amdram.co.uk

By Richard Clayton

A nice idea – but perhaps easier said than done. Drama Festivals are strange events where, in a matter of days, or hours, a number of plays are performed by different groups and at the end of which someone, hopefully with vast experience in the theatre, expresses their views on the challenges the play presents and how those challenges have been met by the group. It is a somewhat false environment where there may be a time limit set for the assembly and striking of the set, the length of play, and no opportunity to rehearse on the stage on which one is to perform.

It is not unknown for trophies and shields to be awarded – an area often controversial in terms of to whom the awards are made and, some argue, making the event more of a competition than a festival.

For an amateur group, adjudicated drama presents many opportunities, not least of which being to perform in facilities invariably better than those they call home. It also gives the opportunity to reach new, larger (?), audiences and to meet other groups and, through the adjudication itself, learn and improve.

There are obstacles, however. Financial ones certainly – although some events help meet the expenses incurred in obtaining licences and travelling others charge and entrance fee or insist that a certain number of tickets are sold. Moreover, many actors and actresses find performing on stage at their home venue stressful enough and do not want to perform in such an alien environment where an adjudicator might “rip them to shreds” – although no adjudicator worthy of the name would do so.

The travelling alone may deter some groups – not just the need to take time off work but the need to transport a set halfway across the county and possibly have to build one specifically to meet the demands of that particular stage.

A thought should also be spared for the event organisers. They have the problem of ensuring that costs are met, groups remain committed and do not pull out at the last minute, that technical questions are answered and the timetable fair to all (doesn’t everyone want to stage their play on the Saturday night?)

As for adjudicated drama in Norfolk and its surroundings – the Amdram Festival which for many years was held at the Maddermarket Theatre did not take place this year (perhaps not next either?) and its equivalent in Ipswich is now long gone.

The drama festival jewel in the East Anglian crown is probably found at the Spa Pavillion in Felixstowe – a national full length play festival which has been in existence for 51 years. This year the festival attracted entries from as far afield as Cardiff and Hertfordshire as well as more local entries from Woodbridge and Sudbury. The Felixstowe Drama Festival is a member of the National Drama Festivals Associations and, therefore, a possible route for groups into the All-Winners Drama Festival which, this year, was held in Woking. This results in the Festival being of an extremely high standard and also attracts groups who seem to “do the circuit” of full length play festivals.

This year’s winner, Sudbury Dramatic Society’s Twelve Angry Men, went on to win the “All-Winners”.

The sole Norfolk festival of 2001, at least the only one of which I am aware, was part of the Hunstanton Arts Festival held in early July. This one act play event has been running a number of years, this year it took place on the Monday and Tuesday of the Festival with sessions in the afternoon and evening. The farthest travelling group was from Gorefield (near Wisbech) but surprisingly there were no entries from the likes of King’s Lynn, Swaffham and Fakenham despite all having thriving groups.

I attended the Tuesday afternoon session and was part of an audience of twelve, something which might have been improved through advertising. The literature promoting the festival stated that adjudicated drama would take place without saying what is being performed and by whom whilst the local paper three days before the event still advertised the Monday afternoon session despite it being cancelled (one assumes because of late withdrawals).

Of the eight productions six were original works, a refreshing aspect of the event and no doubt encouraged by the presence of a trophy. It was, in fact, one of these productions, performed by the Princess Theatre Club, which virtually swept the board in terms of silverware.

Proving that a festival does not have to take place in an established theatre, or that silverware does not necessarily give rise to a competitive festival, was the 13th Brantham Drama Festival. Held in the very modest village hall at Brantham over two evenings in October it attracted a number of entries from local villages, although these were down on previous years. This really is a “friendly festival” with a fine reputation for One Act plays – won this year by the Essex based Impact Theatre Company.

Frequently one reads of festivals having reduced entries or ceasing to exist – a great shame for what can be a very rewarding experience but equally a great deal of hard work for all those involved. Festivals will only exist because groups want them to – so perhaps it is time for such interested groups, if there are any, to organise themselves. Alternatively perhaps all groups can just perform in glorious isolation to be told by friends and relatives “Darling you were wonderful” without fear of being told the truth.