Cumbria Drama Festival - Programme and Results for 2006

Kevin studied French at Liverpool University and Drama at the Paris Sorbonne and Bristol University. He began his career in the theatre at the Northcott Theatre, Exeter as an Assistant Stage Manager (wages Ł7 a week!). He gradually gained experience in all the backstage departments including wardrobe, lighting, prop making and even working behind the bar! Eventually he became Associate Director of the Northcott.

On moving to London in 1975 he became Staff Director on the first production of “The Rocky Horror Show” and “Oh Calcutta!” (during the latter engagement he had to give notes to a totally naked cast!). He subsequently directed at many repertory theatres in Britain including Crewe, Canterbury, Derby and Liverpool where his production of “The Three Sisters” broke box office records. His touring production of “The Importance of Being Earnest” was sent by the British Council to Egypt and his productions of “She Stoops to Conquer” and “The Playboy of the Western World” were seen in Pakistan. He was the Director of the West End musical “Elvis” in 1980, which he also directed in Australia.

After a time as Director of Productions for The Bubble Theatre, London, Kevin was invited to direct in Denmark where he has been a regular Director ever since, having taught himself Danish! His many Danish productions include “My Fair Lady”, “Shirley Valentine”, “The City of Angels” and “Blood Brothers”, the latter picking up two Scandinavian awards.

Kevin conducts workshops at the Actors Centre in London and lectures on “The Development of the Musical”. He was Director of the first production of “The Cornish Cycle of Mystery Plays” since 1500AD! He was also a founder member and principal Director of PATH - an integrated theatre group working with the mentally and physically handicapped.

He has been Guest Tutor/Director at several theatre schools including RADA, LAMDA, The Guildhall and Welsh Colleges of Music and Drama and theatre schools in Denmark. He is a Guest Director at the British American Drama Academy where he directed a production of “Macbeth” with 13 actresses! He has been a member of GODA for five years. His hobbies are cooking and watching Coronation Street - but never at the same time!

Friday, March 10th, 2006
Ulverston Outsiders The Allotment by GILLIAN PLOWMAN Director: JENNY SHIPLEY Stage Manager: JANE DUCKWORTH
Four women are serving community punishment orders by working on an allotment. Their self-imposed make-believe world is threatened when a new probation officer trys to impose reality on them.
Cast
Marcie Norah Belle Lorna Daisy	BRENDA BAXTER PAT TIMEWELL HELEN LAWLER JUDITH HIGSON HELEN NEWELL
ULVERSTON OUTSIDERS According To The Book by IAN CHAPMAN Director: RON PALMER Stage Manager: VIVIEN PALMER
Three men are re-united after twenty years by their love of motorbikes and memories of a lost friend. They throw the smallest garage party in history – just the three of them – and they begin to realise that one of them has spent the last twenty years in a slf-imposed purgatory. A black comedy about boys, their bikes and according to the book.
Cast
Brian John Henry	SEAMUS DORAN KEVIN NEALE KENNY SMYTH

Saturday, March 11th, 2006 (not necessarily in this order)
CATS 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
Grange Amateur Dramatic Society Troupers All by ROGER WILLOUGHBY Director: TONY KENT Stage Manager: MARJORIE SIMON
The play is set in a small theatre which the group of actors and actresses have not visited before. The group are on a tour which has not been doing well. The play they are doing is not capturing the audiences. The producer is also the tour manager and is responsible for paying the group from weekly proceeds.
Cast
Gerald Adrian Ted Janet Wendy Jake Caretaker Jack	DAVID EDWARDS GEOFF ENTWISTLE PHILIP WATTS-CHARNLEY MARY WALKER DYANE SILVESTER MALCOLM HEYES ANDREW POMFRET NIGEL CROOK

Subsequent Rounds of The All England Festival and British Final
North West Divisional Final	Venue: Victoria Hall, Grange-over-Sands Date: April 22nd, 2006 Adjudicator: Jeff Brailsford Winners: Cumbria Amateur Dramatic Society (CATS) with From Here to The Library by Jimmie Chinn
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, 2006 Adjudicator: Brian Marjoribanks