The Stirling Players have further cemented their reputation for fine comedy by winning two Adelaide Theatre Guide Curtain Call Awards for 2013.

At the awards ceremony, their March production of God of Carnage, by Yasmina Reza, won Best Comedy and Best Comedy Ensemble in the Amateur Theatre categories.

The Ensemble award recognises the outstanding level of performance by every member of the cast.

As a measure of the standard of drama at the Stirling Theatre the cast of the companyís other production, Mr†Bailey’s Minder†was also nominated for this award.

Director Hayley Horton was ecstatic. ìWe are the first amateur company in South Australia to tackle this challenging production and Iím so proud of our achievement. The cast gelled from the very first reading, and The Stirling Players production team was fabulous. These awards are recognition of everyoneís efforts.

Mo Johnson, of Woodside, was production coordinator, and was thrilled with the outcome.

This is The Stirling Playersí third Best Comedy award in recent years, after wins for The Female of The Species in 2011 and Itís My Party…(and Iíll Die If I Want To) in 2009.

The company is now into the final weeks of rehearsal for another comedy (and another SA premiere) opening on October 4 at the Stirling Community Theatre.

In a change of pace from God of Carnage, the gentle English comedy, The Lady in the Van, by Alan Bennett, tells the true story of the eccentric woman who lived in the playwrightís garden for 15 years.

The director, Dave Simms, was also recognised at the ATG ceremony, when his acclaimed production of All My Sons, for the Adelaide Rep, won the Best Drama for this year.

Tickets for The Lady in the Van are on sale online from The Stirling Playersí website www.sct.org.au, and at Matilda Bookshop, 8 Mount Barker Road, Stirling – 8339 3931.