The Niton Playbox

06/04/2026

𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐫 IW Theatre 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐳𝐞 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬:

EMILY EVANS (Run Rabbit Run)
Emily showed off her acting skills and versatility fully in this production, performing several roles. Confident in all the parts and coming across clearly in speech and expression and moving well around the stage – and off it as well! As a Jingles Singer she showed her musical talent performing and singing perfectly in unison with the other two sisters. Part of a really class act. She was convincing in all the parts and contributed a lot to the success of this production

FREYA EDWARDS (Manners & Masquerade)
As Charlotte, Eleanor’s friend, a lesser actor could easily have stood in Ellen’s shadow, but Freya really stood out, making the character her own. She perfectly brought out Charlotte’s independence of mind – along with her tendency to act before thinking of the consequences. The girls interacted with each other so well and I could see them both playing actual Austen heroines.

Niton Playbox member Freddie Nixon also won a Bronze award with another group.

05/04/2026

𝐎𝐮𝐫 IW Theatre 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬
𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬:

FLORENCE FRADGLEY took roles in Run Rabbit Run (The Niton Playbox)
Florence, one of the Jingles Sisters, as well as a Nurse and Mary Goodman played her parts well and certainly seemed at home in the roles. A confident speaker, she came across clearly, projected well and was well rehearsed. As a Jingles Sister she was exceptional and seemed to understand fully the style of music and movement required. Some excellent harmony singing. Good stage presence and really seemed to interact well with her fellow actors.

NOAH WALKER-GREEN was in Seussical, SpongeBob, Manners and Masquerade and Charlie and The Chocolate Factory (Curtain Call/ Niton Playbox / Island Savoyards)
Noah clearly relished playing the grumpy baddie Squidward, and the performance was everything we’ve come to expect from Noah – lots of humour, great characterisation, fab singing and movement.
Run Rabbit - As a 1940’s schoolboy Noah was perfect – he could have been transported back to that time and not appeared out of place. He was also hilariously obnoxious as Sebastian Worthington in Manners.
And of course shared the title role in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory…. Captivating, confident and full of energy. Clear vocally and held the attention of the audience when needed. Noah could've easily performed that role on a west end stage or UK tour.

📸 Paul Bird Photography

05/04/2026

𝐎𝐮𝐫 IW Theatre 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬
𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬:

MILES HARVEY was Nicholas de Vere in Manners and Masquerade (Niton Playbox)
The epitome of a young arrogant regency buck, Miles not only looked the part but encapsulated every inch of it. We should have hated him for his arrogance but Miles’s skill gave us the character development as he fell in love – and we saw his vulnerable side. And who could not love him for his pure singing voice too?

OLIVER BACK was also in Manners and Masquerade, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Niton Playbox and Island Savoyards)
Edmund Seymour in Manners and Masquerade could have been an also-run role – he was the poorer cousin, the less glamorous, less arrogant, less everything so Oliver as an actor had less to work on that the other three main roles – yet he made the part his own, and made us not only notice but like him.
As Charlie in the Chocolate Factory…. Oliver brought the ideal innocent, yet ambitious characterisation to Charlie and had a very successful overall performance. His singing voice was angelic and he hit every note wonderfully! We commend his enthusiasm in delivering a convincing Charlie.

📸 Paul Bird Photography

04/04/2026

We are so honoured and overwhelmed to receive this award for Best Overall Show! It really does mean so much. Thankyou IW Theatre ❤️🙏🏼🥹

And finally, the Best Show of 2025 was.... Manners and Masquerade by Niton Playbox ...

Just brilliant! So much young (and more mature) talent on one little stage. A home-grown show, locally written, with the small team providing live musical accompaniment, home made costumes, set – all showcasing some truly talented young people. Has to be one of, if not the best show I’ve seen this year.

Tiny stage yet the use of video footage projected on to the back screen and a few furniture pieces and props supported the story and the period feel of the show. Clever use of a piano made from a top half on a table which was then used in another scene; gravestones and a tomb grave – how did they get that offstage and stow it??

