Hertford Theatre Week 2009

Transcription

1 (a registered charity) Theatre Week 2009 April 20th to April 25th Entries are now invited for the 48th Annual Full-Length Drama Festival

2 Introduction Welcome to the information pages for Theatre Week This will be our 48 th year of the full-length drama festival, and because you have got as far as reading this I sincerely hope you will consider entering. I am pleased to say we continue to have the very experienced and dedicated committee and technical team behind the Festival. We all strive for professionalism in our presentation of Theatre Week, but recognise that you, like ourselves, are in the Am-Dram game not only to present our audiences with a superb performance, but also for our personal enjoyment and satisfaction. This is important, we try very hard not to lose sight of it in running our Festival. We are fortunate to have a well-equipped theatre in at our disposal for the Festival. The building, owned and operated by East Herts Council, seats almost 400. We have a good rapport with the theatre management and their co-operation is an invaluable asset. The council have recently invested some tens of thousands of pounds in the staging facilities which we are sure will help to make rigging for performance quicker and easier. We have an established and superbly loyal and knowledgeable audience. This Festival is selffinancing, and we have no grants. We try very hard to maintain our ticket prices to give the best value for money and this policy, I am sure, helps to keep our seats filled. As I have said to the point of tedium, I would rather sell 200 seats at 5 than 100 at 10! Coupled with the seat prices there is the skill of the Adjudicators we select. This year it will be a great pleasure to welcome back to Colin Dolley, a very experienced and popular adjudicator, who is both entertaining for the audience and extremely constructive when discussing the productions with the teams. My final point, and as a festival organiser, the most worrying, is that last year for the 2008 festival we had very few entries just enough for a full week. We recognise the importance of attracting new teams to to widen the base of potential entries, whilst also inviting back old friends that are loyal supporters of HTW. We have the facilities, we have the organisation, we have an audience, but we need you! So, if you have any desire to be involved with competitive drama at, please read on and learn a little more about the festival, theatre, adjudicator and the team none of us bite and we would love to hear from you! Steve Onyon Chairman Theatre Week

3 The Festival The Festival was instigated when a small committee from Dramatic and Operatic Society, investigating the possibilities of further stimulating amateur drama, invited neighbouring Societies and Drama Groups to perform one of their own productions under festival conditions. With rules agreed and sufficient support promised to ensure a full week s programme of six different plays, 1962 saw the first Theatre Week. While sponsorship for the first ten years was provided by the directors of shire Mercury and County Press, the publishers of our local newspaper and supporters of local drama, since 1972 Dramatic and Operatic Society have been not only the host and organiser to this annual competition but also the main sponsor. In recent years the Festival has been completely self financing, and unlike many full-length play festivals which draw sponsorship from either their local authority or commercial organisations, our only revenue comes from the Box Office sales saw the demise of the Corn Exchange as the venue for drama in. It was a sad passing for many but I am sure a sigh of relief was breathed by most of our audiences. The old canvas chairs and flat-floored auditorium did sometimes demand more loyalty than was reasonable! However, we had a new home for the festival in the brand new Castle Hall and Theatre Week was proud to be the very first theatrical presentation in the new building. The competition has thrived, and in the late 80s the Festival became a member of the National Drama Festivals Association, and as such, the winner of Theatre Week is eligible to enter the National All Winners Finals. To this day the Festival is run by a team of unpaid volunteers, all members of Dramatic and Operatic Society, many of whom give up some of their annual holiday to work on the competition, and whose only reward is their love of theatre and the satisfaction of being involved with what is now recognised as one of the leading fulllength drama competitions in the country. It is very pleasing to note that on several occasions since our membership of the N.D.F.A. we have provided the winning entry at the All Winners Final, and yet again in 2000 our runner-up, Brigstowe Theatre Company with their production of Entertaining Mr. Sloane were the N.D.F.A. winners. Also in July of 2002, for the first time in, we successfully hosted the 29 th N.D.F.A. British All Winners Festival of Plays - a superb week of Full-length and One-act plays. Theatre Week pays the following expenses, based on distance from : 0 to 30 miles: 160, 31 to 60 miles 190, 61 miles and over 220

4 The Trophies The Trophies The following marking scheme is used at Theatre Week: Acting Production Endeavour, Originality and Attainment Stage Presentation (all aspects) 35 marks 30 marks 10 marks 25 marks The Awards The Festival opened in 1962 with only two trophies, the Mercury Challenge Cup and the Runners-up Cup. Mercury Challenge Cup (Winner) Roy Seammen Trophy (Stage Presentation) Tony Bentley Tankard (Adjudicators Award) Ted Harden Rose Bowl (Runner Up) Freston Salver (Audience Award) Our marking scheme differs from the NDFA standard as we believe because of all the disciplines involved in the Stage Presentation mark, they deserve more recognition we hope you will agree. Stage presentation covers the set, lighting, sound, costume, wardrobe, hair, make-up and stage-management. By 1973 the teams were also competing for the splendid Freston Salver - the Audience Appreciation Award. The Roy Seammen Award - an impressive stag and the symbol of (affectionately known to the HTW Committee as Harry the Hart), has been awarded since 1979 and is the Stage Presentation Award. The following year the Tankard was presented in memory of Tony Bentley, a hard working member of H.D.& O.S. and for many years the Chairman of Theatre Week. This trophy is awarded at the adjudicators discretion for any outstanding feature of the Festival. In 1995 the Runners-up cup was reluctantly retired due to old age, and replaced with the attractive Rose Bowl. This was renamed the Ted Harden Award in memory of a respected member of our society.

