The Cumbria Drama Festival a preliminary round of the All England Theatre Festival Programme and Results for 2002

Reg. Charity No. 1071518

The 2002 Festival - March 9th

2002 was the 75th anniversary of the All-England Theatre Festival. This year we had entries from Swarthmoor Drama Group, South Westmorland Stage and Screen Society and Gosforth Amateur Dramatic Society.

Plays Performed

Saturday March 9th, 2002 Gosforth Amateur Dramatic Society Our James by ROS MORUZZI Director: WADVERN DAVIES Stage Manager: JOHN LARKHAM The action switches between Mother’s living room, the Citizens Advice Bureau, the records office at Lymington Hospital and a prison on the Isle of Wight.   Time: The present. Iris’s efforts to discover her father’s identity lead to some unexpected revelations. Cast Mother Iris, her daughter Mrs Mills, CAB Volunteer Sam, a probation officer SUE STOKES AMANDA CRAYSTON LORRIE LARKHAM IAN HINDE South Westmorland Stage and Screen Society The Adventure of The Grey Velvet Gloves by ANTHONY PARKER Director: ANTHONY PARKER Stage Manager: JOHN DEAN The action takes place in London at the close of the nineteenth century.     Scene 1: The sitting room of 221B Baker Street, late on a November afternoon.     Scene 2: 2am the next morning - Heversham Gardens Dr Watson and Inspector Lestrade are commanded by Sherlock Holmes to listen to the “ramblings” of the lady owner of a lodging house. All is revealed the next morning, outside the lodging house. Cast Dr John Watson Mrs Hudson Inspector Lestrade Mrs Warren Sergeant Smithers Sherlock Holmes RICHARD NEWMAN MARGARET HESMONDHALGH STEVEN BEATTIE CARON NEWMAN ANTHONY PARKER PETER SHARP Swarthmoor Drama Group Departure by STEPHEN SMITH Director: NEIL DOUGLAS Stage Manager: KEVIN DOWDALL The action takes place in an airport lounge.    Time: the present Stranded in an airport lounge during the delay of a holiday flight to Spain, Rosemary and her daughter, Mandy, engaged Dennis and Sheila Tippitt in conversation. Cast Rosemary Gibbs Mandy Gibbs Dennis Tippitt Sheila Tippitt JAN GOUGH DAWN CHOJNACKI RAY HODGSON SHEILA FOOTE

The Adjudicator - Mr Nicholas Tomlinson GODA

Nicholas P Tomlinson has directed and acted in – as well as adjudicated – amateur productions all over the country. A founding chairman of the TMA/Martini Regional Professional Theatre Awards judging panel, he has frequently written and broadcast on the theatre, and performed abroad as well. He is often called upon as an after-dinner speaker and also gives theatre workshops. For a quarter of a century almost, he was Director of Drama and Head of Theatre Studies at a north-west public school, and is still heavily involved in all aspects of youth drama, currently working in a consultant capacity with a youth arts programme.

Born on the Fylde Coast of Lancashire, he now lives on the outskirts of Preston and, apart from all things theatrical, enjoys reading, writing, gardening and fell-strolling – a less arduous form of fell-walking, and shorter!

Trophies Awarded

The Elaine Richardson Trophy - for the winning company
Awarded to Swarthmoor Drama Group

The South Lakeland District Council Trophy - for the best individual performance
Awarded to Jan Gough (Swarthmoor Drama Group)

The Sir John Fisher Trophy - for the best actor under 21
No eligible candidates

The Lady Maria Fisher Trophy - for the best supporting role
Awarded to Steven Beattie (SWSSS)

The Renaissance Theatre Trust Award - adjudicator’s discretionary award
Awarded to SWSSS (for costumes)

The Doreen Brockbank Trophy - for set decor
Awarded to Swarthmoor Drama Group

The New Generation Trophy - an award for merit
Awarded to Gosforth ADS (for properties)

Subsequent Rounds of The All England Festival and British Final
North West Divisional Final	The Players’ Theatre, Delph, Oldham 13th April 2002 Adjudicator: Derek Slater Winners: Preston Drama Club Parallel Lines by Steve Pearce
Northern Area Final	Wharfeside Theatre, Ilkley 11th May 2002 Adjudicator: Richard Woodward Winners: Richmond Amateur Dramatic Society In by The Half by Jimmie Chinn
English Final	Prince of Wales Theatre, Cannock 8th June 2002 Adjudicator: Jill Colby Winners: Runnymede Drama Group The Bed by Jim Cartwright
British Final	Eden Court Theatre, Inverness 5th/6th July 2002 Adjudicator: Richard Wilson Winners: The Kirkton Players Bouncers by John Godber