The Frank Smith Award is presented annually in memory of Frank Smith to a Company Member (or sometimes two) of less than three years standing in recognition of their commitment and involvement in a wide range of the Company’s activities. The award is made by the Management Committee. The winner receives a copy of Frank Smith’s book telling the early history of the Company, This Insubstantial Pageant, a free year’s Company membership and a free ticket to each show for a year.
The Barbara Waddell Award (previously known as the Harold Mellor Award) is presented annually in memory of Barbara to recognise someone who has made a significant contribution to the Company over a number of years. The award is made by the Management Committee. The winner receives a specially commissioned trophy.
The winners of the 2024 awards



THE FRANK SMITH AWARD
1984 | Karen Readhead | Richard Willis |
1985 | Sheila Thomas | Chris Seal |
1986 | Fiona Clark | |
1987 | Jonathan Badger | Lotte Wynder |
1988 | Records lost | |
1989 | Abby-Lee Knight | |
1990 | Anya Newstead | Mike Hall |
1991 | Fay Pedder | |
1992 | Mike Crawshaw | |
1993 | Andrew Short | Ginny Cartwright |
1994 | Terry Mathews | |
1995 | Laura Brannigan | |
1996 | Zizi Sulkin | Jacky Devitt |
1997 | Lily Ann Green | Howard Gossington |
1998 | Dorothy Wright | Josephine Stephenson |
1999 | Kay Perversi | Chris de Pury |
2000 | Nikki Smith | Tess Walsh |
2001 | John Morton | |
2002 | Steven Hyndman | Philippa Pearson |
2003 | Jude Chalk | |
2004 | Linky Trott | |
2005 | Terry Baker-Self | |
2006 | Martin Mulgrew | |
2007 | Chris Paddon | |
2008 | No award made | |
2009 | Ruth Sullivan | |
2010 | Jill Ruane | |
2011 | No award made | |
2012 | Bernice Molloy | |
2013 | Michael Bettell | |
2014 | David Sprecher | Ruth Anthony |
2015 | Stephen Brasher | |
2016 | Dan Usztan | |
2017 | Angharad Ormond | |
2018 | Jon Gilmartin | |
2019 | Rosanna Preston | |
2020 | Matthew Ibbotson | |
2021 2022 | Angelika Michitsch Anna Kidd | |
2023 | Feiyang Yang | |
2024 | Chaachi Deane | Jess Staufenberg |
THE BARBARA WADDELL / HAROLD MELLOR AWARD
1998 | Denis Turner | |
1999 | Jim & Noreen Spall | |
2000 | Jill & Dominic Batty | |
2001 | Abby-Lee Knight | |
2002 | Sheila Burbidge | |
2003 | Kay Perversi | |
2004 | Keith Syrett | |
2005 | Penny & Laurence Tuerk | |
2006 | Margaret Ley | |
2007 | Nigel Martin | |
2008 | David Taylor | |
2009 | Stephen Ley | |
2010 | Dinah Irvine | |
2011 | Pat Grosse | |
2012 | Colin Guthrie | |
2013 | Richard Pedersen | |
2014 | Sara Randall | |
2015 | Sarah Ambrose | |
2016 | Peter Westbury | |
2017 | Nick Insley | |
2018 | Jude Chalk | |
2019 | Michelle Roebuck | |
2020 | John Chapman | |
2021 | Roanne Insley | |
2022 | Stephen Brasher | |
2023 | Phillip Ley | |
2024 | Landé Belo |