Herefordshire's 65th County Drama Festival of one-act plays culminated last Saturday, March 23 with an evening of all round entertainment and presentation of prizes by Mrs Monique Heijn.

The David Garrick Cup for the winning team went to Eardisley Little Theatre for their production, 'The Caucasian Chalk Circle' - described by adjudicator, Mr Chris Jaeger as a superb piece of drama and a well-directed, disciplined production.

Award-scooping production

Sue Roberts won the Thinghill Trophy for best actress, awarded for her part as narrator in this same production. Eardisley Little Theatre also won the Kathleen Dade Memorial Trophy for its chorus work in the play and the Hereford Players Trophy, awarded by season ticket holders. The Bill Aston Cup for best producer went, quite rightly, to Alun Roberts who directed this award-scooping production.

The Runners Up Cup for the second-placed team went to The Hereford Players for their presentation of 'Cider with Rosie' - a play which flowed well, was overall effective and generated a feeling of nostalgia for the Cotswold life of early last century.

The Wye Cup for third place was awarded jointly to Ross Amateur Operatic Drama Society for the delightful comedy, 'A Husband for Breakfast' and Conquest Production, Bromyard for its fast-moving, zany piece of theatre of the absurd, 'Porquoi j'ai mange ma grandmere'.

Writer/director of this production, Frank Ryding took home the Andrews Shield for best original play and the Champagne award for a moment of magic in live theatre.

The Oswin cup for the best novice entry; the Bishops Plate for best stage setting and the Stennet trophy for best youth team were all awarded to Eardisley Little Theatre Youth Club for its terrific, joyful, well-disciplined 'Hansel and Gretel'.

The recipient of the Best Trophy for best actor was an astonished 12-year-old James Houlbrooke for his superb portrayal of Loll in The Hereford Players' 'Cider With Rosie'.

Veritable feast of live theatre

Other groups of note taking part in the Festival included Junior Ross Operatic Amateur Drama Society with its powerful, well-acted 'Killed July 17, 1916'; Alchemy from Lady Hawkins School for its enjoyable and original play, 'god@heaven.com'; The Tribe, who entered two plays, 'Mother Figure' and 'Sitting Pretty', both by promising youth teams and Ledbury Amateur Dramatic Society who presented 'Reckoning' - a wordy, well-directed piece with good pace.

Both 'The Caucasian Chalk Circle' and 'Cider With Rosie' go through to the Midland Divisional Final of the All England Theatre Festival at The Courtyard on April 13, where they will be joined by teams from Shropshire, Worcester and Birmingham.

David Newton