OVERTURE
MORE ABOUT RSC OPEN STAGES Many companies, like the one to which I belong, will be applying to be part of this exciting venture and looking forward to co-operating with and learning from the professional theatre. Others may have decided that they can’t move their established plans or even, like a well-known Bristol company have only recently completed a Shakespearethemed season! The RSC, bearing such factors in mind, have extended their deadline for applications to the end of this month. There is, however, a further way to take part. The AETF has been actively involved with this project from the initial conference at Stratford and whereas our 2011 Festival season is now under way - look at our website www.aetf.org. uk as the first results come in - which will culminate at the English Final in Harrogate on June 4th; on that day we will officially launch the RSC Open Stages Shakespeare Competition. This will be run in tandem with our 2012 AETF Festival until the finals when we will run an AETF English Final and an RSC Open Stages English Final. Entries for this will be through our preliminary rounds at their varied entry dates and you can ‘read all about it’ on our web site or contact any preliminary round organiser. Entries will have to comply with our usual time restrictions but the main difference between this and the rest of the Open Stages project is that entries must contain Shakespeare’s words! We have Shakespeare fanatics in our midst and his plots (which were not original) are not enough! There is a great deal of enthusiasm amongst us - and the prospect of the winners performing at Stratford is a very edible carrot. Ann Aplin
PLAY FESTIVAL WELCOMES ENTRANTS
The Broughton Players are pleased to welcome entrants into their 19th One Act Play Festival. The Festival is held at the Preston Playhouse Market St West, a beautiful little theatre right in the heart of the city and will run from the W.C 20th June till Saturday 25th June. The theatre caters for many amateur groups, is run on a purely voluntary basis and patrons have the added bonus of free parking. The festival encourages new directing, writing and performing and its competitive but very friendly ethos draws groups from all over the Northwest. The end of the evening sees performers and playgoers adjourning to the well stocked bar. If you wish to enter the festival details are available from Adrienne Hurley 01772 700562 or email hurley332@hotmail.com
A SOURCE OF FUNDING
NEW HERTFORD THEATRE PRO PANTO LOSES £35,000.
At a time when local councils seem to be slashing funding to all manner of projects due to austerity measures, this little gem caught our eye. It has been reported that the first professional pantomime at the new Hertford Theatre fell way short of financial expectations – and made a loss of £35,000. East Herts Council had set aside a budget of more than £88,000 for the in-house Cinderella production, which ended earlier this month. The council had expected to make a loss on the first year of this venture of about £8,000 but hope to make significant profits over the course of the ten year project. Council leader Cllr Tony Jackson (Con, Datchworth and Aston) said: “My business sense tells me these things take time to crank up. It’s a new venture. I think the critical question to ask is, is it a gap we can close in the future or, if not, is it right that we subsidise it? It might be right to subsidise certain things – that’s the nature of provincial theatres like this.” Meanwhile, the amateur Aladdin pantomime performed by Hertford Dramatic & Operatic Society (HD&OS) at the same venue in The Wash is thought to have made a profit. The group’s pantomime committee had feared it would suffer because of the professional show. One has to wonder why the local council felt the need to set itself up in competition with an established local group in the first place. Surely local governments role is to look after local amenities and services, not to try to compete with local community groups who are already catering to the marketplace!!
HAND IN HAND LEAD NODA AWARD NOMINATIONS
A Wirral theatre company has made it onto the shortlist for the amateur theatre world’s top regional awards. Hand in Hand Productions’ The Importance of Being Earnest has been nominated in three categories of the 2011 NODA North West Amateur Theatre Awards. Jill Breckon (Lady Bracknell) is on the shortlist for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama, while Michael Hetherington (Jack Worthington) is nominated for Best Actor in a New Drama. The play was produced in association with H&T Productions. Award winners will be revealed in May. Bev Clark, who also recieved a nomation for Artistic Direction said: “The competition is stiff but we are flattered to be in there.” Hand in Hand’s new play Fight for Justice, based on the story of Derek Bentley, is now in rehearsals. The company will perform at the Leverhulme Drama Festival at the Gladstone Theatre in April.
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ULSTER DRAMA FESTIVAL RESULTS
Newpoint Players from Newry are now the Association of Ulster Drama Festivals One-Act champions following the Finals which took place at Ballymoney Town Hall on Saturday 29th January 2011. , adjudicated by Paul Fowler G.O.D.A. They won the title with ‘I can’t Stand Up For Falling Down’ by Richard Cameron. The play was directed by Paul McParland and featured Danielle Slevin, Denise Taylor and Helen Cooper. This gripping production had already received plaudits from various festivals, in the north and south of Ireland, and they now go forward to the British finals, which will take place in Swindon on 1st and 2nd July.
GET WELL SOON IRENE
I have some news about Irene Rostron - she is out of hospital and recovering well from her stroke. She has most of her faculties intact, except for balance, which means that she has to move around the house with a zimmer for security. Of course she is taking things carefully for the moment; not seeing the wealth of theatre currently on offer in Manchester alone must be really annoying her!! Mike Shipley
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