Evanna Lynch launches the Bord Gáis Energy Student Theatre Awards.

Potter star launches student theatre awards

Bord Gáis Energy is calling on students in Meath to take part in this year’s Bord Gáis Energy Student Theatre Awards.

Irish actor and Harry Potter star Evanna Lynch officially launched the awards which were set up by Bord Gáis Energy to recognise and reward participation in drama in schools across Ireland.

Open to primary school students from 3rd – 6th class and all students in secondary school, this year’s awards have been expanded and will feature 11 categories including best performance in a leading role, best director, best musical, best costumes and best set design.

The deadline for entries is 12th January 2015 and shortlisted schools will be invited to a special awards ceremony at The Bord Gáis Energy Theatre on Wednesday 4th March 2015 where selected schools will perform on stage and winning schools will share a prize fund of up to €10,000.

Evanna Lynch said; “I am delighted to officially launch the second Bord Gáis Energy Student Theatre Awards which recognise and reward all those taking part in drama in schools around Ireland. I think it’s really important that creative talent is supported from a young age and these awards will give students across Ireland the chance to be recognised for all their hard work.

As a young actress, I first became interested in acting at school and I would have loved to have taken part in something like this when I was a student. However, the awards are not just about acting, they also recognise all the hard work that goes into a production so there will also be categories for best costume and set design as well as writing and direction.”

“I am really looking forward to judging the awards early next year and would like to wish everyone taking part in Meath the very best of luck.”

Tanya Townsend, sponsorship manager at Bord Gáis Energy said: “We set these awards up as we wanted to reward all the fantastic effort and time that goes into drama in schools around Ireland both at primary and secondary level. This is the second year of our awards and due to the calibre and high level of entries last time around, we’ve made this year’s awards bigger and better than ever! There will be 11 categories to enter so whether a student in Meath has a passion for writing, acting, directing or design, there will be a category to suit.”

To enter the awards, log on to www.bgesta.ie where you can download an entry form to go with your submission. Completed entry forms should be sent to bgesta@realnation.ie or by post to The Bord Gáis Energy Student Theatre Awards, Real Youth, Fumbally Court, Fumbally Lane, Dublin 8.