Ledbury Amateur Dramatic Society dominated the Hereford County Drama Festival last month, picking up a total of 10 awards.

The awards for best youth team and Best Novice Entry went to LADS Youth for their play “Let Loose”. LADS production of the comedy “Funeral Tea” came third in the Festival and this play gained awards for Best Setting and the Champagne Award for a Magical Moment of Live Theatre. The winners of the Festival, LADS production of “The 25p Man”, was an original play written by Catherine Crosswell. She was presented with the Best Original Play award and the award for Best Director. Georgia Gill, in “The 25p Man” was given the trophy for the best actress. Phil Davies, from Off Centre Theatre, won the Best Actor Award for his performance in “Secretarial Skills” which came second in the Festival.

Phoenix Youth Theatre, Ross on Wye, produced the Best Individual Youth performance, Maggie Hearne gaining this in a production of an original play “Who’s Playing Juliet” while Ollie O’Neill as Tom, in the same production, gave the audience a superb Special Moment in a youth production, a new award this year.

The adjudicator, Mr Chris Jaeger GoDA MBE said on stage, at the awards ceremony on Saturday, that he was really impressed by the high standard and variety of entries; there being 13 in all, with teams from Ross on Wye, Monmouth, Ledbury, Orleton, Norbury and the Rural Theatre Players, from no fixed abode, all taking part. Chris Jaeger was so impressed by the organisation and help given by LADS and all the supporter of The Market Theatre, who gave so much of their unpaid time to make the Festival a success, that he gave them a special award to reflect how much he held them in high esteem.

The first and second plays go through to the next round of the All England Theatre Festival which, this year, is also being held at the Market Theatre, Ledbury on Saturday, April 14 when there will be six plays competing to go through to the Central Area Final of the AETF at the Swan Theatre, Worcester on Saturday, May 12.