www.southenddrama.co.uk

Friday 19th March 2005 saw the performance of Southend Drama Society's entry in the 2005 Southend Drama Festival, Rush to Judgment.

This year, we were nominated for three awards and we came away winning one.

Southend Drama Society were nominated for:

• The Florrie Holland Cup for Best Female Performance to Mary Lambert and Sharon Goodman Rush to Judgment
• The Frank McGrath Trophy for Best Male Performance to Darran Lebeter for Rush to Judgment
  

Southend Drama Society won the following:

• The Arts Council Shield for Best Stage Presentation for Rush to Judgment
  

Southend Drama Society would like to thank everyone who has supported us in bringing Rush to Judgment to the stage.

Southend Arts Council Website Report:

The equivalents to the Academy Awards for amateurs were given out last night, as the week long 1st Round of the Southend Drama Festival came to a close.

The week had been dominated by youth groups whose enthusiasm and dedication helped us to appreciate what the festival is all about.

De La Salle School had opened the week with a story of conscience. Arts Labyrinth brought us "Pass the Buck" To be followed by Belfairs VI Form’s telling tale of the abandoned children in “Forgotten..”

There was comedy from East Essex Players with Last Tango in Eastwood and Deane’s School with “Ghost Writer”.

Westcliff High School for Girls reminded us of the pain of suffering with “Wit” a play about a woman with ovarian cancer.

The adult groups provided diverse material from the hard hitting “Rush to Judgement” by Southend Drama Society to the hilarious comedy in Wednesday Players performance of “The Last Bread Pudding”.

More serious offerings came from East Essex Players with “Escapade” and RODS with “Permission to Cry”.

Positive adjudication was provided throughout the week by GODA’s Colin Dolley, he praised the work presented by the youth groups and always suggested ways the production could be improved.

Runners up were Wednesday Players with “The Last Bread Pudding” by Nick Warburton.

The winning group was Another Theatre Company with their inventive production of James Saunders “After Liverpool”.

Other awards included Best Actor to Luke Mason who played Bernard in East Essex Players "Last Tango in Eastwood"

Debbie Smerdon was Best Female Performance for her portrayal of Julia Gibbons M.P. in RODS "Permission to Cry".

Due to the fact that Another Theatre did not originate in the Southend Area, they cannot opt to go forward to the Divisional, Wednesday Players will therefore be appearing in Eastwood Theatre on Saturday 7th May.

A full list of all the awards given can be found in Southend Drama Festival section of the site.