Clevedon Youth awarded Best Youth Production
If you needed proof that community theatre in Somerset was thriving, then all you needed to do was go along to the Warehouse Theatre in Ilminster where, over the weekend, the County Drama Festival was palpably flourishing. Over the course of two days ten one-act plays were staged by societies from all over the county. The 150-seater theatre was almost full for all four sessions and the enthusiastic audiences enjoyed plays ranging from the theatre of the absurd, to hilarious comedies, through mysterious ghost stories and heart-wrenching and life-affirming narratives. In the mix there were two youth plays and a creditable seven original plays, most penned by local amateur playwrights. And, while on the subject of statistics, three of the plays included ghosts and two were set in attics!
Standards were high this year and on the Sunday evening the auditorium was packed with participants and audience members hanging on every word of adjudicator Annie Rees in anticipation of the announcements. This year the top award, the County Shield for Best Overall Production, went to Ilminster Entertainment Society (IES) for The Dumb Waiter directed by Celia Crookes. A two-hander Harold Pinter Play from the Theatre of the Absurd movement, this production had the Saturday afternoon audience enthralled. Ken Steed as Ben and Mick Glynn as Gus were both nominated in the Best Actor category with the accolade going to Mick Glynn for his mesmerising performance.
The Eyris Jones Memorial Trophy for the Best Youth Production went to Clevedon School’s Youth Theatre for their ensemble piece The Changing Room written by Chris Bush and directed by Victoria Pope. This play was a startling display of highly disciplined and talented performers bringing the weekend’s entertainment to a close with a huge display of energy and vitality in a play by Chris Bush that explored all the angst of adolescence. And, as adjudicator Annie Rees pointed out in her comments, the teamwork also involved technical excellence and wonderful presentation, earning the entry the Brian Edwards Trophy for the former and the Hope Cup for the latter.
Clevedon School’s 6th Form Youth Theatre took the Cely Trevellian Award for the best production of an Original Script. With seven of this year’s ten plays using original scripts, this was a hotly contested award and it is a great credit to the players and their director, Victoria Pope, who also penned this intriguing play All My Love, Charles.
Taunton Thespians’ entry in the competition was The Door by Paul Elliot. This thought-provoking piece was an in-depth exploration of the effects of hate crimes against Queer People in the 21st Century and their families. Directed by Tyler Curry, it won the Lydia Durston Trophy for Greatest Endeavour. And, in what was essentially a two-hander, both performers picked up awards too. Charlie Franks, who played Justin, was awarded the Edward Grey Memorial Trophy for Best Performer under age 30, while Marie Fletcher as Grace won the trophy for Best Actress.
This year's entries were adjudicated by Annie Rees, a Guild of Drama Adjudicators (GODA) Associate. Annie, who lives in Herefordshire, was the founder of and Head of Speech and Drama at Hereford Cathedral School for twenty years and has been involved in over 100 productions with 35 years experience. She has won several awards including Best Actress and Best Director.
The Youth winners will go on to perform at the Five Counties Festival and the winners of the County Shield will move on to the semi-final of the All England Festival at the Merlin Theatre in Frome on 11th May 2024.
The festival was organised by the Somerset Fellowship of Drama’s Irene Glynn who worked tirelessly to make the weekend a huge success. IES and The Warehouse Theatre provided huge support. Behind the scenes Dave and Maggy Goodall, made it all happen behind the scenes as Stage Manager and ASM respectively. Brian Perkins and Martin Selwood provided light and sound, working alongside technical support from competing teams. The Time Keeper was Rachel Dunn and the festival photographer was Roger Price. The Warehouse Theatre also provided Front of House Support.
In closing remarks immediate past-Chairman Sam Allen paid tribute to everybody who had made this year's County Drama Festival such a huge success. Congratulations to all the winners:
The Eyris Jones Memorial trophy for Best Youth Production: Clevedon School's Youth theatre for The Changing Room by Chris Bush, directed by Victoria Pope.
The Edward Grey Memorial Trophy for Best Performer under age 30: Charlie Franks
The Cely Trevellian Bowl for Best Production of an Original Script: Clevedon School’s 6th Form Youth Theatre for All My Love, Charles, written and directed by Victoria Pope.
The Brian Edwards Trophy for Technical Excellence: Clevedon School's Youth theatre for The Changing Room
The Lydia Durston Trophy for Greatest Endeavour: Taunton Thespians’ The Door by Paul Elliot, directed by Tyler Curry
Best Actress: Marie Fletcher
Best Actor: Mick Glynn
The Hope Cup for Best Presentation: Clevedon School's Youth theatre for The Changing Room
The County Shield for Best Production: Ilminster Entertainment Society (IES) for The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter directed by Celia Crookes
Lovely write-up, Sam - glad to hear the Festival was such a success!