THE Gazette’s theatre reviewer Pat Rudkins gives her awards for 2017.

Our prolific panto land spawned my top award winner. He wrote, directed and played the Dame in Coggeshall Amateur Theatre Society’s Aladdin, “Hitlered” away in their ‘Allo ‘Allo at Halstead Empire then, sang and danced a magnetic American Dream, courtesy of Sudbury Musicals Society. The recipient: Lewis Miller.

Apropos SMS, a Pat to Ann Platten for giving such tremendous voice to Chris Lowe’s Pure Imagination.

Praise again to Cardy and Coke for their song writing skills.

Pats for musical theatre potential too, shown by Francesca Larkin and Lolly Clarke, in Abigail Performing Arts’ The Little Mermaid.

More Musical accolades to: Thomas Duchan’s influence on Hedingham Singers, Halstead Choral Society’s Schubert Mass and flautist Catherine Wood, from Earls Colne’s flourishing Midday Concerts.

Robert Crighton and HIS Time Machine on The Quay stage and Colne Engaine Dramatic Society’s Supper Evening, each get a Pat for being deliciously different.

Now awards for delivering the dramatic goods, to: Jamie McWilliams in Stane Street Players’ Our Man In Havana, Paul McKinnon, in SSPs ’ Easy Money, Helen Arbon in Denis Brogan’s The Rivals and especially, Linda Dowdall’s joyfully superb Railway Children, Sonia Lindsey, Matthew Byham and Jaclyn Taylor.

Plays of the year: Lauri Scrivens’ Maria Marten, with Castle Players and from Sudbury Dramatic Society- The Rivals, The Railway Children, Ladies’ Day and Invictus. Director of the latter two, Mark Scanlon and actor in three of them, Nick Elliott, get individual Pats for their epic efforts.

My top Pat play award goes to Colne Engaine Dramatic Society’s Fools Call It Fate. How brave directors Ian Pike, Jan Macintosh and their cast were to choose it, how brilliantly they met its challenges.

Art abounded in 2017, from Liz Pottinger and Frances Barton on their painting trail to Halstead Art Group’s hidden exhibition gem and Georgie Roy’s retrospective in a reputable Colchester Gallery. Marks Hall sculptures impressed. My Pat on the back goes to Mark Goldsworthy. His bijou bronze, Rapture, bought from Chappel Galleries, fits my bay window perfectly.

Last but certainly not least, Andy Baldwin’s technical refurbishment of Halstead’s Empire Theatre, together with its cinema re-awakening, confirm its praiseworthy status as a comfortable, cosy and accessible entertainment- venue. Let’s shout about it and signpost it!

Sadly, a posthumous Pat, to a supporter and performer known to many, Vikki V Productions’ invaluable wingman, David Lorkin. R.I.P.