WOKING DRAMA FESTIVAL 2005
Group Results
The Bruzaud Challenge Cup
(Festival Winning Play) “412 Letters” by Matthew Wilkie Theatre 64
The Eileen Harper Memorial Trophy
(Festival Runners Up) “Bar & Ger” by Geraldine Aron Guildburys
The Edna Nash Cup
(Third-place Play) “Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell” by Keith Waterhouse Lighted Fools Theatre Company
The Youth Award “Interview” by Jean-Claude Italie Runnymede DG Youth Workshop
The Barbara Huntley Cup
(Adjudicator’s Award) “The Perfect Present” by Tarek Merchant Woking College Theatre Company
The Godalming Theatre Group Celebration 85 Salver
(Directing) Matthew Wilkie, Theatre 64, for 412 Letters
The Iain Home Rose Bowl
(Best Actor) David Webb for Jeffrey Bernard “Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell” by Lighted Fools Theatre Co
The Richards-Smith Cup
(Best Actress) Cassie Wadsworth as Lucrece in “The Rape of Lucrece” Ember Players
The Handley-Jones Cup
(Best Supporting Actor) Gary Blay as John Frick in “The Last Yankee” Hopscotch Players
The Irene Hutchence Cup
(Best Supporting Actress) Val Evans and Nicola Cutcliffe as the Narrators in “The Rape of Lucrece” Ember Players
The Desmond Holt Memorial Cup
(Best Junior Player) Harriet Scopes as “Ger” in Bar & Ger by Geraldine Aron Guildburys
The Guildbury Shield
(Technical Excellence) Rule of Three for “Christie in Love”
The Spotlight Award
(Best Use of Lighting) Alastair Joel Ember Players for “The Rape of Lucrece”
The Madeline Boden Rose Bowl
(Best Original Play) “412 Letters” by Matthew Wilkie
The Pauline Brown Award
(Best Backstage Management) Rule of Three and Theatre 64 (412 Letters)
The Graham Brockis Award for Excellence in Sound Design Nakul Puri, Hopscotch Players “The Last Yankee”
WOKING DRAMA FESTIVAL 2005
Woking’s 47th Annual One Act Festival ran from 4th to 165h October, with a total of 25 entries and record attendances.
The Adjudicator was David Vince G.O.D.A., who spoke favourably of the quality of the Festival . He was adjudicating at Woking for the first time, and praised the organisation and friendliness of his, and the groups, welcome. There was a very varied programme of entertainment with four youth entries and one musical in addition to straight plays.
The winner in this close finish was a group that have been stalwart supporters of Woking Festival and who come from Hampshire. Theatre 64 took first place with a new play written by one of their talented directors, Matthew Wilkie, called “412 Letters”. This play also took the New Play Award, and won the Best Director cup for Matthew. They also shared the Backstage Management award with another young talented group, Rule of Three. This group were past winners of Woking Festival and this year also won the Technical Excellence Award.
The recipients of the Eileen Harper Memorial Trophy as runners-up were Guildburys for their sensitive portrayal of Bar & Ger by Geraldine Aron. Simply set, this short play was praised for its direction, lighting and competent acting performances. In this two-hander, Bar played by Michael Lawrence, was shortlisted for the Best Actor Award, and Ger, played by Harriet Scopes, won the Best Junior Player award. Coincidentally, her sister has won the same award in the past.
The third place play heralded the return of an old friend to Woking Festival. Lighted Fools brought an impressive set and wonderful attention to detail to their play, “Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell” by Keith Waterhouse. This well known tale of Jeffrey Bernard being locked into his local pub overnight was portrayed with humour and the consummate acting performance of the main character by David Webb, earned him the Best Actor award.
There were four Youth Entries this year, all giving good quality performances. The Youth Award was won by the Runnymede Drama Group Youth Workshop with their play “Interview “ by Jean Claude van Italie.
The Best Actress award was given to Cassie Wadsworth who played Lucrece in “The Rape of Lucrece” which had been adapted for the stage by their director Cheryl St. George. This innovative adaptation also won Ember Players the Best Supporting Actress Award, which was shared between Val Evans and Nicola Cutcliffe as the Narrators of the play, and the Spotlight Award for best use of lighting.
Hopscotch Players who come from Thornton Heath, won the awards for the Best Supporting Actor for Gary Blay, as John Frick in “The Last Yankee” by Arthur Miller, and the new Excellence in Sound Design award for Nakul Puri.
All in all, another very successful Woking Drama Festival, which prides itself on high standards and friendliness. This two week Festival never fails to surprise and delight its audiences.
Woking are looking forward to once again hosting the British All Winners Festival which will be held in the Rhoda McGaw theatre from 23rd to 29th July 2006.