The Bristol Evening Post Rose Bowl awards celebrate the best in amateur dramatics throughout the region.

More than 100 productions were seen by seven adjudicators before deciding the winners for the 18 categories, ranging from technical to personal awards.

One of the most popular award winners was Simon Gregory for Best Actor (Musical) who played the name role in Bristol Musical Comedy Club's production of Sweeney Todd.

He said: "The Rose Bowl is the ultimate and everyone wants to win one. It's fantastic to get there and I must thank my director and best friend, Steve Blackmore."

Andy Rusbridge won the John Lewis award for Best Actor (Drama) for his portrayal of Cooper in the St Ursula Player's production of A Month of Sundays.

But few would have known last night that Andy, a 66-year-old civil engineer from Stoke Bishop, agreed to take on the role while he was undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer.

He said: "This award means so much to me. It's a way of saying, 'it's good to be alive' and that's why I'm so emotional this evening.

"I last won this award 29 years ago and I have received many nominations since, but this one is very special to me."

Marie O'Sullivan, a director with St Ursula Player's who was presented with the John Coe award for Best Dramatic Production with their staging of Season's Greetings, said: I'm absolutely thrilled – not just for me, but the whole cast – we are an outstanding team."

Michelle Clare-Hudson won the Eileen Hartly Hodder award for Best Actress (Drama) for her portrayal of Pegeen Mike in Playboy of the Western World presented by the Actonian.

Michelle, head of drama at Katharine Lady Berkeley school near Thornbury, said: "This is a part I had wanted to play since I was 18 and it has turned out to be a highlight of my life – not only to play the part, which was fantastic, but to win this award."

Charlotte Monk, director of Bristol Opera, received Best Opera/Operetta award for their production of Eugene Onegin.

Charlotte, from Stoke Bishop, said: "This award means so much to us because we realise we were competing against so many well-established musical companies and for opera to be recognised with this award is really fantastic."

Impresario Sir Cameron Mackintosh was due to have been the guest presenter but he was detained on business in Australia and so actor, producer and panto dame Chris Harris presented the awards, disguised as one of Sir Cameron's best known characters, The Phantom of the Opera.

Chris was helped to present the awards by Evening Post drama critic Gerry Parker.

THE AWARDS

Best Variety/Revue/Pantomime (sponsored by the Bristol Hippodrome) was won by Encore Northenders from Batheaston for Sleeping Beauty.

The Coup de Theatre award went to Frome Amateur Operatic Society for their final scene in Mack and Mabel.

Bristol Opera took the award for best opera/operetta with Eugene Onegin.

Outstanding projection and lighting gave the Cotswold Players the Stage Electrics award for technical achievement and the Walter Hawkins award for creativity and design went to Ship and Castle for their set in Arbeit Macht Frei (Breakfast at Noon).

Always two of the most hotly contested awards are those for best supporting performances in a musical and drama. Peter Woolley's portrayal of Molokov in St Mary's Players production of Chess took the musical award and David Alexander was named best supporting player in a drama for his interpretation of Barnabus Goche in Kelvin Players' The Herbal Bed.

Two of the youth awards went to the Zenith Youth Theatre Company. Their staging of Chess was winner of the Jean Fennell award for best youth production, with Tom Corbishley best actor for his portrayal of Koko in the same club's Hot Mikado.

Kate Stevens took the Barbara Macrae youth award for best actress with her portrayal of Maria in Yeovil Youth Theatre's West Side Story.

The Kelvin Players' staging of The Merchant of Venice won the Joan Hawkins award for best Shakespeare production.

The John Lewis award for Best Actor (drama): Andy Rushbridge as Cooper in A Month of Sundays.

The Eileen Hartly Hodder award for Best Actress (Drama): Michelle Clare-Hudson as Pegeen Mike in Playboy of the Western World presented by The Actonian.

The Evening Post's award for best publicity material went to Enter Stage Left for their publicity for Honk.

The Evening Post sponsored award for Best Actor (musical): Simon Gregory in Bristol Musical Comedy Club's production of Sweeney Todd.

The Melanie Evans award for Best Actress (Musical) went to Lisa Mason for her role as Dolly Levi in Failand Drama Circle's production of Hello Dolly.

The John Coe award for best Dramatic and Musical Production went to the St Ursula Players for Season's Greetings.

The Taunton Amateur Operatic Society won the Cameron Mackintosh Award for Best Musical with Grand Hotel.