Culture Awards 2009 Performer of the year finalists

Mar 10 2010 The Journal

THE clock is ticking down to The Journal Culture Awards 2009... and with that in mind, it’s time to tell you a little bit more about some more of our fabulous finalists.

This is the second in a series of columns between now and March 23 when all the winners will be revealed at a talent-soaked ceremony at Durham’s Gala Theatre.

Today we take a closer look at the three finalists in the category of Performing Artist of the Year.

Actor David Nellist’s dual performance in Alf Ramsey Knew My Grandfather sees the lifelong Newcastle United supporter selected as a worthy finalist.

He played both team manager, Sydney Barron, and his great-grandson Wyn, during the play’s successful April run at the Gala.

Meanwhile South Shields’ stand-up lady Sarah Millican continued her rise to acclaim and its associated star-ratings in 2009.

Her follow-up Edinburgh show, Typical Woman previewed to much laughter at Live Theatre, where she also brought her debut full-length show, Sarah Millican’s Not Nice. She also had a series commissioned for Radio Four and appeared across our TV screens on a variety of occasions.

The (newly christened) Unthanks, formerly known as Rachel Unthank and the Winterset, make their return to this category after being named the inaugural (and performing winners at 2007 ceremony.

Their well-received 2009 album Here’s the Tender Coming, together with a duo of North East performances in the autumn were more than enough to tick the finalist box for us.