From broadcast and media to dance and musical theatre, the Norfolk Arts Awards 2023 winners have been revealed. 

The awards returned with a glittering ceremony on Friday, November 3 at the Ocean Room venue in Gorleston.

The event was hosted by ITV weather presenters Aisling Creevey and Chris Page, with entertainment from singer-songwriter Arthur Black.

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Eastern Daily Press: The Norfolk Arts Awards 2023 took place at the Ocean Room in Gorleston Picture: Simon Finlay PhotographyThe Norfolk Arts Awards 2023 took place at the Ocean Room in Gorleston Picture: Simon Finlay Photography (Image: Simon Finlay Photography)

The full list of 2023 winners: 

THE BUSINESS & THE ARTS AWARD sponsored by Mortgages for Actors

Norwich Theatre

THE DICK CONDON THEATRE AWARD sponsored by The Garage

The Sewell Barn Theatre’s production of Queers

THE VISUAL ARTS AWARD sponsored by Art in Norwich

Will Corvidae Sparling

THE JARROLD NEW WRITING AWARD supported by the John Jarrold Trust

Norwich Theatre’s 37 Plays

THE MUSIC AWARD sponsored by City College Norwich

Let’s Eat Grandma

THE BROADCAST & MEDIA AWARD sponsored by the University of East Anglia

Norwich Theatre’s Norwich Theatre Talks podcast

THE JOHN HAWKSLEY DANCE & MUSICAL THEATRE AWARD sponsored by Jane Hawksley

Katy Dunne Dance for Wellbeing

THE DIVERSITY AWARD sponsored by Norwich Arts Centre

Queerfest

Eastern Daily Press: The Common Lot’s 100 Years of Mile Cross won the Education and Community Award Picture: Simon Finlay Photography The Common Lot’s 100 Years of Mile Cross won the Education and Community Award Picture: Simon Finlay Photography (Image: Simon Finlay Photography)

THE EDUCATION & COMMUNITY AWARD sponsored by Norwich Theatre

The Common Lot’s 100 Years of Mile Cross

THE PETER BARROW BURSARY AWARD sponsored by PBSK Partnership

Alicia Gooch

Christopher Sainton-Clark

THE NORFOLK ICON AWARD sponsored by Swallowtail Print

Jack and Tim

THE OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE ARTS AWARD supported by Norwich School

Lucy Farrant

Emma Jarvis

THE PETER WILSON SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD in partnership with the Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk’s Office, PSE Live and the Autumn Festival of Norfolk

Stuart Malkovich and Kevin Lynch

Ian Johnson

Richard Penguin

Alan Waters

Stephen Bumfrey

Dominic Castle

Angela Kennedy

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD in association with the EDP

Helen McDermott

Eastern Daily Press: Helen McDermott won the Lifetime Achievement Award Picture: Simon Finlay PhotographyHelen McDermott won the Lifetime Achievement Award Picture: Simon Finlay Photography (Image: Simon Finlay Photography)

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Two awards were renamed after friends of the Norfolk Arts Awards who sadly passed away earlier this year.

The Dance and Musical Theatre Award was renamed after long-time supporter John Hawksley and the Special Recognition Awards honoured Peter Wilson, the former director of Norwich Theatre Royal.

The Lifetime Achievement Award celebrated radio and television presenter Helen McDermott, a dedicated supporter of arts and culture in our region.

After starting her broadcasting career at Westward Television in Plymouth, she joined Anglia Television in 1979 as an announcer and newsreader, where she quickly became one of the station's most popular faces.

Eastern Daily Press: Stash Kirkbride, front centre, with the 2023 winners of the Norfolk Arts Awards Picture: Simon Finlay PhotographyStash Kirkbride, front centre, with the 2023 winners of the Norfolk Arts Awards Picture: Simon Finlay Photography (Image: Simon Finlay Photography)

During the 1980s and 1990s, as well as presenting Anglia News, she presented the regular children’s birthday slot, where she was frequently upstaged by her co-host - a slightly anarchic furry puppet called B.C.

Over the next two decades, she worked as a presenter on 99.9 Radio Norwich, Mustard TV and BBC Radio Norfolk.

She also formed Ohyesitiz Productions, which produced the annual pantomime at the Pavilion Theatre in Gorleston, occasionally taking to the stage herself.

The Norfolk Arts Awards was founded in 2012 by Stash Kirkbride and Peter Beck and it is an Autumn Festival of Norfolk event produced by the PBSK Partnership - a not-for-profit community interest project.

Mr Kirkbride said: "It is so encouraging to see the public voting results so close in so many categories.

"We look forward to even more engagement from people and projects from across Norfolk in spring 2024 when voting opens for next year’s nominees. 

"Congratulations to all the winners and runners-up.

"Don’t forget this is for everyone who engages in the arts in Norfolk."