Third time lucky for local actress?

Gillian, who has been a lifelong member of Lisnagarvey Operatic Society and founder of the company’s youth section, recently stepped into the role of Maria in the much loved musical The Sound of Music, which was staged at the Island Hall in Lisburn in April.

Following the run Gillian and her family decided to take a well deserved holiday and it was whilst she was away she found out she had been nominated for the ‘Best Actress’ category.

“At first I thought it was a joke,” she said. “Then I got a call from our Chairperson Jennifer who told me the good news. I was thrilled.”

Gillian was nominated for Best Actress for her role in Calamity Jane in 2003 and for Best Comedienne in 2005 for her role in Carousel. Now she is hoping it will be third time lucky this year.

“The show was really hard work but it was one of the best shows I have ever done in my life,” continued Gillian. “I was really emotional on the last night and I just couldn’t believe it was over.”

Gillian will travel with her husband, parents, Jennifer Anderson (Chairperson of Lisnagarvey Operatic) and her husband, to the awards ceremony in Killaney on June 16.

There was other good news for the local company when director Wilfie Pyper was nominated as ‘Best Director’ for Sound of Music, as well as for his production of ‘Titanic the Musical’, which was staged at the Grand Opera House in Belfast to mark the anniversary of the ship’s sinking.

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