Special events

Drama Festivals 2024

Henley Drama Festival, 8th to 11th May
At the Kenton Theatre.
Winners
The Kenton Drama Award (Class I Open): Henley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society for Woyzeck
The Charlotte Thomas Award (Class II – Best All Women/Men): Sinodun Players for And Go To Innisfree
The Eileen Copus Rose Bowl (Class III – Best Youth): North Oxford Youth Theatre for Wedding Belles
The Dayton Cup (Class IV – Best Original Play) Peter Yates for You and Me (RAWtheatre)
The Dorothy & Arthur Sharp Award (Best Presentation) Henley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society for Woyzeck
The Henley Standard Award (Best Actor): Piers Burnell for Woyzeck (Henley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society)
The Hannen Award (Best Actress): Marilyn Johnstone for And Go To Innisfree (Sinodun Players)
The Daphne Marshall Award (Best Performance Class III): Florence Miller for Wedding Belles (North Oxford Youth Theatre)
The Jean Sutherland Memorial Award (Adjudicator’s Choice): Zoe Keys for Woyzeck (Henley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society)
The Diamond Shield Award (Magic Moment): RawTheatre for You and Me

ODN Drama Festival of One Act Plays, 4th to 8th June, 19:30
Two one-act plays each evening from Tuesday to Friday at the Unicorn Theatre, Abingdon. The adjudicator this year is Martin Parr, a GODA member.
After each play, the adjudicator will give a short review and workshop with the cast.

Wallingford Corn Exchange Drama Festival, 10th to 15th June
At the Wallingford Corn Exchange. Adjudicator Nancy Heath.

Mikron Theatre Company

Back again on our waterways with productions for 2024.

Jennie Lee
14th July, 14:00 at Caversham Court, Reading RG4 7AD
18th July, 19:00 at The Rowbarge, Woolhampton, Reading RG7 5SH
24th July, 19:00 at The Cunning Man, Burghfield Road, Reading RG30 3RB
In 1929, Jennie Lee left her coal-mining family in Scotland to become Westminster’s youngest MP – so young that, as a woman, she couldn’t even vote for herself.
Tenacious, bold and rebellious, Jennie cut her own path through history.
Jennie fought with her every breath for the betterment of all our lives. She believed that every person deserved their share of the fruits of the earth – for wages, health, and housing, and for art and education too. Her role in the foundation of the Open University and the expansion of the Arts Council aided Jennie’s fight for bread and roses, and in doing so, changed the twentieth century. Oh yes, and founder of the NHS Nye Bevan was her husband. But Jennie is no footnote in someone else’s past.
Tell her story and say her name – this is the one, the only, Jennie Lee.

Common Ground
23rd July, 19:00 at The Rowbarge, Woolhampton, Reading RG7 5SH
25th July, 19:00 at Goring Lock, High Street, Goring RG8 9BA
Join Mikron on a ‘hill-arious’ ramble through the history of land access in England. From ze Norman Conquest to loitering in lockdown, via The Mass Trespass at Kinder Scout. The Pendale and District Ramblers are looking forward to celebrating ‘in stile’ on their 50th anniversary walk, but the path has been blocked by the landowner. How will they find their way through? Their quest for freedom and fresh air won’t be easy, as they navigate bulls, beavers, and wandering sheep. Grab your boots and waterproof for a meander with Mikron on a hike through history.

 Mikron Theatre Company productions.