SCA – Eighteenth Festival of Arts & Crafts

Review #1:
Publication: Shoreham Herald
Publication Data: April 9 1971 issue – page 2
Text Header: Aquarius again win one act drama festival
Text: Content

AQUARIUS Theatre Group won the annual drama festival of one-act plays at Southwick Community Centre on Friday and Saturday, which is the first stage in the British Drama League Festival of Community Theatre. It was a second successive win for Aquarius. Southwick and Fishersgate Community Association organised the event.

In his adjudication Mr Leonard White said that Aquarius’s presentation of The Hole, by N. F. Simpson, was effectively staged and well cast. The play was directed by Betty Middlerigh and stage managed by Roger Marler. Best actor award went to Edward Mortell, who had one of the leading parts in The Hole. Best actress award went to Olive Ellis for her portrayal of Madame de Lery in Phoenix Players’ production of Caprice by Alfred de Musset.

The festival opened with Southwick Players presenting Playing With Fire, by August Stringberg [sic] , which Mr White praised. He said it was a difficult play to put on, but it had been well produced by George Baker, with good acting by Richard Nicholas, Pamela Meetens, Doreen Atkinson, Peter Gullen, Elizabeth Flower and Robert Etteridge.

High praise was given to Wick Theatre Company, who presented The Proposal, by Anton Chekov. Mr White said Ralph Dawes created measure of reality in the part of Chubukov and Margaret Ockenden was most effective as Natalyia. David Creedon, in the part of Ivan Lomov, was a shade too good, Mr White said. Producer was Audrey Laye.

Eskay Theatre Group, presented Cupid Rampant, by Percy Corry.

Mrs E. Penney, president of Southwick and Fishersgate Community Association, presented the awards.