5 The Adjudicator An extremely busy adjudicator, over the past 25 years Colin has assessed more than 2000 productions at over 200 festivals. His numerous engagements have ranged throughout the British Isles and beyond. He has adjudicated the National Finals in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In the past year he has judged festivals in England, Scotland, Northern and Southern Ireland, the European Festival in Stockholm and the National All-Winners Final in the Isle of Man. Trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama in the art of Theatre Criticism, he was Head of English and Drama in a large Surrey secondary school. For many years he was theatre critic for a West London newspaper and has served on the Barclay s Award Panel assessing professional productions nationwide. He has served nine years on the GODA Council and is also a Member of the Scottish Association of Speech and Drama Adjudicators. In addition to running drama workshops, Colin is a freelance director, having directed more than thirty plays ranging from Amadeus to Les Liaisons Dangereuses and A Streetcar Named Desire to Dancing at Lughnasa. Along with Rex Walford he has co-written The One-Act Play Companion, which was published last year by A & C Black. He has also edited the book On Being a Drama Adjudicator. He is also one of the three judges on the panel selecting the winners of the Annual National Drama Festivals Association New Playwriting Competition. Currently on the training team for a national telephone help-line, he also uses his assessment skills as a Mystery Visitor for restaurants and bars. Colin is delighted to be paying his fourth visit to the Theatre Week. Colin Dolley GODA The HTW Team Steve has been a member of Dramatic & Operatic Society for over 40 years and has been involved with Theatre Week from the beginning of his membership. Initially as part of the Lighting team and subsequently as Festival Stage Manager for 25 years. The Quarter Century seemed a good time to hand over the stage-management reins, whilst still continuing as a member of the organising committee (and as assistant stage manager for three years). Steve Onyon (Chairman) In 1999 he was elected Chairman of the Festival Committee and has continued to enjoy that role ever since. When not working on Festival matters his main interests outside the home are scenery design, building and painting, and stage engineering, both at HD&OS and with other local companies. Recently he has designed the flying rig for Peter Pan, the settings for The True Story of Martin Guerre and worked on the staging for a production based on Jeff Wayne s musical version of The War of the Worlds at the Minack open-air cliff side theatre in Cornwall

6 The Team continued... Penny has been a member of HD&OS for more years than it is polite to mention! She is currently Wardrobe Manager for the Society and has also worked as stage manager, on the sound desk, props, call desk and follow-spot. Performance on stage is limited to four appearances in pantomime when much younger! Penny Coyston (Festival Secretary) Penny divides her time between working as a secondary school teacher in Welwyn Garden City and managing not only the wardrobe department but acting as Chairman of the Trustees for HD & OS. She also enjoys being involved in costuming productions for The Minack open-air theatre in Cornwall. She describes this as a challenging venue! 2009 will be Penny s fourth year as Festival Secretary. Robin Barton (Stage Manager) Robin has been involved in theatrical productions for over 20 years initially treading the boards but quickly shying away from the light to take on a range of backstage roles both amateur and professional. Now most commonly found avoiding the limelight, he also works in most areas of theatre and live events including event power, effects, stage management and staging. Venues range from muddy fields and decaying aircraft hangers to fully equipped theatres from to Sheffield, Massachusetts, USA has seen projects from exhibitions to the launch of the Cultural Olympiad in the Midlands. During the day (and often through the night), Robin works for Stage Electrics in London as a Technical Production Manager for live events. When not at work Robin can be found developing websites and trying to live a greener life. Nik has been involved in theatrical lighting, production and stage management for the last nine years after being invited to run the lighting for Ware Operatic Society s production of La Perichole. Nik Mayes (Lighting Manager) In order to gain some experience prior to lighting this production Nik approached HD&OS and has never looked back. Lighting credits include work for HD&OS, Ware Operatic Society, National Festivals All Winner Festival 2002, Showstoppers and Castle Hall. Production and stage management credits include work for both HD&OS and Ware Operatic Society. Nik is married with a young family and works full time as the Systems Manager at Sainburys automated distribution facility in Waltham Abbey, and on a casual basis as one of the technicians at Castle Hall.

