JERSEY soap star Jonny Labey has picked up a Best Actor award at the UK Film Awards, which celebrates independent cinema.
Mr Labey, who is best known for his roles in Eastenders and Hollyoaks, won the award in the short film category for his own production Swirl State.
The film is based on Mr Labey’s younger experiences working in an ice cream van in Les Platons and address the topic of mental health.
Speaking to the JEP, he said: “It’s just crazy that our first film that we’ve made – which we made in 2023 – we’ve entered into our first competition and already come away with an award.
“So things are really sort of pointing in the right direction. It was made completely with Jersey at heart. I think it was around 80% of the people [involved] were from the Channel Islands. We made it here on home soil and we’ve already started to make another one with help of ArtHouse Jersey. They’ve been massively instrumental to creating the work.”
And Mr Labey is turning his attention to his next project, as he is set to star in the premiere of his new musical at the Jersey Opera House next month.
His show, entitled Full Swing, will be a tribute to growing up within the theatre and dance communities on the Island, and how it helped create a sense of belonging for him.
He said: “I wanted to pay tribute to that with a show that speaks to the younger version of Jonny, or young people that are currently in Jersey now that would want a show that kind of represents them.
“I’ve created a show that I would have really loved to have gone and watched, to feel like I belong to something, and there’s a home within theatre.
“The show is fully formed, and it’s doing its world premiere in Jersey. It will be developed into a show that eventually can go to the West End, or go to London or even Broadway. We’re having talks with certain producers at the moment that will be able to take it slightly further. But for now, it’s putting on a really entertaining evening for Jersey audiences.”
Mr Labey added that the musical will be directed by Mario Campanaro and choreographed by Simon Hardwick, featuring swing music, West End and local performers, focusing on the effects of bullying, and the madness of auditioning in a theatre world.
There will also be a bucket donation collection for diabetes charities at the show, as parts reflect on the actor’s life living with Type 1 diabetes.
He added: “The show is called Full Swing because it celebrates the Opera House being back. Since my last show there in 2017, I haven’t been able to do another show because the Opera House closed down, and it’s now years later, but we are back.
“The premiere has to be done at the Opera House, because it’s where the show is based. All the memories, all the times I’ve spent in that theatre.”
He added that he also wanted the proceeds to support filmmaking in Jersey, adding that there is so much demand and ambition for filmmaking, but not enough of a foundation for aspiring filmmakers.
“At the moment, there’s no film equipment like lighting specialised for filmmaking on the Island whatsoever and we’re trying to improve and build that infrastructure to have more films to be made as well as shows,” he said.
“Any profits from this show will go into making more films on the Island. So it’s kind of like this little ecosystem that I’m trying to start up, and being recognised by the UK Film Awards… just tells us that we’re doing something right.”
The musical will be at the Jersey Opera House on the 23 and 24 of January and tickets are available online.
