Two Theatre Companies Share Minack Trophy After Successful Summer Season

Published On: 10 October 2025Last Updated: 10 October 2025By CornishStuff

📷 Miss Benson's Beetle - Bodkin Theatre

Another successful summer has wrapped up at the Minack Theatre, where an impressive lineup of 43 plays, musicals, and music events took to the stage. Out of these, 30% were performed by Cornish companies or artists, highlighting the region’s growing reputation for creative talent.

A Season to Remember

The 2025 season began at Easter with The Mermaid of Zennor, a family musical based on the Cornish legend, and concluded this week with Making a Killing, a new production by Ben Kernow and his Cornish company, Ha Hum Ah Productions.

At the close of each season, the Minack presents the Minack Trophy to the company that delivers the best overall production, as voted by audiences and staff. This year, for the first time, two companies have shared the honour.

📷Miss Benson's Beetle - Bodkin Theatre

Two Winners, One Stage

London-based British Theatre Academy was recognised for its bold production of The Who’s Tommy, which drew nightly standing ovations. The performance featured a young, energetic cast and a live band led by Cornish musical director Millie Millington, bringing the rock opera score to life.

Sharing the Trophy was Bodkin Theatre, a Cornish company praised for its enchanting adaptation of Miss Benson’s Beetle, written by Ben Oldfield from the novel by best-selling author Rachel Joyce. The production, starring Lucy Morgan and Bethany Merryn, captivated audiences with its imaginative staging and heartfelt performances.

Director of the Minack, Rebecca Thomas, said:

“The standard was so high this year, we couldn’t pick a single winner. These two, very different productions were each in their own way outstanding examples of creative theatre and great entertainment.”

📷Miss Benson's Beetle - Bodkin Theatre

Highly Commended Productions

Three other shows also received high commendation:

Les Misérables: Let the People Sing, a collaboration between Helston Theatre Company, Redruth Amateur Musical & Pantomime Society, St Austell Amateur Operatic Society and Truro Amateur Operatic & Dramatic Society, staged to mark the 40th anniversary of the legendary musical.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Next Stage Theatre Company.
Shakespeare in Love by Shattered Windscreen Theatre Company.

Rebecca added:

“To have so many memorable productions in one season is a fantastic achievement, and we’d like to thank and congratulate all the companies concerned for bringing such great entertainment to our theatre and audiences this year.

“We’re particularly excited that two of them are Cornish companies. Part of our remit at the Minack is to encourage and support great Cornish theatre, whether professional or from the community. We’ve been thrilled with the quality of work produced by local companies this year. And we’re proud of the ones we’ve developed ourselves, which include The Mermaid of Zennor, Northanger Abbey, Pearl o’ Wisdom and co-production Making a Killing.”

For more information about the Minack Theatre, visit www.minack.com