Hunstanton Festival Drama @ Princess Theatre, Hunstanton

Hunstanton Festival Drama @ Princess Theatre, Hunstanton

By LISA POWELL

Two great days of entertainment were in store for the audiences of The Princess Theatre on Monday and Tuesday when the annual adjudicated drama took place.

The event opened on Monday evening with “Last Tango in Heacham Bottom”, presented by the Princess Theatre Club. With good characterisation and a real portrayal of the difficulties facing a small amateur drama group this was an excellent choice of short play.

This was followed by “Axis” an original script by Tobias Nicholls, performed by newly formed drama group Purple Dreams. This was a very deep play dealing with the issues of loyalties and trust. The use of creative lighting enhanaced the performance and an excellent music mime impressed the judges.

The Gorfield Theatre group presented “Curses Foiled Again” by Evelyn Hood. This undoubtedly offered the best set with excellent use of the stage, although lacking pace in parts it was never the less a good romp, although the adjudicator said what a shame it was that the villian lacked the usual wax moustache.

In the Tuesday afternoon session we were entertained by Sheringham Evening WI. Its first presentation was “Never Again”, an original script by Maureen Cook, directed by Julia Newsom. With the very colourful set of a railway station cafe, the play was amusing yet offered a moral to any man who was tempted into infidelity. Their second offering was “It's a Dog's Life” again written for the WI by Maureen Cook. This was a most unusual script which centered on the life of two stray dogs. It demanded great courage and acting skills from the two main characters and with excellent costumes and good use of freeze positions provided a very interesting 20 minutes'

entertainment.

Tuesday evening offered the second production by the Princess Theatre Club, “Boudicca's Last Battle” an original script written and directed for the group by Mary Mackie. With a strong cast this provided humour, tension and the unexpected. The clarity of the voices and the use of such a large cast impressed the judges with lead male Charles Layton getting the highest degree of praise by adjudicator John Seaman.

The final production was again an original script presented by Clenchwarton Methodist Entertainment Group, “Charity Begins at Home” written by Bill Sampson. This was a delightful domestic comedy and provided a delightful finale to the Festival.

The Princess Theatre Club was ecstatic at scooping all the trophies in their category, with this being the first attempt at writing and directing a short play by Mary Mackie. Elaine Johnson won the best female actor trophy with her performance as Netta Nialls aka “Boudicca” in what was a very strong field and Charles Layton was best actor.

An excellent Festival of Drama, only marred by the fact that there was no entry by a youth group.

WINNERS

t Festival Challenge Cup (best overall production): The Princess Theatre Club for Boudicca's Last Battle by Mary Mackie.

t Mudie Cup (best adult actor): Charles Layton, Boudicca's Last Battle.

t Robson Cup (best adult actress): Elaine Johnson, Boudicca's Last Battle.

t John Seaman Trophy (best original script): Mary Mackie, Boudicca's Last Battle.

t Gertrude Lee Memorial Cup (best Women's Institute Production): Sheringham Evening WI, Never Again by Maureen Cook .