www.southenddrama.co.uk

Oh what an interesting time it has been! This year's Southend Drama Festival was hotly contended, with some truly excellent productions being presented for the adjudicator's consideration. We are very proud of the fact that two of the best entries came from Southend Drama Society.

This year's Festival was adjudicated by GODA's Charles Evans, who gave insightful and balanced comments on every play throughout the entire week.

On the Wednesday night, our first entry, Blue Suede Blues made it to the stage. From the instant positive reaction that sustained until the curtains closed, it was clear that the audience loved it, and this was reflected in the adjudicators remarks afterward. Particular reference was made to our decision in casting men in the two leading female roles, the amazing wigs and the brilliant characterisation by Zena Butt, who played Pansy.

Friday night saw Sganarelle grace the stage.

Sganarelle's set design was recognised by the adjudicator as being very cleverly orchestrated. The adjudicator also admired the quality of the home-made costumes, wondering whether they had been hired from a costume warehouse!

Southend Drama Society were nominated for the following awards:

• Best Female Performance - Zena Butt, Blue Suede Blues
• Best Male Performance - Mike Thompson, Sganarelle
• Best Director - Rick Fiore, Blue Suede Blues

... while Southend Drama Society won the following awards:

• Best Comedy - Blue Suede Blues, directed by Rick Fiore
• Adjudicator's Special Award - Sganarelle, directed by Kay Banning

So we didn't win the festival or come in 2nd, for that matter. Nevertheless, both of our plays were the next to score over 70 marks that were eligible to go forward, so Southend Drama Society goes through to the next round with two entries. To quote Homer Simpson - "Default! The two greatest words in the English language!"

Congratulations to everyone who took part in this year's Festival and well done to both of our teams for putting on some wonderful performances. A special thank you also to the adjudicator, Charles Evans, to Southend Arts Council and to the backstage crew who went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure we all did our very best.

Congratulations too to our own Sharon Goodman, who walked away with the Best Original Play award for The Butterfly Effect, the production she directed for Belfairs VI Form's team. With Sharon's track record, we suspect she may need a bigger mantelpiece in the very near future!

Photos from our production of Sganarelle will appear here as soon as they become available.

Southend held its own version of the Oscars on Saturday March 31st with the final night of the 47th Drama Festival of One Act Plays.

East Essex Players performed "A Visit from Miss Prothero" by Alan Bennett with Charles Russell and Hazel Latcham in a gentle comedy about a retired man who gets an unexpected visit from his former secretary.

This was followed by Trinity Players "fizzing" version of Noel Coward's "Red Peppers" with Jeremy Battersby and Hazel Lucas as George and Lilley Pepper a warring couple and their tired old variety act there was able support provided from Jackie Storozynski-Toll, Roy Blackwell, Chris Hammond and Ken Piggot.

The adjudicator Charles Evans GODA summed up the week with special reference to the youth groups and their entries; namely Westcliff School for Girls imaginative version of Berkoff's "Metamorphosis", Thorpe Hall School's utterly enchanting "The Legend of the Golden Paintbrush" with director Vivienne Cunningham's vivid use of space and literally what appeared to be hundreds of children.

There was also Belfairs VI Form and "The Butterfly Effect" which explored a difficult subject. Arts Labryrinth presented a devised workshop piece "The Box" and Deanes School gave us David Campton's popular piece "What are you doing here?"

All in all a very successful week.

The runners up were Trinity Players for Red Peppers with the group being awarded the Blackwell cup and a cash prize of £100.

It was a triumph for the youth groups of the town. Receiving the Ray Cooney trophy and a cash prize of £200 was Thorpe Hall School, with its cast of thousands for "The Legend of the Golden Paintbrush".

Opting to go forward to the next round is Southend Drama Society with two plays Sganarelle and Blue Suede Blues.

The full list of award winners can be reached on the Drama Festival section of website click the Drama link above.

The Divisional final will be held at Eastwood Theatre on Saturday 5th May where two plays from the Waltham Forest rounds will be competing with Southend. The evening starts at 6.30 p.m.

Tickets £7 concessions £6

Enquiries to Kay Banning 01268-752239.

The Eastern Area Divisional Final of the All England Drama Festival took place on Saturday 5th May 2007, at which Southend Drama Society had two entries to perform - Blue Suede Blues by Diana Raffle and Sganarelle by Moliere.

Sadly, circumstances beyond our control meant that we had to withdraw Blue Suede Blues in the days leading up to the Final, leaving Sganarelle alone to wave Southend's flag on the night.

Sadly, despite a very strong performance from our team, the winner was Havering's College Players with My Super Wedding, who were judged by GODA adjudicator Tony Rushforth as being the best on the night.

The result means that Southend Drams Society's participation in this year's All England Festival has come to an end.

Four teams competed with two from Southend Drama Society and two from Waltham Forest's recent festival.

The winner was Havering's College Players with My Super Wedding they were judged by GODA adjudicator Tony Rushforth as being the best on the night.

They go forward to the Area Final also being held this year at Eastwood Theatre, Rayleigh Road, Leigh on Saturday 19th May at 6.00 p.m. with judging by GODA adjudicator David Vince.

Tickets are available from 01702 584134 or 01268 752239.