An incomplete off-air recording of the Northern Electric Arts Awards presented by County Durham actor Alum Armstrong and Edward Wilson, Artistic Director of the National Youth Theatre. Filmed at Tyne Tees Television studios on City Road in Newcastle and taking place on the 16th December 1991, an invited audience watches as both the awards are presented and performances are given by a number of regional artists including music from Little Mo and The Big Mo Band and Northern Sinfonia and scenes...

An incomplete off-air recording of the Northern Electric Arts Awards presented by County Durham actor Alum Armstrong and Edward Wilson, Artistic Director of the National Youth Theatre. Filmed at Tyne Tees Television studios on City Road in Newcastle and taking place on the 16th December 1991, an invited audience watches as both the awards are presented and performances are given by a number of regional artists including music from Little Mo and The Big Mo Band and Northern Sinfonia and scenes from theatrical productions performed by members of the Living Memory Theatre and the Cleveland Theatre Company. Presenters for the evening Alun Armstrong and Edward Wilson introduces David Morris, Chairman of Northern Electric onto the stage to present tonight's awards. The audience applauds as he appears and shakes hands with Alum. Alum introduced the first award of the evening for arts promotion. The nominations for this award are the Artist Agency based in Sunderland who enable artists to work with various communities, Riverside Newcastle an outstanding venue for contemporary music in the area and Renaissance Theatre Trust in Ulverston which creates a unique programme performance art for people of south and west Cumbria. This sequence features entertainer Roy Castle performing briefly on stage at the Theatre in the Forest. The award is won by Riverside and a representative from the organisation comes forward to collect their award. [Sound level low]. Alum Armstrong introduces 'The Poetry Virgins'; four local female actors who perform a routine from one of the tables in the audience. The next award is for outstanding achievement in the authorship of film, video, music composition or the writing of novels, plays or script. The nominations are Amber Films and their production 'Dream On' shot on the Meadow Well estate in North Shields. The second nomination is for Pat Barker and her new book 'Regeneration' which features an interview and reading from Pat about this novel over archive footage of World War One. The third nomination is Cumbrian based television writer Bryan Elsley and his recent Clyde shipyard set series 'Govan Ghost Story'. He talks about living and working in Cumbria followed by a clip from said drama. The award goes to Amber Films which is collected by Amber Styles. A blues band Little Mo and The Big Mo Band performs a brief segue into the commercial break. Title Celebration '91 Returning from the commercial break presenter Alum Armstrong introduces three members of Living Memory Theatre who perform a scene from the play 'The Last Grand Finale' in which three retired entertainers reminisce about the decline of variety music hall in the region. The performing arts awards followed next with nominations for Welfare State International and their recent street opera on the life of Alfred Nobel 'Lord Dynamite'. A representative of the company talks about both the aims of the company as well as bringing 'Lord Dynamite' to Newcastle as part of a 'New Fes 91'. The second nomination is Northumberland Theatre Company who are a touring company taking their production of the play 'Country Voices' to village halls in the area and to people who don't normally go to the theatre. The third nomination is the Cleveland Theatre Company and their production of Shakespeare 'A Midsummers Night Dream' performed on the Valley Gardens at Saltburn. [Sound level low] The award goes to Cleveland Theatre Company, the award collected by its Artistic Director. [Sound level low] Alum Armstrong next presents a special award to an individual who has made long term and significant contributions to the arts in the region. The winner of this awards is the founder of the theatre company Welfare State International John Fox who thanks those involved by a pre-recorded speech made along the Newcastle Quayside. Alum Armstrong introduced a musical interlude with a perform by Little Mo and The Big Mo Band. The nominations for visual ats award come next beginning with Northumberland abstract artist James Hugonin being interviewed in his studio while he works. The second nomination is Gateshead Council which over the past year and done a great to bring visual arts to the area including commissioning Julie Livesey to produce sculpture works entitled 'Timeless Hours' inside Thornley Woods near Rowlands Gill and for funding 'Art House for Gateshead ' with artist in resident Keith Alexander. The third nomination is Berwick-upon-Tweed photographer Jim Walker and a recently released book 'Secret Berwick'. The winner is Gateshead Council with Councillor Sid Henderson coming forward to collect their trophy. Two Flamenco dancers perform briefly as a segue into the commercial break. Title Celebration '91 Returning from the commercial break Alum Armstrong introduced Rosario Serrano who performs along with another female dance and man on guitar a traditional Spanish Flamenco dance for the audience. Work inspired by the environment is the next award, the first nomination being the television series 'Countryman' which looked at environmental concerns in the Lake District from the perspective of a countryman. The producer Paddy McCreener(?) is interviewed about said production. The second nomination is 'The Writing in The Sand', a filmed photographic record by Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen and developed Amber Films which combines a day on the beach with a sombre environmental warning. The third nomination is Keith Alexander curator of The Avenues Art House on Brinkburn Avenue in Gateshead, a gallery for people from all walks of life. The award goes to Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen but is presented to Lorna Powell from Amber Films who comes forward to collect the award on Sirkka-Liisa's behalf. Edward Wilson presents the next award recognising the Business Sponsorship Club for the Arts which include British Telecom, the Cleveland Foundation, the Tyne & Wear Foundation, Northern Electric and Tyne Tees Television. However, this special award is presented to English Estates, the award being collected by Tony Pender. Alum Armstrong present the nominations for the local authority awards beginning with Darlington. Examples of the vibrant arts scene in the town are presented including a local youth theatre and jazz saxophonist Ken Peplowski performing briefly. The second nomination is Carlisle City Council who highlight the recently re-opened Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery as an example of the 'quality and diversity' of artistic endeavours in the city. The third nomination is Berwick-upon-Tweed where, according to a representative 'the arts have exploded' with the likes of the town's museum The Maltings arts centre. The winner of this award goes to Carlisle, it's award collected by Ewan Cartwright, Director of Leisure Services. Alum Armstrong introduces a scene from Shakespeare 'A Midsummers Night Dream' performed by members of the Cleveland Theatre Company which partly takes place on stage with Alum Armstrong and Edward Wilson. Following the performance, the final award for the evening the Ambassador Award for outstanding achievement to promote the region both in the United Kingdom and abroad. This special award is given to Northern Sinfonia, the award collected by its Chief Executive John Summers. Alum Armstrong thanks all those who have taken part this evening and the programme ends with the Northern Sinfonia performing Rossini's 'The Italian Girl in Algiers'. Credits: With thanks to Northern Electric With thanks to Germaine Stanger and Kathy Weitz of Northern Arts Film Unit – Tyne Tees Camera Simon Longbotton Sound Paul Graham Electrician Lew Hedley Film Unit – Border Camera Eric Scott-Parker Sound Allan Tarn Production Assistant Livvy Ellis Director Ian Fisher Studio Crew Cameras David Petrie Sound George Joisce Lighting Bob Wilson Vison Tom Emerson, Harry Henderson Visual Mixer Alan Todd VT Editor Mike Pounder, Peter Telford Floor Manager Paul Cousin Stage Manger Colin Hale Production Secretary Joan Knighting Production Assistant Eileen Young Graphics Dave Richardson Designer Tim Trout Production Team Jeff Brown, Gillian Firth, Kevin Lench, Ken Scorfield Executive Producer Steve Ireland Producer Heather Ging Director Barrie Crosier A Tyne Tees Television production for ITV © MCMXCI