewart is going to be in Anthony and Cleopatra and The Tempest. Full details of what's on when and on line booking can be found at RSC's website.

Ferry Becomes Floating Theatre

The Shetland News yesterday announced details of a performance on board a ferry. It's a free event and organised by Wils Wilson, Jackie Kay, Jacqui Clark, Karen Clubb and Hugh Nankivell. It is anticipated that over 100 Shetlanders will perform alongside professional actors. More information can be found here.

Rod 'O' West, A dear friend who will be greatly missed

This morning I learnt of the sad death of Rod 'O' West on Friday.

I first "met" Rod soon after taking over the amdram.co.uk website in 1999. Via the Internet and telephone, Rod became a good friend and adopted Uncle. He was always supportive of both the site and my theatrical adventures off-line, as well as every other aspect of my life.

Through the Internet, and in particular my site, Uncle Roddo marketed his self-published manual "Playmaker". This was the book he "would love to have owned as a young director". I was honoured when he sent me "the first copy to escape" personally scribed to "my dear niece, Jane, from Uncle Roddo xx". When I directed my first play, Dead Certain, last year, it was Uncle Roddo's manual that guided me through the process, and it was this manual that ensured that that production was such a success. Uncle Roddo wrote many features for my site (in the Extras' Area) and always took a personal interest in amdram.co.uk and my life in general.

Uncle Roddo had a wicked sense of humour and his emails and telephone calls always cheered me up. Despite a crippling stroke he continued to tease and support. We met in person just once, when I visited Uncle Roddo and Penny, his wife, in their home. The meeting still holds a special place in my memory, not least because it was as if I had known this wonderful couple all my life.

My heart goes out to Penny and the family Uncle Roddo leaves behind. My world is the richer for knowing him, the world the poorer for losing him.

Billy Elliot Is Best Musical

Billy Elliot has been voted Best Musical at the Critics' Circle Theatre Awards. Kevin Spacey received the award for best Shakespearean Performance for his role as Richard II at the Old Vic. The man recently announced as the new director of the 'soon to be restored to the British stage' production of Evita won the Best Director award for the second time.