The Cumbria Drama Festival a preliminary round of the All England Theatre Festival Programme and Results for 2001

Reg. Charity No. 1071518

The 2001 Festival - March 10th

At one point we were hopeful that there would be an improvement on last year’s festival, when there were only four entries. Our optimism was short-lived however for, once again, we received entries from only four societies. But worse was to come - two of them were forced to withdraw, leaving us with only Pennington and Arnside. Needless to say, it was a one-night festival only. Our efforts to interest societies in the north and east of the county also proved very disappointing, with only one reply received from over twenty societies to which we sent information about the festival. Nil desperandum though - there’s always next year!

Plays Performed

Saturday March 10th, 2001 Pennington Drama Group The Patient by Agatha Christie Director: NORMAN BISHOP-ROWE Stage Manager: MARK WILLIAMS Mrs Wingfield was paralysed after falling from a balcony at her home. The reason for her fall can not be found. Setting: A consulting room in a private hospital.   Time: The present. Cast Lansen Dr Ginsberg Nurse Bond Inspector Cray Emmeline Ross William Ross Bryan Wingfield Brenda Jackson The Patient (Mrs Wingfield) A Porter JUSTIN WILKINSON JEREMY GANZ LINDSEY JACKSON ROGER WEBSTER EILEEN RAMSDEN STEWART WALDEN BOB NEEDHAM EILEEN BISHOP-ROWE MOLLY MUCKELT MARK WILLIAMS Arnside Players Mrs Meadowsweet by David Campton Director: Doreen Brockbank Stage Manager: ANDREW WESTERN Setting: The lounge of a small country guest house.Time: The present. Cast Miss Jerrold Miss Brazenose Fleur Alice Mrs Meadowsweet Inga Student OLWYN McLEAN PAM BARBER MARILYN GREEN SUE PIDGEON STEPH WOODBURN †EMILY SHARPE CAROL NEWBOLD † denotes player under age 21. Arnside Players are sponsored by Daniel Thwaites plc.

The Adjudicator - Mr Derek Slater

Until retirement Derek was Principal Lecturer in Theatre Studies at Manchester Polytechnic (now Manchester Metropolitan University). He was also a lecturer in Humanities for the Open University.

For many years he has run day, weekend and residential courses in various aspects of theatre, as well as directing productions, both amateur and professional. He has adjudicated both full-length and one-act festivals for the Greater Manchester Drama federation, the Cheshire Theatre Guild and many others. Last year he was invited by Nottingham Drama Association to judge their original play competition.

Derek has published a number of articles on drama; he is the author of Plays in Action, a textbook for students published by Pergamon Press.

Trophies Awarded

The Elaine Richardson Trophy - for the winning company
Awarded to Arnside Players

The South Lakeland District Council Trophy - for the best individual performance
Awarded to Jeremy Ganz (Pennington Drama Group)

The Sir John Fisher Trophy - for the best actor under 21
Not awarded, since there was only one eligible player

The Lady Maria Fisher Trophy - for the best supporting role
Awarded to Olwyn McLean (Arnside Players)

The Renaissance Theatre Trust Award - adjudicator’s discretionary award
Awarded to Sue Pidgeon (Arnside Players)

The Doreen Brockbank Trophy - for set decor
Awarded to Arnside Players

The New Generation Trophy - an award for merit
Awarded to Emily Sharpe (Arnside Players)

Subsequent Rounds of The All England Festival and British Final
North West Divisional Final	The Playhouse, Market Street West, Preston 21st April 2001 Adjudicator: Irene Rostron Winners: The Riverside Players (Merseyside) The Art of Remembering by Adina L. Ruskin
Northern Area Final	Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York 5th May 2001 Adjudicator: Colin Crowther Winners: The Riverside Players (North West Div.) The Art of Remembering by Adina L. Ruskin
English Final	Arts Centre, Maidenhead 2nd June 2001 Adjudicator: Mike Tilbury Winners: The Riverside Players (Northern Area) The Art of Remembering by Adina L. Ruskin
British Final	Lyric Theatre, Belfast 29th-30th June 2001 Adjudicator: Billy Burns Winners: Wick Players (Scotland) A Bench at The Edge by Luigi Jannuzzi