Plays Rules | Somerset Drama

Phoebe Rees Competition

for full length plays

1. FULL LENGTH PLAY FESTIVAL

Entry to the competition is open to all drama societies and groups in Somerset. In order to provide an equitable basis for adjudication and moderation, the following criteria must apply to any play submitted for entry:

• it has a continuous narrative thread/plot line (which may or may not be chronologically sequenced)
• it has some consistency of character/s
• it has a running time of at least one hour (excluding interval)

If your group or society has any doubt regarding a proposed Phoebe Rees entry, please contact the competition Moderator via the Co-ordinator.

2. JUDGING

Performances will be visited in production by adjudicators appointed by the Committee of the Somerset Fellowship of Drama. Judging will take place between 1st September and 31st August.

3. ADJUDICATORS

Each production will be judged by an adjudicator drawn from a panel of local adjudicators, with a Moderator who sees all productions entered and acts as an overall referee. 4 tickets and 2 programmes will be required for a competitive entry. The adjudicator will prepare a written adjudication for the drama society. There will not be a public adjudication.

Non-Competitive: If any group feels that a written adjudication would be helpful to future productions, but does not want their production considered for nominations or possible awards, then an adjudicator will attend and a written adjudication will be forwarded but the Moderator will not attend. ‘Non-Competitive' must be stated clearly on the entry form. The entry fee for a non-competitive entry will be just £15.

4. MARKING

The following system of marking will be used:

Presentation (15 marks) includes:
Set; properties; costumes; make up; lighting; sound effects

Production (35 marks) includes:
Interpretation of spirit; style and meaning of the play; pace and variation of tempo; continuity; grouping and movement; teamwork; making of points; tension and climax

Acting (40 marks) includes:
Characterisation; audibility of speech; variation in tone; emphasis; gesture; movement; impact

Adjudicators' Assessment (10 marks) includes:
Originality, endeavour, attainment

The actual marks awarded to each production in each category will remain confidential. They are used only to help the panel decide who has won each of the various trophies at the end of the year.

The adjudicators' decision shall be final. No order of merit will be announced.

5. TROPHIES

The following trophies will be awarded:

Phoebe Rees Trophy for the Most Outstanding Production

Adjudicators' Trophy for Best Direction

George Crocker Challenge Trophy

Norman Stubbs Memorial Trophy - Best Artistic Impression

Strode Productions Trophy for the Best Set Design

CATS '83 Trophy for Best Set Construction

Gill Scard Trophy for Best Costumes

Philip de Glanville Trophy for Best Lighting

Ilminster Entertainments Society Trophy for Best Stage Management

Taunton Thespians Trophy for Best Props

Civic Players Trophy for Best Special Effects

Marie Gannicott Memorial Trophy - Adjudicators Discretion

Best Actor

Best Actress

Best Supporting Actor

Best Supporting Actress

Best Featured Actor

Best Featured Actress

Best Cameo (Male & Female)

Best Performance (Male & Female) under 21 years of age

Best Performance under 16 years of age

Engraving of trophies will be the responsibility of the winners.

6. PRESENTATION

The trophies will be presented at the Awards Ceremony of the Fellowship which takes place in October each year.

7. ENTRY PROCEDURE

On-line entries are preferred, since this automatically notifies the SFD's Treasurer and our website's What's On page. Old-style entry forms are still acceptable, however, and should be sent to the Phoebe Rees Coordinator not less than SIX weeks before performance, either by post to:
Philip de Glanville, 37 Fromefield, Frome, BA11 2HE. Tel: 01373 451680.
or by email to: pmdeglanville@sky.com

ONE copy of the script must be submitted to the Coordinator at the above address at least four weeks in advance of the performance date and should indicate any changes made to the script. PLEASE DO NOT SEND PHOTOCOPIES OF SCRIPTS unless you have received permission from the publisher to do so.

It would be appreciated if dates for productions could be forwarded as soon as they are known, even if you have not yet chosen a play, for inclusion in our Diary of events and to give officials involved the maximum amount of time to fit the dates in their very full schedules. Please note that entries are accepted on a 'first-come first-served' basis and that very occasionally the Coordinator has had to turn down an entry because all slots are already full that week.

Please indicate on the entry form any member of the cast under 21 and 16 years of age. If you have not cast your play when you send your entry, please let us know nearer production dates.

8. PROGRAMMES

It is a requirement that societies who have entered the Phoebe Rees Competition should publish that fact in the programme of the production entered. The wording should be along the lines of: "This production has been entered into the Somerset Fellowship of Drama's Phoebe Rees competiton for full-length plays". Adjudicators will be asked to take note of this.

9. ENTRY FEES

Until further notice the competitive entry fee will be £30.00 for societies affiliated to the Somerset Fellowship of Drama.

10. ENQUIRIES

Enquiries to be made to Philip de Glanville on 01373 451680

Please click here to download the 'old-style' entry form or go to The Phoebe Rees page on the SFD website and click on the link which will download the on-line form.