West End Stars including Jill Halfpenny, Roger Allam and Richard Wilson confirmed as mentors for new Sky Arts series

Photo Credit: Ian Gavan

West End Stars Jill Halfpenny, Roger Allam, Richard Wilson, Niamh Cusack, Julie Graham, Paterson Joseph, Martin Shaw and Harriet Walter have all been confirmed as mentors for an upcoming Sky Arts series looking for the "nation’s best amateur dramatic theatre company". 

The series, which begins broadcasting in November, will see eight groups battle it out for the title, with the winner performing in a West End venue. Each will be mentored by a leading actor. 

Each amateur theatre company will be assessed by a panel of judges consisting of actress Miriam Margolyes, producer Bill Kenwright and theatre critic Quentin Letts. 

James Hunt, Sky Arts Channel Director, said: “Sky Arts wants to recognise the importance of the amateur dramatist to UK cultural life. Sir Ian McKellen, Judi Dench and Patrick Stewart all began their illustrious careers within amateur dramatics... we hope to find amazing new talent who can put on a performance worthy of its final West End setting.”

The eight groups and there mentors are: FissiParous Theatre, Wirral (mentor Roger Allam); Edinburgh Graduate Theatre Group (Niamh Cusack), Heath Players, Hertfordshire (Julie Graham); Regent Rep, Dorset (Jill Halfpenny); Crossmichael Drama Club, Galloway (Paterson Joseph); Tell Tale Theatre Company, Liverpool (Martin Shaw); Strathclyde Theatre Group, Glasgow (Harriet Walter); and Bingley Little Theatre, Bradford (Richard Wilson).

Nation’s Best Am Dram will broadcast for six episodes of one hour from 9pm on Wednesday 14 November.