The Cumbria Drama Festival a preliminary round of the All England Theatre Festival Programme for 2007

Reg. Charity No. 1071518

The 2007 Festival - March 10th

Initially we were very hopeful that we would have at least six plays in this year’s festival but, alas, two of the teams had to pull out so, once more, we were down to only four entries. What’s more, two of those had a running time of only about 30 minutes, so we decided to abandon the Friday evening session and run one super-length session on Saturday, starting at 6pm.

Despite a smaller audience than we should have liked (possibly, but not necessarily because of the early start) it was generally agreed that it had been “a good festival” with a high standard.

CATS was the winning team by a narrow margin and went on to represent Cumbria in the NW Divisional Final at Prestwich where, alas, they were defeated, again by a narrow margin.

Plays Performed

Saturday, March 10th, 2007
Gosforth Amateur Dramatic Society See if I Care by CHERRY VOOGHT Director: JENNY RICHARDSON Stage Manager: IAN STOKES
The scene is a park in any large town. Two old ladies pass the time away complaining about their own lives and passing comments on everyone else.
Cast
First Old Lady Second Old Lady First Woman Young Girl Second Woman Third Woman	SUE STOKES MARGARET FOX KAREN POLMEAR HEATHER RUDD* LYNDA KIRKBRIDE RACHEL HOLLIDAY
* denotes player under 21
Ulverston Outsiders Plaster Scene by HELEN LAWLER Director: HELEN LAWLER
The play is set in a training centre for the building trade. An unusual course in plastering is being tried for the first time. All the people involved find it is s second chance to remould their lives. A lot depends on its success so the pressure is on.
Cast
Ian Jean Bill Melanie Susan Rick Wayne	KENNY SMYTH JUDITH HIGSON RON PALMER HELEN LAWLER BRENDA BAXTER KEVIN NEALE ROGER GRANT
Gosforth Amateur Dramatic Society Night Song by CHERRY VOOGHT Director: JENNY RICHARDSON Stage Manager: IAN STOKES
Scene: A seat in a park. It is a late summer evening and dasrkness is beginning to fall. The attendant from the nearby public convenience awaits her “bag lady” friend.
Cast
Agnes Rosie Marilyn	LYNDA KIRKBRIDE KAREN POLMEAR RACHEL HOLLIDAY
Cumbria Amateur Theatrical Society (CATS) A Smell of Burning by DAVID CAMPTON Director: LESLEY SKELTON Stage Managers: JEAN HOWARTH and SEAMUS DORAN
Mr and Mrs Jones are sat home enjoying their breakfast when, unannounced, Robinson enters. Is he pleasant, well-spoken and from the “right school” as the Joneses think, or is he something else completely? And what has he done to Alderman Prendergast in the flat above?
Cast
Jones Mrs Jones Robinson	BILL CALVERT JENNY SHIPLEY RAY TURNER

The Adjudicator - Mr Basil Soper, BA, GoDA

Basil enjoys a wide-ranging background of experience in the artistic, administrative and technical areas of the entertainment profession, and has a BA Degree in the Performing Arts. He is a skilled theatre director in both serious drama and light entertainment, and also an experienced radio presenter and producer. With his rich, warm, authoritative voice, he is in demand as a narrator, presenter and voice-over artist for radio, television, film, corporate video and audio-books.

As an Actor and Theatre Company Manager, he appeared twice in the West End; frequently toured the UK, and enjoyed a long and highly successful tour of Amadeus throughout Southern Africa. He was offered an immediate contract there as a radio presenter and actor, and narrated more than forty episodes of the top-rated radio drama series The Kappilan of Malta.

He has written and narrated concert versions of many of the Gilbert & Sullivan Operettas, and was a regular writer and presenter of the “Passion of the Tenors” classical concerts, (starring Russell Watson).

His television appearances include Live from the London Palladium; Live from Her Majesty’s; Night of 100 Stars from The National Theatre, all supporting Russ Abbot; My Secret Desire for Granada TV; and several plays for BBC and Granada.

His voice appeared weekly for four seasons as “The Voiceover Man” in the BBCtv Children’s Series The Basil Brush Show.

For some five years, he has been the In-Vision Presenter for the Personal Injury Helpline TV campaign throughout the UK and Europe.

Basil is a Member of the Guild of Drama Adjudicators and very much enjoys the opportunity to visit Drama Festivals around the country to comment and advise amateur drama groups during these exciting times.

Trophies Awarded

The Elaine Richardson Trophy - for the winning company
awarded to CATS for A Smell of Burning

The South Lakeland District Council Trophy - for the best individual performance
Awarded to Sue Stokes for her performance in See if I Care
and Ron Palmer for his part in Plaster Scene

The Sir John Fisher Trophy - for the best actor under 21

The Lady Maria Fisher Trophy - for the best supporting role
Awarded to Margaret Fox for her performance in See if I Care
and Brenda Baxter for her role in Plaster Scene

The Renaissance Theatre Trust Award - adjudicator’s discretionary award
Awarded to Helen Lawler for the script of Plaster Scene

The Doreen Brockbank Trophy - for set decor
Awarded to CATS for the set of A Smell of Burning

The New Generation Trophy - an award for greatest potential
Awarded to Rachel Holliday for her performance in See if I Care

The David Shipley Memorial Trophy - for backstage work
Awarded to CATS

Subsequent Rounds of The All England Festival and British Final
North West Divisional Final	Venue: PADOS House, Prestwich Date: April 21st, 2007 Adjudicator: Robert Meadows
Northern Area Final	Venue: Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York Date: May 12th, 2007 Adjudicator: Derek Slater
English Final	Venue: The Arts Centre, Southport Date: June 9th, 2007 Adjudicator: Russell Whiteley
British Final	Venue: Solihull Arts Centre Date: June 29/30, 2007 Adjudicator: Scott Marshall