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Swindon’s Old Town Theatre Company, already English Champions, have missed out on taking the
British title. The two actors, director and two crew performed ‘Recidivists’ at Best of British Drama, 78th British Final Festival of One-Act Plays.

They opened the two night festival to an enormously positive audience response. 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.

Bob Charman, from Malmesbury, played ‘Honey’; Ryan Gilks, from Swindon, played ‘Frank’.  Peter Edge-Partington, from Cricklade, directed; and Doug Morris, from Swindon, ran Sound.

The Swindon based company performed as English Champions, having won that title at Harrogate on the 4th June. Each of the three remaining teams were the respective champions frrom Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The British Champions were from Scotland, Tryst Theatre. They performed an adapted first act of ‘Art’ by Yasmena Resa and translated by Christopher Hampton. Tryst’s performance was praised by the Festival Adjudicator, Mike Tilbury (GoDA) for its polish and cohesiveness. Tryst Theatre began back in 1978. “Tryst” – an old Scots word for a secret meeting place – are based in Larbert in Scotland’s Central Region, about thirty miles west of the capital Edinburgh.

The play was directed by one of the cast, Alan Clark, who played Marc. Brian Paterson played Serge,
Craig Murray played Yvan.