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A Swindon theatre company has won the English Final – for the first time.
They‟ll be performing next in the British Final – for the first time.
They‟ll be doing that in their home town – another first.
And their director? It‟s his first play!

Swindon‟s Old Town Theatre Company has won the English Final of a national drama competition, and will be competing in the British Final in their home town next month!

The amateur company performed at the English Final of the All-England Theatre Festival at the Harrogate Theatre on Saturday, 4th June 2011. Prior to that, the company had won rounds in Swindon, Pewsey and Verwood. Their play, „The Recidivists‟ by Swindon playwright, Matthew Clift, won the John Maude Trophy for the winning performance.

The play centres on two prisoners sharing a cell. Frank is a violent homophobic and enjoys only his own company. Into his solitary world is thrust, literally, Honey, an effeminate, very camp, homosexual. The pair go through various confrontations and emotional revelations as they are forced to confront and understand each other‟s perspective. Through its unexpected use of some song and dance, along with straight humour, it‟s also very funny.

Ryan Gilks plays „Frank‟. The 26 year old Head of Drama at St Joseph‟s Catholic College in Swindon, said, “I‟m astonished! It‟s such a good feeling to represent England in International Theatre now, and to do it at home in Swindon is absolutely fantastic; we‟re very much looking forward to it!”

Bob Charman, from Malmesbury in Wiltshire, plays „Honey‟. The 57 year old BMW Project Manager said, “The big hurdle was to get to the British Final at Swindon, so now we‟re there, it‟s going to be a celebration, a fantastic celebration. I feel absolutely elated! We‟re England internationals now so that‟s absolutely fantastic!”

The play‟s director is Peter Edge-Partington, from Cricklade in Wiltshire. “It was quite unreal at Harrogate. There I was, standing backstage as the winning announcement was made and everything just slowed down for me! Someone had to poke me and shove me on stage to receive the award!”

The retired PR consultant added, “It‟s a black comedy, I‟d say; which I think is always funnier than a normal comedy”, says Peter. “I recently celebrated my 56th birthday, and it‟s taken „til now for me to earn my England Cap! It‟s fantastic!”

The adjudicator at Harrogate, Scott Marshall, GODA (Guild of Drama Adjudicators) said, “The Recidivists will be hard to beat. It‟s a very funny, accessible play with a beautiful story; very well acted. It‟ll appeal to all audiences, theatre goers or not.”

Ashley Heath is a spokesman for the organisers. He‟s also the Festival Director of the Harold Jolliffe One-Act Play Festival in Swindon, where OTTC won their first round. Ashley said, “Even back in February, everyone who saw The Recividists knew they were watching something unique. The adjudicator for our round confided to me backstage that he felt OTTC could go all the way. Everyone at the Harold Jolliffe One-Act, and the British Final, is hoping that people in Swindon and Wiltshire will turn out support OTTC‟s fairy tale cup run!”

Other Information:

- The 78th British Final Festival of One-Act Plays is the culmination of rounds which will begin in the new year of 2011. – OTTC will represent England, competing against Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.
- Each competing team at the final will have won through, on a knock out basis, each of its preliminary, regional, and national finals to appear at Swindon.
- The 78th British Final Festival of One-Act Plays is being held at the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon on Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd July 2011. Curtain up is at 7pm. Tickets are £12, with £20 for both nights. Other deals are available, for details visit, www.bestofbritishdrama.org.uk
- A One-Act Play is always more than 20 minutes, and less than 55 minutes in performance, with no interval. An adjudicator decides who wins at each stage, awarding points for Acting, Production, Stage Presentation and Dramatic Achievement. Up to 100 points are available across these criteria. Points can be deducted for over, or under running in performance; or for taking too long to set up or remove scenery and props from the stage.
- The adjudicator at the 2011 British Final is Mike Tilbury, Guild of Drama Adjudicators (GODA).
- John Lewis is the festival‟s main sponsor. The Western Area of the All-England Theatre Festival is proud to be the organising body for 2011.
- The British Final 2011 has a website: www.bestofbritishdrama.org.uk