Anthony Deacon’s play "Animal Plan-It" and the cast from Future Forum, consisting of (in order of the festival programme) Georgia Fisk, Hannah Joseph-Green, Rachel Hufflett, Charlotte Robinson, Chloe Robinson and Henrietta Joseph-Green won 4 out of 10 awards at this year’s Maidenhead Drama Festival at Norden Farm Arts Centre.

They faced strong competition from both adult and youth theatre groups from the local area. The festival entries were performed over 4 evenings last week, with 2 performances per night, followed by a full adjudication of the performances, taking into consideration all aspects of the performance, from stage presentation (costume, scenery. lighting) and direction to the individual acting. The adjudicator was Arthur Rochester, GoDA, who has participated in drama festivals for over 30 years, and is also a very experienced thespian himself.

Before going into a deeper analysis, allow me to say a few words how this achievement by the cast has been made possible. For the past three months, this group has been rehearsing solidly, in various locations, mainly living and dining rooms without really getting an opportunity to try out the play on a proper stage. In fact, they rehearsed it only once on the actual stage, the week before the festival. All this required the co-operation of understanding parents who also very happily undertook the role of chaperone and …. expert make-up artist.

I would also like to thank all members who came to watch the performance on Friday and award ceremony on Saturday – it is always great to have support from within your own club.

Future Forum’s performance

won the following categories:-

Class 7 – 16 and under

Class 5 – Best Short Play

Class 4 – Best Unpublished Play

Class 2 – Single Sex

Although they were the only entry for Classes 7 and 2 in particular, the adjudicator explained that in order to be eligible for any of the awards, a certain number of points had to be reached, and that in all cases the group was well within the required score.

From the adjudication on Friday we could detect that he liked the originality of the play, the fact that it was topical, the costumes and the simple but effective stage presentation, and the characterisation the actors gave to their animal characters. He also made some useful suggestions for future performances, and we look forward to seeing the play again in October at the Bourne End Community Centre, and also, hopefully, at the library, as part of our 5th Summer Festival.

Interestingly, one of the trophies, at the time referred to as the "All Female" class, had been won by Forum Players back in 1972. If you look into your programme of the 40th Anniversary Celebration, you will see a picture of it, as it appeared in the Maidenhead Advertiser at the time.

The main category as well as several others, including Stage Presentation, was won by The Young Theatre at Beaconsfield for their performance of an unknown and quite early Noel Coward play, "The Better Half". This play will go forward to the next level of the competition, the Eastern Area Final, and hopefully, the British Final.

So, once again, congratulations to our talented young actors, and last but not least, to the ubiquitous Anthony Deacon, who wrote, directed and managed this unique piece of drama, which was a great experience for everybody involved. A big thanks also goes to Stage Manager Graeme Robinson, to Wendy Keeble for her creativity to produce such great costumes, to Jessica Robinson for working on the sound, Rick Accastello and Karin Wiggins for set artwork and hay bale supply, Sally Joseph-Green and Deborah Fisk for stage make-up and Carol Hufflett for general chaperoning.

I hope the courage and relentless effort shown by this group will be an inspiration for the whole club, young and old, to venture out.

For those who are interested, the full list of awards was as follows:-

Class 1 – Open,

First: The Better Half by Noel Coward – The Young Theatre at Beaconsfield

Second: Private Lives by Noel Coward – Maidenhead Drama Guild

Third: He’s Coming toDinner by JPS Yates – Tarrystone Players

Class 2 – Single Sex:

Animal Plan-It by Anthony Deacon – Future Forum

Class 3 – Best Unpublished Play:

Animal Plan-It by Anthony Deacon

Class 5 – Best Short Play:

Animal Plan-It by Anthony Deacon

Class 6 – All England Theatre Festival:

The Better Half by Noel Coward – The Young Theatre at Beaconsfield

Class 7 – 16 and under:

Animal Plan-It by Anthony Deacon – Future Forum

Class 8 – Best Comedy:

Private Lives by Noel Coward – Maidenhead Drama Guild

Award for Stage Presentation:

The Better Half by Noel Coward – The Young Theatre at Beaconsfield

Adjudicator’s Award:

Romantic Novelist by Graham Jones – Tarrystone Players