This is the second Drama festival of its kind. Hosted this year by Macclesfield Amateur Dramatic Society (MADS), it is staged over three days with nine plays in contention for a place in the AETF Northern Semi-Final which takes place on 9th and 10th May 2020. The winner of the Northern final will progress onto the AETF Grand Final due to take place on 13th June 2020.

 

Sunday 15th March

 

Definition Not Found by Jodie Sale - Davenham Players

Set in a future world where the Government has banned any study of the arts because of a lack of funding, students may only study STEM subjects in the hope that these budding scientists can save the planet. All 7 to 21-year olds must board at school and are slowly having their identities taken from them. Some art students have gone into hiding and the NHS is struggling.

L4 (Emily Pinches), wants to be a writer and L2 (Holly Lines) a musician, but in this environment, they are not supposed to think creatively; only facts are permitted.

On a stage that has only three beds, the young team wearing ripped red dungarees and white shirts communicate their feeling of despair. L4 had been hiding in a theatre, but when it was raided, she was brought to the school for re-programming.

One side effect of the mind control drugs is that their ability to say controversial words or react against the regime has been taken away. L2 and M8’s sister (Becky Seymour), recite the definition of a word in a monotone in perfect unison. This piece has been very well rehearsed and it’s a credit to the theatre company, how seamless the performance was.

This is a topical subject, as our education system faces daily struggles to utilise resources, the arts are very often the victim and lose the battle against the more academic subjects.

The standout performances came from Emily Pinches, Holly Lines and Jack Furlong whose ability to move between their character’s normal behaviour and their post-treatment behaviour was a credit to their acting skills.

 

From the Ashes by Jack Morrison - MADS Theatre

An asteroid is hurtling towards Earth and there will be no escape. A budding poet Jay enters poetry competitions but always seems to come second to his rival Sam. He can’t believe it and arranges to meet Sam to find out why.

In this hugely funny play, we follow Jay (Eddie Melling) and Sam (Chelsey Sayward) to find out how they are going to cope with the news that not only are they poetry rivals, but they are about to become extinct. Will they be one of the chosen ones (in true Noah’s Ark style), to be invited down to the underground bunkers?

The interplay between Jay and Sam is sometimes confrontational, as they are rivals, but also tender in the more intimate scenes. The two actors use minimal props with only a bench, blocks at the rear of the stage for a bed, a throw and backpack.

The play flowed easily with the dark humour showing off the well written script. The writer Jack Morrison multi-tasked as Director and even appeared as ‘Man’ on stage, which was a small role, but he performed it with perfect comedic timing, which shows his versatility.

The poetry readings helped to change the rhythm of the play and served as a reminder, that poetry is the reason Jay and Sam met.

 

Cliff’s Edge by Paul Beard - Nantwich Players

Using humour to tackle the subject of suicide, this play is set on the edge of a cliff at Beachy Head. Suicidal actor Gary (Jonathan Everitt), has no work and has depression due to his prolonged unemployment. Whilst trying to write his suicide note he encounters Cliff (Riddell Graham), who, in his own way, is trying to persuade Gary not to jump. Cliff runs the pub imaginatively called ‘The Beachy Head’ and explains that he often tries to talk people out of jumping off the Cliff as they often visit his pub first for a drink of dutch courage.

Gary also meets Sue (Elaine Caulfield), who is manically depressed and rather than trying to persuade Gary not to jump, she tries to give him ideas of how to do it. This is an open invitation for gallows humour, and it is delivered in spade fulls here.

The staging is limited to two boxes and a wire taped to the floor of the stage denoting the cliff edge, but its enough to give the actors a reason to move about the stage and creates some dramatic tension, as when the suicidal jumper decides they may jump they climb onto one of the boxes.

I loved the way the costumes matched the personality of the wearer with Gary in grey which matched his John Major like personality, a flowery vivid dress for the permanently wired Sue and the typically British holiday resort pub landlord Cliff, wearing a Hawaiian shirt, shorts, socks and sandals.

This team directed play did offer an amusing glimpse into the subject of depression with black comedy making this a melting pot for dark jokes and should come with a health warning ‘Please do not try this at home’. Just kidding!

 

Awards

 

Best Actress:

 

Nominations:          Emily Redwood – MADS

                                 Bethany Froud – Nantwich Players

                                 Emma Griffiths – Neston Players

                                 Chelsey Sayward – MADS

Winner:                    Bethany Froud – Nantwich Players

 

Best Actor:

                                            

Nominations:       Luke Oldham - MADS

                              Toby Cordwell - MADS

                              Colin Johnston – Nantwich Players

                              Eddie Melling - MADS

Winner:                Colin Johnston – Nantwich Players

 

Most Promising Actor/Actress:

 

Nominations:       Duncan Munro – MADS

                              Holly Lines – Davenham Players

                              Emily Pinches – Davenham Players

                              Jack Furlong – Davenham Players

Winner:                Emily Pinches – Davenham Players

 

Best Director:

 

Nominations:       Luke Oldham – MADS

                              Jeremy Acklam – Nantwich Players

                              Jack Morrison – MADS

                              Jodie Sale – Davenham Players

Winner:                Jeremy Acklam – Nantwich Players

 

Best Original Play:          

 

Nominations:       Dave – A Cautionary Tale – DTAT

                              From Little Acorns Grow – Electric Fables

                              The Changing Room – Neston Players

                              From the Ashes – MADS

Winner:                From the Ashes – MADS

 

Adjudicators Award:

 

Winner: Duncan Munro – MADS

 

Best Cheshire Production:

 

Winner: The Girl in the Machine – Nantwich Players

 

AETF Trophy:    

 

Winner: The Girl in the Machine – Nantwich Players