Review #1:
Publication: Shoreham Herald
Publication Data: May 5 1967 issue – page 11
Text Header: WICK DRAMA SUCCESS FOR THIRD YEAR
Text: Content
THE Wick Theatre Company retained the Dorothy Stringer trophy, for the third successive year, by winning the Southwick Drama festival arranged at the Barn Hall by Southwick and Fishersgate Community Association on Friday and Saturday.
They presented Public Eye, by Peter Shaffer, the producer being Ralph Dawes and stage manager Betty Dawes, with the setting by Ian Leavey.
With a cast of three, the company beat five other drama groups, some with large casts. The play was set in the Bloomsbury office of a chartered accountant and made considerable demands on the acting abilities of the trio – Brian Moulton as the accountant, Ray Hopper as the off-beat private detective he employed to spy on his young wife, portrayed by Pat Dodsworth-Moss.
The adjudicator, Miss Iris Ballard, a professional actress and member of the Guild of Drama Adjudicators, described the play as a lovely and witty one with a curious after-taste of unreality. She praised the set and lighting and acting performances.
Splendid
Announcing her decision that this play had won the festival, she added, “It was a splendid choice and a beautiful cast, and I listened with delight.”
The trophy was handed to Mr Dawes by Mr A.G.W. Penney, J.P. Mr S. H. Baker, M.B.E., hon. secretary of the festival’s working party, welcomed Coun. T. J. Marsh J.P., chairman of Southwick Council and Mrs Marsh J.P.
The other plays on Saturday were The Bald Prima Donna, by Eugenie Ionesco, presented by St. Peter’s Players, Brighton, and Such Sweet Sorrow, by Cedric Mount, Woodingdean Players’ entry.
On Friday Southwick Players staged the first act from their recent full production of Sutton Vale’s Outward Bound, produced by Edward Hood, with Peter Gullens stage manager and Neville Banfield responsible for stage construction. The cast, on whom Miss Ballard also adjudicated, comprised Joe Billing, Pauline George, Alan Sharp, Hugh Long, Kay Russell, John King, Doreen Atkinson, Edward Hood and George Baker.
Two Brighton companies also performed – Eskay Theatre Group, with Chechov’s [sic] The Proposal and the Aquarius Theatre Group, whose entry was The Eccentric by Danny Abse.
