The Cumbria Drama Festival a preliminary round of the All England Theatre Festival Programme for 2010

Reg. Charity No. 1071518

The 2010 Festival - March 13th, at the Victoria Hall, Grange-over-Sands

Well, things are looking up! This year we had five entries, more than double the number we had last year. As a result, we found ourselves with a festival which is too long for one evening session yet too short for two! So what we did was to have one short session, consisting of the first two plays, commencing at 5.30 pm followed by a refreshment interval, during which any people wishing to join the audience for the remainder of the programme could do so. At 7.15 pm we kicked off the second part of the programme consisting of the remaining three plays, adjudicator’s comments on all five plays and the final presentations, finishing at about 10.40 pm.

Admission prices, shown in the table below, were structured to encourage people to join us for the whole festival and this appeared to work.

Session	Adults	OAPs	Juniors
5.30 pm to 6.55 pm only	£4	£3.50	£2
7.15 pm to 10.30 pm only	£6	£5.50	£3
Saver Ticket – both sessions	£8	£7	£4

Plays to Be Performed

Saturday, March 13th, from 5.30 pm
Ulverston Outsiders Communication Problems by JOHN CLEESE and CONNIE BOOTH from the BBCtv series "Fawlty Towers" Director: TONY SMITH Stage Manager: JAYNE KENDALL
Setting: Torquay, 1975 “This is the crummiest, shoddiest, worst-run hotel in the whole of Western Europe,” says a guest. “No, I won’t have that,” defends the Major, “there’s a place in Eastbourne …”
Cast
Basil Fawlty Sybil Fawlty Polly Manuel Mr Thurston Mrs Richards Mr Firkins Major Gowan Miss Gatsby Miss Tibbs Terry Miss Mackintosh Mr Kerr	ROB O’HARA JENNY SHIPLEY MYRA BILLINGHURST RON PALMER BILL CALVERT BRIDGET BRICE BILL SPRINGTHORPE SEAMUS DORAN PAT TIMEWELL JANE DUCKWORTH TONY SMITH HELEN LAWLER JOHN BRICE
Hornby Drama Group From Here to The Library by JIMMIE CHINN Director: JILL SLOAN Stage Manager: JILL SLOAN
Place: A sitting room  Time: The present A head librarian goes to visit a female employee who has been absent from work for some time - and various emotions and “home-truths” emerge as a result.
Cast
Beryl Tidy Mr Gostilow Dad	JANE LEARMONTH STEVE PRITCHARD BOB GRIFFITHS
Gosforth Amateur Dramatic Society The Monkey’s Paw by Peter Tyler, from the book by W W Jacobs Director: PETER TYLER Stage Manager: JIM POLMEAR
Shortly after the First World War, the White family are visited by an old soldier friend. He brings them the medals won by their eldest son, who was killed in action. The old soldier also brings them a mysterious talisman. By interfering with fate, the family causes tragic events to befall it.
Cast
Arthur White Ida White Herbert White Col. Michael Morris Reynolds	ALAN CLEGG KAREN POLMEAR TIM HARRIS STEVE NEWELL PETER WILSON
CATS Properly Processed by LYNN BRITTNEY Director: JENNY SHIPLEY Stage Manager: JEAN HOWARTH
Place: An office, set midway on a transitional journey  Time: Now Carol Benson-Brown has been involved in a motorcar accident and enters a nearby office seeking help. The question is, will she get the help she wants?
Cast
Simkins Carol Benson-Brown Smith Traffic Warden	SEAMUS DORAN LESLEY SKELTON BILL CALVERT RAY TURNER
Ulverston Outsiders The Hotel Inspectors by JOHN CLEESE and CONNIE BOOTH from the BBCtv series "Fawlty Towers" Director: TONY SMITH Stage Manager: JAYNE KENDALL
Setting: Torquay, 1975 “My wife’s prawns are off,” says Mr Johnstone, “so we’ll just cancel it.” “But she’s eaten half of it,” says Basil. “Well, deduct half now, and if my wife brings the other half up during the night, we’ll claim the balance in the morning.”
Cast
Basil Fawlty Sybil Fawlty Polly Manuel Mr Hutchison Mr Walt Major Gowan Miss Gatsby Miss Tibbs	ROB O’HARA JENNY SHIPLEY MYRA BILLINGHURST RON PALMER CHRIS BARRON JOHN BRICE SEAMUS DORAN PAT TIMEWELL JANE DUCKWORTH

The Adjudicator - Mr Andrew Rawlinson, GoDA

Trophies Awarded

The Elaine Richardson Trophy - for the winning company
Awarded to CATS for Properly Processed

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

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 Bridget Brice and Chris Barron of Ulverston Outsiders

The Renaissance Theatre Trust Award - adjudicator’s discretionary award
Awarded to Ulverston Outsiders

The Doreen Brockbank Trophy - for set decor
Awarded to Gosforth ADS for the set of The Monkey’s Paw

The New Generation Trophy - an award for potential
Awarded to Rob O’Hara for his performances as Basil Fawlty

The David Shipley Memorial Trophy - for backstage work
Awarded to Gosforth ADS

Subsequent Rounds of The All England Festival and British Final
North West Quarter-Final	Venue: The Playhouse, Preston Date: May 1st, 2010 Adjudicator: Robert Meadows
Northern Semi-Final	Venue: Frazer Theatre, Knaresborough Date: May 22nd, 2010 Adjudicator: Scott Marshall
English Final	Venue: Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-on-Trent Date: 5th June, 2010 Adjudicator: Paul Fowler
British Finals	Venue: East Kilbride Village Theatre Date: 25th/26th June, 2010 Adjudicator: Russell Boyce