7 The Team continued... Andrew Coyston (Electrical Consultant) Andrew first became involved with Theatre Week in 1966, at the tender age of 15. This was at the Corn Exchange, where a team of four or five operated the lighting on huge mechanical dimmers. Taking the helm in 1973, he designed the Society s first remote lighting panel, which was operated from the back of the auditorium - at last, we were able to see the results of our efforts in action. Nowadays, at Castle Hall, Andrew guides teams through the technicalities of a memory board, using a comprehensive lighting rig and versatile sound system, so that they can realise their lighting and sound objectives. Andrew always enjoys the week, meeting old and new friends in the different teams, and the challenge of each play. Sue Bennett (Social Secretary) Sue joined the HTW committee in 2005 for the 2006 Festival but has been a member of HD&OS for over thirty years. During that time she has been involved in many aspects of the Society both on stage and behind the scenes. Sue was Secretary of HD&OS for 15 years and was also President in As a regular season ticket holder, Sue has enjoyed being in the audience of Theatre Week and was once in an HD&OS entry (Abelarde and Heloise). For the last three years she has acted as a hostess for one of the visiting drama groups and was also a hostess for the NDFA All Winners Festival in Sue enjoys being a member of the team that organises one of the high spots of the calendar. Joanna has been a member of HD&OS since As a member of the Society she has directed, acted, sung, managed Front of House and been wardrobe mistress. Joanna Pierce (Front of House) A trained singer, Joanna teaches singing in her spare time. During the day she works for shire County Council as a visiting officer carrying out financial assessments. In her third year on the HTW committee, Joanna leant her trade from her father Adrian and deputised for him as House Manager at the 2006 Theatre Week, where she gained the nick name of Our Lady in Red when officiating in the foyer. Sue Hantke (Publicity Liaison) A new comer to the HTW committee, Sue joined HD&OS in the mid 80 s whilst helping with another society s entry for Theatre Week. Before that date she could be found either performing or working backstage in all areas from making props, designing and building sets to stage management for at least six other societies in and around the London area. She has been a member of the HD&OS s General, Pantomime and Publicity Committees. She still divides her theatre time between on stage and backstage. Sue has been a member of the Theatre Week backstage team since the early 90 s and since taking early retirement from teaching in 1995, has been able to give more time in the day as well as in the evening.

8 The Theatre Castle Hall opened in 1977 and brought to the town a wonderful new facility for all kinds of theatre and drama. Since then there have been progressive modifications and refits to make the business of presenting plays easier, more professional and more pleasurable for our audiences. The comfortable foyer and bar area has facilities for the disabled and we are able to make arrangements for wheelchair users in the auditorium. When rigged for theatre this seats just less than four hundred, three quarters of which are tiered ensuring good sight lines. The 72 channel Zero 88 illusion system is controlled from a well-positioned and spacious control room high up at the rear of the auditorium. Sound operation is also based here. We have a proscenium of 29 6 (9m), a maximum depth of 31 (9.5m) from the lip of the apron and approximately 39 (12m) under the grid - so flying scenery and cloths is possible. The stage is well equipped with drapes and borders, barrels and lanterns, and HD&OS has good stocks of additional equipment for most situations. The well appointed dressing rooms are all fitted with loud speakers for stage-sound and calls, and the theatre has installed a headset loop to all important operating positions.

9 What Next... To submit an entry for Theatre Week 2009 please complete the enclosed form and send it with your entry fee of 2.50 and script to the Festival Secretary. The selection of the six plays to be included in the Festival takes place in mid-january. Companies that are accepted will then be sent a detailed information pack with stage plans. More information about the Festival and the organising team is available. Please contact either the Chairman or the Secretary at the addresses below. If you would like to visit the theatre this can usually be arranged but it is best done when the building is configured for theatre. In 2008 we would recommend November 17 th to 22 nd when HD&OS is presenting Allo, Allo or in the new year when our pantomime, Cinderella, is in the theatre from 29 th December 2008 to 3 rd January However, other times can usually be arranged, or we would be very happy to meet with any potential entrants just for an informal chat, perhaps over a beer, at our headquarters building in. We have an experienced Festival team who are available for the whole day of your performance from your arrival at 9.30 am until the get-out, and we will try to cater for all your needs. At the end of the evening you will have the opportunity to meet the adjudicator to discuss any issues raised, or comments made during the adjudication. If you are a small Society and are perhaps a little daunted by unfamiliar technical equipment, please don t worry. The HTW team is there to help and we can, for instance, run the lighting board for you against your cues if required. Above all, we are all involved with theatre for enjoyment and our aim is to ensure that all our entrants have a memorable and enjoyable day Chairman: Steve Onyon The Drive SG14 3DE steve.onyon@btinternet.com Stage Robin Barton Manager: Blythwood Gardens Stansted Mountfitchet CM24 8HG Secretary: Penny Coyston Martins Drive SG13 7TA p.coyston@dsl.pipex.com Social Sue Bennett Secretary: Queen s Road SG13 8BJ Lighting Nik Mayes Manager: Crouchfields SG14 3LP House Joanna Pierce Manager: Bentley Road SG14 2HL Electrical Andrew Coyston Consultant: Martins Drive SG13 7TA Publicity Sue Hantke Liaison: Gladstone Road Hoddesdon EN11 0JN