Six awards for Virginia College

- Essa Josy -

Virginia College is over the moon after their recent success at the Best of Ireland Secondary School Stage Awards 2026.

The school’s production of Annie won six awards at this year’s ceremony. With 24 nominations, Virginia College emerged victorious from the event, with members of the cast and teachers celebrating the remarkable achievement.

The “Best of Ireland Secondary School Stage Awards” is an annual gala ceremony where schools from all over the country receive awards for excellence in theatre across multiple categories. These awards are presented not only to students who attend the secondary schools, but also to those who run them, focusing on stage performances and productions. Virginia College’s production especially captured the attention of the judges in numerous categories, leading to their triumph.

“The success for me was just having such a fantastic production and being able to share it with everyone in Virginia College and the local community,” said Tracy Talbot, the director of the show.

Tracy told the Celt about how winning the award was a bonus and not everything, but that the real reward was the cast itself. Seeing individuals across all year groups come together and showcase their talents was the most rewarding thing of all.

“We had great fun, and the biggest prize for me is seeing all the cast grow from the experience and make new friendships,” she shared.

The gala was held in the Bonnington Hotel, Dublin, where the auditorium was filled with students, all with a flair for theatre. Photographers clicked away as the attendees stepped on the red carpet, capturing their confidence and smiles. As the night went on, the students grew more impatient, all eager to hear the results. When the winners were finally announced, the room erupted with overjoyed students. The deafening noise of applause and shrieks filled the room lifting the atmosphere to a whole new level.

Among the awards Virginia College brought home were second place for Female Vocals for Fibi Boyce, who also performed live at the event, dazzling the crowd with her outstanding voice, and a bronze award for Best Co-Star Actor for Christopher Heapes-Lambert. The cast also received bronze awards for Best Acting Ensemble and for Best Costumes, along with silver awards for Best Comedy Ensemble and for Best Choreography.

“It’s a big achievement, coming from a small community school and competing with bigger schools with more advantages than us, yet still winning across the categories reminds us of what dedication and effort can achieve,” commented a student.

“I’m incredibly proud of the students. Winning the awards was fantastic, but seeing their hard work, dedication and enthusiasm recognised was the most rewarding part of all,” expressed Ali Giusti, the musical director of the show.

This success did not happen overnight. Starting in late August 2025, students at Virginia College spent countless hours rehearsing and preparing for the musical after school and on weekends.

“A production of this scale takes a huge amount of commitment from everyone involved. The students put in months of rehearsals, balancing school work with learning the music, choreography, script, and staging,” said Ali Giusti.

Finally, when November rolled around, the cast and crew wowed the audience in all five sold-out shows, closing each performance to a roaring crowd. Ms Giusti also described the production as a rewarding experience for everyone who was involved.

“It was a privilege to watch the students grow in confidence, develop their talents, and support one another throughout the journey,” she said. “Opportunities like this mean so much to students and help inspire the next generation of performers and musicians.”

For Virginia College, Annie was so much more than the awards. It was the hard work, determination and lifelong memories built backstage that made the production special, proving that the sun will always come out tomorrow.