The nominations have been announced for the big Best Newcomer prize in next year's South Bank Show Awards, which are now in their eleventh year, apparently (at first I thought these were new, but now I come to think about it I do have a very vague recollection of reporting on the last ones). As you'd expect given the TV show these awards stem from, the South Bank Show Awards recognise talent across all cultural genres, which makes the Newcomer prize particularly interesting because organisers basically pick a nominee from each of the ten genre areas that form other award categories, making for a very eclectic mix of contenders - ie Archie Bronson Outfit versus West End reality show winner Connie Fisher versus Simon Amstell. I'm glad I don't have to choose an overall winner. That task falls to readers of The Times, which I did read once, but I don't think that obligates me to vote.
Anyway, here's the full list of Newcomer nominations...
Alison Balsom for Classical Music
(trumpet player who has introduced the instrument into the mainstream)
Andrew Kennedy for Opera
(played the role of 'Ferrando' in Glyndebourne On Tour's production of 'Cosi Fan Tutti')
Connie Fisher for Theatre
(currently in the role of Maria in 'The Sound of Music' at the London Palladium)
Jane Harris for Literature
(debut novel 'The Observations', Faber)
Rafi Gavron for Film
(debut in Anthony Minghella's 'Breaking and Entering')
David Oyelowo for TV Drama
(lead in BBC Two's 'Shoot The Messenger')
Archie Bronson Outfit for Pop
(album 'Derdang Derdang')
Simon Amstell for Comedy
(stand-up debut at Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as the new host of 'Never Mind The Buzzcocks', BBC)
Jamie Shovlin for Visual Art
(Solo exhibition 'In Search of Perfect Harmony' at Tate Britain)
Jonathan Goddard for Dance
(dancer with Richard Alston Dance Company and for his performance in Alston's new 'Gypsy Mixture' earlier this year)
The awards take place at London's Savoy Hotel on 23 Jan. Host Melvyn Bragg says these things here: "The South Bank Show Awards/The Times Breakthrough Award has been a terrific success. The awards go to British artists across the spectrum who have achieved great things in the year. This award brings to a wide public the best of new young talent in the country many of whom, young as they are, are already out there making what could well be great and deserved reputations".
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