Every word heard, whether spoken or sung – great diction from the cast and good use of mics – which came on when needed and did their job unobtrusively. Music was a delight, whether Rosie on the keyboards – at times synching with an actor ‘playing the piano’ onstage; or Ellen’s beautiful real piano playing. In all, a real treat.

04/04/2026

Our 3rd Gold Award winner was Ellen ❤️
Ellen is integral to the success of The Niton Playbox - directing, choreographing and performing in all of our shows. We are thrilled to bits that her hard work and talent has been recognised with this IW Theatre award!

Ellen Careless for Manners and Masquerade and Run Rabbit (Niton Playbox)

Run Rabbit - Considering the age of the Director this was an incredible performance and piece of direction. Ellen gave an outstanding and very mature performance as Nurse Sarah and the love interest of Private Jimmy. She projected well and moved effortlessly around the stage and was entirely convincing playing someone slightly older in years. As a ‘Jingles Singer’ together with Florence and Emily she was again exceptional – great harmonies – an authentic performance of this 1940’s swing, boogie woogie style, not only the singing but the choreography and movement that went with it.
Manners – Ellen managed to bring shades of Elizabeth Bennett to her role as Eleanor Stewart without being a typical Austen pastiche – she was completely convincing and drew the audience’s empathy perfectly, and her piano accompaniment of Miles’ Harvey’s song was one of those ‘could hear a pin drop’ moments. And yet again she has a directing credit for the show – we can’t really fault her!

03/04/2026

Another of our Gold Awards winners - the fabulous Maisie! We are so proud to have her as part of The Niton Playbox 🌟

03/04/2026

We are very proud of Polly who received a Gold Award at the IW Youth Theatre Awards last week! Here's what the judges said about her performance:

01/04/2026

We are incredibly proud to receive the IW Youth Theatre award for Best Music & Singing for Run Rabbit Run 🎶🎙️ Thankyou IW Theatre 🙏🏼❤️

This morning we bring you the winner of Best Music and Singing - The Niton Playbox for their show Run Rabbit Run. An original script, set on the Island, sees two young girls crawling through a tunnel back to the 1940s, and gives plenty of opportunity to enjoy wartime songs, ranging from the young troops marching to It's a Long Way to Tipperary, through haunting ballads to the Jingles Singers' big band swing - all accompanied by a small but incredibly talented band.

29/03/2026

What an INCREDIBLE afternoon we had at the IW Youth Theatre Awards! We are absolutely delighted and amazed to announce that our shows won the following:
🏆 Manners & Masquerade: BEST OVERALL SHOW (!)
🏆 Run Rabbit Run: BEST MUSIC & SINGING 🎶

Several of our cast also received individual awards for their performances:
🥉Bronze awards: Freya, Emily
🥈Silver awards: Florence, Ollie, Noah, Miles
🥇Gold Awards: Polly, Maisie, Ellen
Freddie also won an award with another group! 👏🏼

Thank you so much IW Theatre!🙏🏼 We are beyond proud of our little team at The Niton Playbox! ❤️🥹

28/03/2026

We are absolutely blown away by the IW Theatre Judges comments for our show Manners & Masquerade - A Regency Romance set on the Isle of Wight . Truly thankyou 🙏🏼 It means so much ❤️🥹

On to December for Niton Playbox's Manners and Masquerade
Our judges said:
Just brilliant! So much young (and more mature) talent on one little stage. A home-grown show, locally written, with the small team providing live musical accompaniment, home made costumes, set – all showcasing some truly talented young people. Music was a delight, whether Rosie on the keyboards – at times synching with an actor ‘playing the piano’ onstage; or Ellen’s beautiful real piano playing.

22/03/2026

Thank you so much to the IW Theatre Judges for these wonderful comments about our show! 🙏🏼 We are all looking forward to celebrating at the Youth IW Theatre Awards next weekend.🎭

Our first show of 2025 was The Niton Playbox’s Run Rabbit Run
Our judges said:
This was an outstanding production. A small village theatre group essentially, they presented a thoroughly enjoyable event with a local and World War Two theme with a mix of music, acting and even some dance.. This was the best of local amateur theatre, and they need to be congratulated on the quality of the production.