site search by freefind advanced

 Connecting professional and amateur theatre in Newbury, West Berkshire and beyond

Festivals in 2004

Drama Festivals
HADCAF
Wantage Summer Festival

Drama Festivals

These are the drama festivals in our area in 2004.

Maidenhead

Dates Week Beginning 21 March
Adjudicator Tony Rushforth, GODA
Contact Margaret Hackett
Telephone 01344 891209

Kenton (Henley)

Dates 11 to 15 May
Adjudicator David Vince, GODA
Contact Jean Sutherland
Telephone 01491 573334

ODN (Abingdon)

Dates Week Beginning 6 June
Adjudicator Russell Whitely, GODA
Contact Jean Sutherland
Telephone 01235 868396

Please note that ODN affiliation is required

Wallingford Corn Exchange

Dates 14 to 18 June, see below for details
Adjudicator David Thomas
Contact Julie Grimshaw
Telephone 01491 652363

Shinfield

Dates 14 to 17 July
Adjudicator Colin Dolley
Contact Graham Vockins
Telephone 0118 954 5771

Wallingford Festival details

Monday 14th June
The Henley PlayersThe Virtuous Burglar by Darius Fo
Compton PlayersRock Bottom by H Connolly
Tuesday 15th June
Progress Youth TheatreThe Making of Sam by Ali Carroll
The Old Gaol Theatre CoVice City Public Television, Adaptation by Robin Hodges from Dan Howser
Wednesday 16th June
Balancing ActActually Moving by Joe Graham
Didcot Phoenix Drama GroupThe Signal-Man by Charles Dickens, Adapted by Keith Norman from the short story
Thursday 17th June
H.A.O.D.S.Immobiles from Alarms and Excursions, by Michael Frayn
St Peter's Players (Wolvercote)Parochial Problems by Margaret Wood
Friday 18th June
The Wootton PlayersUncle Sid by Mary Druce
Faringdon Dramatic SocietyShakers by John Godber and Jane Thornton

The prize winners were:
Commended award: H.A.O.D.S
Punters' prize: Faringdon Dramatic Society
Best overall production: Balancing Act

Shinfield Festival details

Wednesday 14th July
Shinfield Senior Youth Group 1Terrace Talk by George MacEwan Green
H.A.O.D.S.Immobiles from Alarms and Excursions, by Michael Frayn
Thursday 15th July
Shinfield Senior Youth Group 2Am I What I Wear? by Lynn Bains
Shinfield Players AVictoria Station by Harold Pinter
Shinfield Senior Youth Group 3Dreamjobs by Graham Jones
Friday 16th July
Kingston BagpuizePlaster by Richard Harris
Shinfield Players BDay Trippers by Jean McConnell
St Peter's Players (Wolvercote)Parochial Problems by Margaret Wood
Saturday 17th July
Shinfield Senior Youth Group 4To Stay or To Go by Gordon Bird
The Henley PlayersThe Virtuous Burglar by Dario Fo

The prize winners were:
Class I Adult Mixed, The Adda Cook Shield: Immobiles (H.A.O.D.S)
Class II Youth Group, The Dennis Maynard Shield: Terrace Talk (Shinfield Senior Youth Group)
Best Actor, The Daphnes Hawes Award: Gary Ellmes in Victoria Station (Shinfield G.A.S. Productions)
Best Actress, The Maire Hood Award: Kate Belcher in Plaster (Kingston Bagpuize Drama Group)
Best Supporting Adult Role, The Lew Davies Award: David Smith in Parochial Problems (St Peter's Players, Wolvercote)
Best Stage Presentation, The Merrick Burrell Award: St Peter's Players, Wolvercote
Best Producer, The Ken Stanley Award: Linda Hudson (Kingston Bagpuize Drama Group)
Best Youth Performance, The Horace Maynard Award: Hayley Zaremba in Terrace Talk (Shinfield Senior Youth Group)
Festival Runner Up, The Pat Barr Award: The Virtuous Burglar (Henley Players)
Overall Festival Winner, The Shinfield Players Award: Immobiles (H.A.O.D.S)

HADCAF

Hungerford and District Community Arts Festival

1st to 25th July

Saturday 3 Mr Punch and the Frog Pirate By Party Puppets. Captain Hook falls foul of a small witch! Croft Hall, 3:30-4:30
Wednesday 7 Kennet Opera The Newbury based group performs selections from Bizet's The Pearl Fishers St Lawrences's Church, 8:00
Thursday 8th to Saturday 10th Kintbury Players Load of Old Bowls. A comedy based on the competitive nature of lady bowls players when they near the finals! Coronation Hall, Kintbury, 8:00
Friday 9 All for your Delight The Community of Hungerford Players, Ravensbury Players, Newbury Dramatic Society and New Era Players - come together to perform a diverting mixture of drama and entertainment, including plays, sketches, monologues, poems, readings, music, fun and frivolity. Croft Hall, 7:30
Friday 16 Shadowlands William Nicholson's extraordinary and moving story of the relationship between C.S. Lewis (the author of the Narnia stories, confirmed bachelor and respected Oxford don) and Joy Davidman, a young American poet. St Lawrence's Church, 7:30
Friday 23 The Tale of Beatrix Potter Based on Beatrix Potter's diaries, this is an enchanting journey through the storyteller's life, from her solitary childhood and conflicts with her parents, to the success of Peter Rabbit and an unlikely but happy marriage. Rohan McCullough trained for the stage at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and began her career in the original cast of the legendary musical, Hair. She has appeared with the RSC and in numerous film and TV roles, and has achieved notable success with her one-woman shows. Last year she held her audience spellbound with her portrayal of Vera Brittain in Testament of Youth. Croft Hall, 7:30

Further details at www.hadcaf.co.uk.

Wantage Summer Festival

12th June to 11th July

Wantage Summer Festival logo

Wednesday 16 to Friday 18 June (Unknown production) King Alfred Players Lains Barn
Thursday 24 to Saturday 26 June The Happiest Days of Your Life A comedy, presented by Stagelights Old Mill Hall, Grove, 7:30
Wednesday 7 to Friday 9 July Under Milk Wood The Domino Players Lains Barn, 7:30

The full programme and diary of events, plus tickets for all events will be available from the Tourist Information Centre in the Vale and Downland Museum (01235 760176).