Following our AGM we are excited to announce the winners of the 2026 DMTC Membership Awards!
Mary Hamilton was one of the stalwart members of DAOS when the company reformed in 1956. She played many lead soprano roles for the company in those early days and later sang in the chorus as well as serving as our Assistant Secretary for many years. She always encouraged younger members, and this award was set up in her memory by her daughter. The future of the Company is in the hands of these younger members.
The winner this year joined DMTC just a couple of years ago, but in that very short space of time has delivered two sensational principal performances. In “The Producers”, he played my neurotic but endearing side-kick, Leopold Bloom and in “The Prince of Egypt”, he played my younger son Moses. In a language we think he’ll understand: “Es un gran placer para mi anunciar que el Premio Mary Hamilton 2026 es para nuestro querido amigo Luke McGarey”. (It gives me great pleasure to announce that the 2026 Mary Hamilton Award goes to our dear friend Luke McGarey).
Mary Robinson’s Award was set up as a way of honouring a long-serving member of DMTC. Mary herself is an example to us all of someone who has given selflessly to the needs of DMTC for 71 years. She is still working on our behalf and we all owe her a huge debt of gratitude for all she has done for us. All previous winners of this award have contributed enormously to the success of the Company and this year’s winner is no exception.
This year’s winner of the Mary Robinson Award joined DAOS in 1994 and has been a loyal member for 32 years. During that time, she has appeared in virtually all of our shows as a stalwart member of the chorus. She also has spent several periods on Committee helping with the running of the Company. It is members like this who are the foundation of the Company and we are delighted that this year the 2026 Mary Robinson Award goes to Doreen Cothay.
The Pauline Gilman Bowl was instigated in 2018, but due to covid has only been awarded 6 times. Pauline joined the company under our former guise of Durham Amateur Operatic Society and performed mainly in the chorus, but she did also undertake a few small roles. The Pauline Gilman Bowl was set up by her husband, James, to honour a devoted member of the chorus. The previous winners are all long serving members of DMTC who have shown great loyalty over many years, as did Pauline herself.
The winner this year joined DAOS in 2001 as we were preparing to open the Gala Theatre with our 2002 production of “Me and My Girl”. She has proved herself to be totally reliable and 100% committed to every project she has taken part in, whether singing in the chorus or dancing with the ensemble. We are delighted to present the 2026 Pauline Gilman Bowl to Caroline Wilson.
The Committee Award for Significant Contribution to the Company
The Committee of DMTC decided to introduce a new award last year. This was to be awarded to persons who have made a significant contribution to the Company. Many people help us out in the background of our activities and their work on our behalf often goes unnoticed. They do not receive applause from audiences, but DMTC would be all the poorer without them and the help they offer us.
This year’s nomination from the Committee was in common parlance, a ‘no-brainer’. The 2026 show “The Prince of Egypt” stretched us in ways that we have not known before. When we started out on this production, no company was making the required sets or costumes. It seemed we had to source them from thin air. Our wardrobe department was called upon to make all of the chorus Hebrew slave costumes and all the chorus Egyptian costumes – well over a hundred costumes. Helped by a cohort of willing seamstresses, they set to and worked up to the last-minute making, fitting and altering costumes. This was above and beyond the call of duty, but we were so grateful for all their hard work. It therefore became an obvious choice for us that the 2026 Committee Award go jointly to Kate Gair and Anne Gatherar.
The Committee wanted to recognise the extraordinary service given by certain long-time members to DMTC and it was therefore decided to instigate a new award for anyone having been a member of the Company for 70 years or more. This will not be awarded annually, only when such membership occurs.
It is absolutely fitting that the first recipient of the Fellowship of DMTC goes to our esteemed colleague and friend, Mary Robinson.
