The Cumbria Drama Festival a preliminary round of the All England Theatre Festival Programme for 2012

Reg. Charity No. 1071518

The 2012 Festival - March 10th, at the Victoria Hall, Grange-over-Sands

After last year’s disappointingly low number of entries, we are pleased to see a small improvement this year. As we suspected, we have no entries for the AETF/RSC Shakespeare One-Act Competition, which, no doubt, greatly simplified the task of our adjudicator, Bev Clark. Just as well, because the teams were all very closely matched and, in the end, Burton won by a margin of only one point over their closest rivals, CATS, with Ulverston Outsiders not far behind.

Admission prices: Adults £6, OAPs £5.50, Juniors £3.

Plays Performed  

Saturday, March 10th, from 7.00 pm
Burton Amateur Dramatic Society A Jolly Sinister Jape by Elliot Strange Director: ALYSON YATES Stage Manager: To be announced>
Time: The 1920s Stubby, Ophelia, Biffy and Fatty find themselves trapped in a mysterious house during a thunderstorm. Is this someone's idea of a jape, or is something far more sinister going on?
Cast
Biffy Stubbs Ophelia Fatty	IAN STOKES SIMON YAXLEY SUE STOKES FELICITY HOLLOWAY
Cumbria Amateur Theatre Society (CATS) Mediocrity by Anton Robert Kreuger Director: Jenny Shipley Stage Manager: Paul Burns
Kenaf learns that he's about to die and his life changes dramatically as he finally stands up to his domineering Wife, the bullying Brute and the condescending Doctor. As it turns out, there has been a mistake on the part of the doctor and Kenaf is not going to die – but he will never be the same.
Cast:
Kenaf His wife The Brute The Doctor Mr Quatro The Narrator	SEAMUS DORAN KATH SMITH RAY TURNER BILL CALVERT RAY TURNER JENNY SHIPLEY
Ulverston Outsiders An Englishman Abroad from “Single Spies” by Alan Bennett Director: SANDRA WILLIAMS Stage Manager: GILL STUBBS
Set in 1958, this play is based on the true story of a chance meeting of actress Coral Browne with Guy Burgess, a member of the Cambridge spy ring who worked for the Soviet Union whilst with MI6. Much of the action takes place in Burgess's Moscow flat. He had fled to the city following MI6's detection of his treason.
Cast:
Coral Burgess Tolya Tailor Shop Assistant	HELEN NEWELL RICHARD ROWLATT LUKE NEALE PHIL COOPER AIDAN JONES

The Adjudicator – Bev Clark, Assoc. GoDA

After studying at LAMDA and Guildhall, Bev worked in professional theatre for a number of years in marketing, press and as a youth theatre director at The Bristol Old Vic, The Palace Teatre, Westcliff and The Colchester Hippodrome (music venue), in T.I.E. as a development manager for Action Transport Theatre and for several community youth theatres. She formed a theatre company – Hand in Hand Theatre Productions – in 2008 which has won many festival awards.

As a playwright Bev has two plays licensed by NODA. She is currently working in a local theatre in New Brighton, Wirral, and continues to write and direct.

Trophies Awarded

The Elaine Richardson Trophy - for the winning company
Awarded to Burton ADS

The South Lakeland District Council Trophy - for the best individual performance
Awarded to Simon Yaxley (Burton ADS)

The Sir John Fisher Trophy - for the best actor under 21
Awarded to Luke Neale (Ulverston Outsiders)

The Lady Maria Fisher Trophy - for the best supporting role
Awarded to Sue Stokes (Burton ADS)

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

The Doreen Brockbank Trophy - for set decor
Awarded to CATS

The New Generation Trophy - an award for merit
Awarded to Richard Rowlatt (Ulverston Outsiders)

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

Subsequent Rounds of The All England Festival and British Final
North West Quarter-Final	Venue: Preston College Date: May 12th, 2012 Adjudicator: Andrew Rawlinson
Northern Semi-Final	Venue: Bishop Monkton Village Hall Date: May 26th, 2012 Adjudicator: Russell Whiteley
English Final	Venue: The Swan Theatre, Worcester Date: 9th/10th June, 2012 Adjudicator: Scott Marshall
British Finals	Venue: The Torch Theatre, Milford Haven Date: 6th/7th July, 2012 Adjudicator: Ian Sarginson