The Cumbria Drama Festival a preliminary round of the All England Theatre Festival Programme for 2016

Reg. Charity No. 1071518

The 2016 Festival - Saturday, March 19th, at the Victoria Hall, Grange-over-Sands

This year we had three entries, which would have fitted nicely into one evening session. Sadly, one of the teams had to withdraw at the last minute. With some of the publicity having already gone out, the only feasible couse of action was to retain the early 6.30 pm starting time and to finish about an hour sooner than originally intended.

Ticket Prices: Adults £7, OAPs £6, Under 16s £4.

Plays performed  

Saturday, March 19th, from 6.30 pm
Gosforth Amateur Dramatic Society Nemesis by PETER D.WILSON Director: PETER WILSON Stage Manager: PETER TYLER
The setting is the sitting room of Alan and Barbara's first floor flat, between a spring evening and dawn. Alan has murdered his wife, Barbara, who however mysteriously reappears while he and Margaret discuss disposing of the body.
Cast:
Alan Margaret Barbara	TOM MORATH MARIEKE VAN BUSSEL ROSALIND AMEY
Cumbria Amateur Theatre Society Alas, Poor Fred by James Saunders Director: JENNY SCHOFIELD Stage Manager: GEOFF SCHOFIELD
The setting is the sitting room of a suburban house. Mr and Mrs Pringle are reminiscing about Fred. But who was Fred? What did he look like? Did he have a moustache or was he clean-shaven? Did Fred actually exist? As Mr Pringle says, "Well, well, it's all a mystery, that's all I can say."
Cast:
Ernest Pringle Ethel, his wife	RAY TURNER KATH SMITH

The Adjudicator - Joe Riley, GoDA Associate

Joe Riley is a journalist, broadcaster, university lecturer and adjudicator based in Merseyside and the Isle of Man. Next year he marks 50 years in the media profession.

From 1974 until 2009, Joe was Arts Editor for the Liverpool Echo, the UK's largest provincial newspaper. This enabled him to interview and review world-famous celebrities in all aspects of the entertainment industry and fine ards, including in the West End and on Broadway.

Among his many awards are those for British Feature Writer as well as Film Critic of the Year.

He has made regular appearances on all the major TV and radio stations in the UK, as well as doing American coast to coast broadcasts with audiences of 60 million.

He is the author of five books, and still writes reviews for a number of periodicals as well as the Liverpool Echo, to which he contributes a general weekly column. Joe also has his own television show, Other Lives, produced by Bay TV, and additionally aailable on YouTube.

Trophies Awarded

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

The South Lakeland District Council Trophy - for the best individual performance
Awarded to Kath Smith (CATS)

The Sir John Fisher Trophy - for the best actor under 21
No candidates this year

The Lady Maria Fisher Trophy - for the best supporting role
Not awarded

The Renaissance Theatre Trust Award - adjudicator’s discretionary award
Awarded to Tom Morath (Gosforth ADS)

The Doreen Brockbank Trophy - for set decor
Not awarded

The New Generation Trophy - an award for merit
Awarded to Rosalind Amey (Gosforth ADS)

The David Shipley Memorial Trophy - for backstage work
Awarded to Oliver Hodgson (Gosforth ADS)

Subsequent Rounds of The All England Festival and British Final
North West Quarter-Final	No quarter-finals in Northern Area this year. Winners will pass directly to the Northen Semi-Final.
Northern Semi-Final	Venue: The Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight Date: April 30 - May 1,2016 Adjudicator: Sue Doherty, GoDA Ass
English Final	Venue: Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead Date: June 4th, 2016 Adjudicator: Charles Evans, GoDA
British Finals	Venue: The Sherman Theatre, Cardiff Date: July 1st-2nd, 2016 Adjudicator: Jan Palmer Sayer, GoDA