The Cumbria Drama Festival a preliminary round of the All England Theatre Festival Programme for 2008

The 2008 Festival - March 15th, at the Victoria Hall, Grange-over-Sands

Ever hopeful that we may get more entries than we did in 2007, we initially reserved two evenings at the Victoria Hall. in the end, however, there were only three entries, so the whole festival took place on the evening of Saturday, March 15th, 2008, with the initial curtain-up at 7.00 pm.

Plays Performed

Saturday, March 15th, 2008
Gosforth Amateur Dramatic Society Background Artiste by STEPHEN SMITH Director: PETER TYLER Stage Manager: KAREN POLMEAR
The place: the offices of a background artiste agency. Time: the present. Mary, a thirty-someting divorcee, decides to spice up her life by joining Alfredo Leache’s Background Artistes Agency. On her first visit to his London office she learns some surprising facts about the job from seasoned artistes Walter and Enid. Jessica, Alfred’s secretary, is a frustrated air hostess with only a slim grip on reality.
Cast
Alfred Jessica Mary Enid Walter	STEVE NEWELL RACHEL HOLLIDAY MARIEKE VAN BUSSEL JENNY RICHARDDSON PETER WILSON
Cumbria Amateur Theatre Society (CATS) Lunch Hour by JOHN MORTIMER Director: JENNY SHIPLEY Stage Manager: JEAN HOWARTH
The play is set in a bedroom of a small hotel near King’s Cross. It is exactly 1 pm on a winter’s day. A middle-aged man and a younger woman meet up for a “brief encounter” in the bedroom of a small hotel. The afternoon, however, does not proceed as the man planned, for the woman seems to be having second thoughts. Is her reticence because of her disappointment at the seedy hotel room or is there something more unfathomable about her?
Cast
The man The woman The manageresss	RAY TURNER LESLEY SKELTON BERYL DIXON
Black Sheep Theatre Group A Blessed Release by MARTIN CHAMBERS Directed by the cast Stage Manager: IAN STOKES
The action takes place in Margaret’ and Brian’s living room. Time: The present. Recently-widowed George is invited to tea. His in-laws have every intention of cheering him up ...
Cast
Margaret George Brian	SUE STOKES WADVERN DAVIES IAN STOKES

The Adjudicator - Mr Andrew Rawlinson, Assoc GODA

Trophies Awarded

The Elaine Richardson Trophy - for the winning company
awarded to CATS for Lunch Hour

The South Lakeland District Council Trophy - for the best individual performance
Awarded to Lesley Skelton for her performance in Lunch Hour

The Sir John Fisher Trophy - for the best actor under 21
No eligible candidates. Not awarded.

The Lady Maria Fisher Trophy - for the best supporting role
Awarded to Beryl Dixon for her performance in Lunch Hour

The Renaissance Theatre Trust Award - adjudicator’s discretionary award
Awarded to the Black Sheep Theatre Group

The Doreen Brockbank Trophy - for set decor
Awarded to Gosforth ADS for the set of A Blessed Relief

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

The David Shipley Memorial Trophy - for backstage work
Not awarded

Subsequent Rounds of The All England Festival and British Final
North West Quarter-Final	Venue: The Victoria Hall, Grange-over-Sands Date: May 10th, 2008 Adjudicator: Jeff Brailsford
Northern Semi-Final	Venue: Preston Playhouse, Preston Date: May 24th, 2007 Adjudicator: Scott Marshall
English Final	Venue: Thameside Theatre, Grays, Essex Date: 14th June, 2008 Adjudicator: Mike Tilbury
British Final	Venue: Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea Date: 4th/5th July, 2008 Adjudicator: Chris Jaeger