by N. F. Simpson
Publicity #1:
Publication: Shoreham Herald
Publication Data: March 30 1984 issue – page 3
Correspondent: Karen Jones
Text Header: Six contest for festival
Text: Content
SIX groups have entered for the 30th Southwick One Act Drama Festival at the Barn Theatre this week-end.
The competition, held over two evenings, is a preliminary round of the All England Festival of Drama, and decides which local company goes through to the divisional finals at Croydon.
Last year’s winners Gemini Players got through to the semi-finals of the national festival and will be looking to go even further this year, with an excerpt from their latest musical production of Fiddler on the Roof.
They appear tonight [Friday] sandwiched between two teams from Wick Theatre Company. Wick A have chosen The Lover’s Dream from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Nights Dream, while Wick B will be performing act one from their successful production of Blithe Spirit, by Noël Coward.
Debut
Tomorrow evening two newcomers to the festival make their debut together with the Southwick Players.
B.A.D. Productions [of the Brighton Area Telephone Drama Society] take the stage first with Words of Advice, by Fay Weldon and are followed by the Players, who are presenting The Form, by N. F. Simpson.
Players
The Castle Players, from Steyning, will be the last to compete and their choice is Arthur Eckersley’s, A Collection Will Be Made.
The difficult task of judging the contest falls to theatre adjudicator Margaret Burgess.
There are prizes for the best actor, best actress and best play.
Review #1:
Publication: Shoreham Herald
Publication Data: April 6 1984 issue – page 3
Correspondent: Karen Jones
Text Header: Gemini retain festival title
Text: Content
GEMINI PLAYERS notched up their second consecutive win at the Southwick One-Act Drama Festival at the Barn Theatre at the weekend. Their lively and entertaining excerpt from the musical Fiddler on the Roof has earned them a place in the regional finals of the All England Theatre Festival.
Last year Gemini got as far as the national semi-finals – and will be hoping to at least equal that achievement this year.
The runner-up on Saturday were the Southwick Players with the Mont Python-style comedy, The Form, by N. F. Simpson. John Deall in the part of Mr Chalterson won the best actor award. Prize for the best actress went to festival newcomer Doreen Slater, who appeared in B.A.D. Productions’ Word of Advice in the part of Rona.
Six groups competed in the festival and adjudicator Margaret Burgess had to compare comedies with classics and musicals with farce. The competitive air spiced all the performances and brought out the best in many of the actors and actresses.
Friday evening started with a group from Wick Theatre Company and The Lovers Dream from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The young and inexperienced cast brought to the fore Claire Cottrell in the rôle of Helena, described afterwards by Mrs Burgess as a ‘rare bird, a real comedienne.’
Gemini followed with their fast moving production, which lacked only a bigger stage. Particularly impressive was Tevye’ dream scene and Amanda Dawes as the ghost of Fruma Sarah.
The evening continued with the ghost theme when Wick B presented the first act of their recent production Blithe Spirit. Interestingly, almost all the cast were included on the adjudicator’s short list for the best actor and best actress awards.
Saturday started with B.A.D. Productions and the contrasting characters of Words of Advice. New comers to the Southwick festival, the group regularly compete in British Telecom and Post Office drama festivals.
Southwick Players, veterans of the festival, followed and impressed everyone with The Form, including the adjudicator who judged them runners-up and John Deall best actor.
The Castle Players completed the line-up with a one-act farce, A Collection Will Be Made.
