Treading the boards in a Harold Jolliffe tribute at Swindon drama festival

And actors from across the town are hoping to top last year’s fairytale win by a Swindon company at the All England Final, by winning the British final.

This year sees a mix of drama, comedy and new writing on show from April 12 to April 14 at the Arts Centre, in Devizes Road, Swindon.

Actors have been treading the boards in the festival, named after the post-war Swindon librarian Harold Jolliffe, since 1947.

It is hosted by the Swindon and District Theatre Guild.

Festival director Ashley Heath said: “The high calibre of theatre on show is proved by last year’s overall winner, The Old Town Theatre Company, going on to win the English Championships and represent England at the British Final of One Act Plays in June.

“That was a real Boys’ Own storyline.”

This year, organisers are hoping to encourage teachers to bring along their classes to the festival to enjoy realistic, accessible and attainable drama.

Ashley said: “When Harold Joliffe actors take to the stage using only a chair for a prop, students can see that they too can achieve the same high standards, which appear far beyond them when watching West End theatre.”

The festival is a great opportunity for everyone to see live performances.

“For anyone wanting a varied night of theatre, HJ 2012 is just the ticket,” said Ashley.

Tickets cost £10 and £7.50 for concessions.

They are available by calling the Arts Centre box office on 01793 614837.

GROUP FACES THE FINAL ACT

Swindon company Whole Hog Productions, based at New College, first entered the festival in 2009 with Directions, written by Chris Scott.

The play won the Swindon festival and went on to scoop a place in the English final.

Whole Hog have notched up successes in various acting and technical awards along with the runners-up title twice.

Their entry, Pretend To Love Me, written by Becky Cann and Matthew Clift, has been withdrawn but they are still presenting The Final Act Of Henry Gladstone, taken from the Chekhov play, Swan Song.

Matthew Clift directs and he also wrote the adaptation. It is a reflective piece set in an old theatre with an ageing actor recalling his former glories.

He said: “It is a love letter to the theatre full of scenes from Shakespeare and romantic thespian stories.”

PROVOKING FREE-THINKING WITH PREVENGE

THE offering from Dead Meat Productions is Prevenge, a two-hander intended to provoke free thinking in its audience.

This new theatre company was set up in October by Darren Little and one of Swindon’s well-loved actors, Owen Fishwick.

Darren said: “Prevenge is an absurdist piece, an entertaining romp through the minds of two larger than life characters.”

The play has already been performed at the Phoenix Theatre, in New College, and the Arts Centre Studio.

“The two contrasting venues have allowed us to develop the performance and make subtle changes to get to a place where we are both really happy with the production,” said Darren.

Prevenge will be the company’s second production. The first was I am What I Am performed to great acclaim at the Bouverie Hall, in Pewsey, last year.

DESIGNS ON THE PRIZE

INTERIOR Designs is the chosen play for this year’s festival from Clarendon Players, the seasoned theatre company based in Royal Wootton Bassett.

Paula Clifford is co-directing the play and she chose the Jimmy Chinn comedy drama for the contest.

“Interior Designs is about a brash, arrogant odd-job man who offers his services to three very different women,” she said. “Despite coming from very different backgrounds the women share a common sadness and loneliness.

“The question is how far will they actually go to feel wanted?”

The actors pull off three plays a year in March, June and November and rehearse in the Memorial Hall.

The drama group began in 1969 and since then, have frequently entered the festival.

Paula says that entering this festival, which is a preliminary round of a national one act play contest, is a great opportunity.

She said: “We meet with other drama groups and learn from each other while having our production adjudicated by experienced members of the Guild of Drama Adjudicators.”

KEEN STUDENTS HAVE RISEN FROM THE FLAMES

THE actors at Phoenix Theatre Company, based at Swindon’s New College have jumped in to the breach when Whole Hog Productions had to withdraw one of their plays.

Ashley Heath, director of the festival, said: “I’m always very sorry to hear that a company had to withdraw and I know that Whole Hog are bitterly disappointed, but we are very pleased to welcome the New College students and hope this means we will see them at our event next year too.”

The Phoenix Theatre is a collaboration of five New College students who have got together especially for the festival.

They have devised a play, called Capti Gaeth, inspired by Dale Wasserman’s stage adaptation of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.

The student’s play is about a group of people who are confined both in reality and in their minds.

Ashley said: “It is a theatrical and intriguing experience that takes the idea of group therapy and turns it on its head.”

SUCH GOOD COMPANY

LAST year’s winners Old Town Theatre Company are tackling a modern play called Convenience, under the direction of Cal Doughty.

Cal says Recidivists, the 2011 winning entry, is a hard act to follow but he is proud of his current crop of actors He said: “We feel we have a play that audiences will really enjoy. It wil make you laugh, sympathise and maybe even think.”

Convenience is a dark comedy set at a time when any salesman can invade a home to sell his wares.

“It is a reflection on how as a society we are constantly invaded by advertisements and pushy sales,” said Cal.

The director is also pleased with the way his cast are switched on and excited by rehearsals.

“It added to the dynamic that everyone really digs the word on the page and it becomes quite a magical sight to behold.”

Convenience is written by assistant director Scott Hunter.

NAVIGATING THE INTRICACIES OF CYBERSPACE

NETTIE Powell has again stepped up to the mark with a second offering to Pewsey Vale Amateur Dramatic Youth Society for the festival in the shape of A Modern Twist.

The play is based on the intricacies of cyberspace. It follows a teenager as she surfs the internet for inspiration for her homework, which is to write a modern interpretation of Romeo and Juliet.

Nettie set up the youth branch of the society in 2002 and now has 30 members.

“I wanted to give young members of the community the chance to perform in full productions other than pantomime,” she said.

Many of her young actors go on to join the adult section and both drama groups regularly enter the festival and have had considerable success in the past.

“Last year alone we won best director, best dramatic endeavour, best technical achievement and the BBC audience award,” she said.