All England Theatre Festival Programme and Results for North West Divisional Final Programme for 2006

Reg. Charity No. 1071518

The Festival

The 2006 North West Divisional Final was held at the Victoria Hall, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria on Saturday April 22nd. It turned out to be one of the most enjoyable and well-supported festivals held at Grange for a long time. Naturally we were delighted to see one of our local teams win through to the next round of the competition, against strong opposition.

Plays Performed

Saturday, April 22nd, 2006
Representing the Dee and Merseyside District Stuffed Onion The Not So Great Escape by MIKE LOCKLEY Director: MIKE LOCKLEY Stage crew: LAURA LOCKLEY, VAL BRYAN Lighting: NICK LOCKLEY, DAVID UPTON Sound: IMOGEN EAMES
A group of inept British soldiers attempts to escape from a German prisoner-of-war camp in 1940.
Cast
Connors Perkins Smudger Mac Harris Taffy Schmidt Billy Fritz	MIKE LOCKLEY KEVIN EAMES RICHARD DODD SEAN DUTTON DAVE SHAW MATTHEW HAYES GARETH JONES GRAIG McGRATH JOHN NELSON
Representing the West Pennine District Know Your Onions Cliff’s Edge by PAUL BEARD Director: MALCOLM COOPER Stage Manager: MAVIS KINNERSLEY
“Woke up this morning. Heard my son call. Turned away from the window. Turned my face to the wall ...”. Numerous peculiar characters parade around Beachy Head.
Cast
Cliff Gary Sue	JACK EDMONDS PAUL WILSON JODY McCARTAN
Representing the Cumbria District Cumbria Amateur Theatre Society From Here To The Library by JIMMIE CHINN Director: KEN SMYTH Stage Manager: JEAN HOWARTH
A gentle comedy portraying a woman’s struggle to make a life for herself in the outside world, away from the restrictions of looking after her elderly father.
Cast
Beryl Tidy Mr Gostilow Dad	JENNY SHIPLEY RAY TURNER BILL CALVERT
Representing the Manx Amateur Drama Federation Rushen Players George by DEREK HICKMAN Director: ADRIENNE SANDERSON Stage Crew: JOHN HAYES, JOHN MOON GEOFF BACON, THELMA FLOATE, FRANK SANDERSON
Set in the mid sixties, it is early afternoon in a side ward of a small provincial general hospital. Mr Smith is languishing in his bed, where he is recovering from the effects of a head injury. Not the easiest of patients, he leads the medical staff a merry dance, taxing their patience and ingenuity to the limit. Now, are you sitting comfortably? Then let the play begin ...
Cast
Mr Smith Nurse Sister Miss Ward Dr Patel Dr Radlett Lizziel Mrs Beadle Jock	WAYNE KELSALL LESLEY COOLE KATIE ANGUS SUSIE BESWICK JENNY BAKER CLAUDE BUTLER MARI MOSS JOAN HAYES IAN GALLOWAY

The Adjudicator - Mr Jeff Brailsford

Jeff has been involved in amateur drama since 1966, initially as “apprentice” - serving tea, building sets, delivering posters, watching, listening and learning. – and, later, as actor and director. Indeed, directing is his first love. he finds the challenge of drawing performances out of actors and constructing a whole production from its various disparate parts supremely satisfying.

He has always been involved in competitive drama, either the season-long competition or the full-length or one-act festival. He acknowledges that, over the years, he has been lucky enough toplay with and for, and to direct and learn from, some of the very best amateur actors, directors and technicians.

He joined GODA in 2003, having spent some years adjudicating peripatetic festivals in the North West where he lives. He is married with two daughters and a gorgeous granddaughter and still enjoys both his day job and his hobby.

“I’m looking forward very much to my first visit to Grange-over-Sands,” says Jeff.

Trophies To Be Awarded

The Magrath Trophy - for the winning company
Awarded to Cumbria Amateur Theatre Society

The Barbara Williamson Trophy - for set decor
Awarded to Cumbria Amateur Theatre Society

Subsequent Rounds of The All England Festival and British Final
Northern Area Final	Venue: Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight Date: May 27th, 2006 Adjudicator: Derek Slater Winners: Bishop Monkton Entertainment Group with Short Cut by Sarah Roskrow
English Final	Venue: Courtyard Theatre, Hereford Date: June 10th, 2006 Adjudicator: Chris Jaeger Winners: St Ursula Players with Me and My Friend (Act 1) by Gillian Plowman
British Final	Venue: Perth Theatre, Perth Date: June 30th/July 1st Adjudicator: Brian Marjoribanks