The 2016 Waltham Forest Festival of Theatre
Wednesday 16th to Saturday 19th March 2016
Adjudicator: Jill Colby
Members of Woodhouse Players show off their award for Best Team
2016 Award Winners
Festival Award for Best Team
Winner: Woodhouse Players (The Long Christmas Dinner)
Festival Award for Second Team
Winner: Blitzed Theatre Company (Untitled)
Romeril Award for Third Team (in memory of Phyl and Eric Romeril)
Winner: Wadham Players (Office Song)
Other nominations for Best, Second and Third Team awards:
Wadham Players (Time Flies)
Wadham Players (Red Peppers)
Festival Award for Best Performance by an Actress
Winner: Amy Clayton - Tiger, Blitzed Theatre Company (Untitled)
Other nominations:
Paula Harris Brett - Miss Elizabeth, Ad Hoc Players (Anybody for Tea?)
Emalouise Bewsey - May, Wadham Players (Time Flies)
Elaine Elliott - Lily Pepper, Wadham Players (Red Peppers)
Alison Roberts - Claire, Wadham Players (Office Song)
Festival Award for Best Performance by an Actor
Winner: Darren Matthews - Darke, Blitzed Theatre Company (Untitled)
Other nominations:
Bob Thompson - Trevor, Tiger Productions (Just a Straight Man)
Adam Dryer - Barney, Tiger Productions (Just a Straight Man)
Mark Simons - Horace, Wadham Players (Time Flies)
Chris Millington - George Pepper, Wadham Players (Red Peppers)
Andy B. - Brian, Wadham Players (Office Song)
Festival Award for Best Stage Presentation of a play in the Adult Section
Woodhouse Players (The Long Christmas Dinner)
Other nominations:
Ad Hoc Theatre Club (Anybody for Tea?)
Tiger Productions (Just a Straight Man)
Vi Gostling New Writing Award
Winner: Career Day by Paul Adam Levy (St Monica's Players)
Other nominations:
The Golden Carpet (Magik Road)
Don't Blame Him by Jon McAdam (Waltham forest Youth Theatre)
Guy Gostling Award for Best Supporting Player
Winner: Rose Floyd - Mabel Grace, Red Peppers (Wadham Players)
Wanstead Players Pat Dancer Award for Best Supporting Player
Winner: Mark Simons - Alf, Wadham Players (Red Peppers)
Other nomiations for Best Supporting Player:
Marian Lynch - Terry, St Monica's Players (Career Day)
Liam Mannix - Kramer, Ad Hoc Theatre Club (Anybody for Tea?)
Simon Billig - David Attenborough, Wadham Players (Time Flies)"
Dick Williams Award for Comedy
Winner: Sarah Garred - Miss Birdie, Ad Hoc Theatre Club (Anybody for Tea?)
Other Nominations:
Mark Simons - Horace, Wadham Players (Time Flies)
Emalouise Bewsey - May, Wadham Players (Time Flies)
Rose Floyd - Mabel Grace, Wadham Players (Red Peppers)
Roy Seammen Award for Adjudicator's Selection
Winner: The whole Magik Road team
Chris Levoir Best Stage Crew Award
Winner: Blitzed Theatre Company (Untitled)
Festival Award for Best Team in the Youth Section
Not awarded - only one youth entry
Wadham Players Award for Second Team in the Youth Section
Not awarded - only one youth entry
CADOS Award for Most Promising Performer 18 and Under
Winner: The whole Waltham Forest Youth Theatre team
Marcia Lee Award for Best Stage Presentation in the Youth Section
Winner: Waltham Forest Youth Theatre (Don't Blame Him)
2016 Entries
Wednesday 16 March 7.30pm
Magik Road present The Golden Carpet
An original play adapted from an Armenian Folk Tale New Play
Ad Hoc Players Theatre Club present Anybody For Tea?
A murder mystery comedy by C.B. Gifford
Tiger Productions present Just a Straight Man
A drama set in a theatre by Rob Smith & John Mawson
Thursday 17 March 7.30pm
St Monica's Players present Career Day
An original comedy set in a North London school by Paul Adam Levy New Play
Wadham Players present Time Flies
An eccentric comedy by David Ives
Blitzed Theatre Company present Untitled
A tale of love, literature and lies by John Arthur Green
Friday 18 March 7.30pm
Wadham Players present Red Peppers
A theatrical comedy by Noel Coward
Woodhouse Players present The Long Christmas Dinner
A drama spanning ninety years by Thornton Wilder
Saturday 19 March 7.30pm
Waltham Forest Youth Theatre present Don't Blame Him
A contemporary original drama by Jon McAdam New Play
Wadham Players present Office Song
A comedy by Nick Warburton
The following plays may not suitable for very young audiences:
- on Wednesday "Anybody for Tea? (slightly) and "Just a Straight Man" (may not suitable for under 12s)
- on Thursday "Untitled" and "Time Flies".
2016 Adjudicator Details
JILL COLBY L.G.S.M. G.o.D.A.
Jill has worked in the professional theatre for over 40 years as actor and director, working with several generations, from Vivian Leigh to Richard Griffiths, and from John Gielgud to Howard Davies and Rupert Goold. Adjudication became a natural progression from her work as a Director which ranges from Greek Tragedy through most of Shakespeare's plays to Harold Pinter, Samuel Beckett the Comedies of Alan Bennett, and Alan Ayckbourn as well as the work of contemporary writers such as Mark Ravenhill and April de Angelis.
Much of Jill's work has been the training of professional actors, having been Head of Acting at three London drama schools over the years, with numerous successful graduates seen regularly on television, film and in our major theatre companies. Jill has adjudicated at all levels of the All England Theatre Festival, including the English, Scottish and Irish finals, and is vice-chairman of the Guild of Drama Adjudicators. She is also an examiner for Trinity College travelling to Australia and the Far-East as well as throughout Britain & Europe.
2014 Award Winners
Festival Award for Best Team
Winner: Woodhouse Players (Hamlet Part II)
Festival Award for Second Team
Winner: Blitzed Theatre Company (The Piece of Paper Paradox)
Romeril Award for Third Team (in memory of Phyl and Eric Romeril
Winner: Wanstead Players (A Room Without a Roof)
Festival Award for Best Performance by an Actress
Winner: L J Hickerton, Woodhouse Players (Hamlet Part II)
Other nominations:
Emily Carmichael, Woodhouse Players (Within Required Parameters)
Linda Levy, St Monica's Players (A Little Box of Oblivion)
Lisa Chapman, Thurrock Courts Players (Raisins)
Festival Award for Best Performance by an Actor
Winner: Darren Matthews, Blitzed Theatre Company (The Piece of Paper Paradox)
Other nominations:
Phil Clarke, Wanstead Players (A Room without a Roof)
Warren Mc Williams, St Monica's Players (Buried Deep)
Chris Jefferies, Woodhouse Players (Hamlet Part II)
David Bowman, St Monica's Players (A Little Box of Oblivion)
Mike Jones, Thurrock Courts Players (Raisins)
Festival Award for Best Stage Presentation of a Play in the Adult Section
Woodhouse Players (Within Required Parameters)
Other nominations:
Wanstead Players (A Room without a Roof)
Woodhouse Players (Hamlet Part II)
Blitzed Theatre Company (The Piece of Paper Paradox)
Wadham Players (The Droitwich Discovery)
Vi Gostling New Writing Award
Winner: JR Allen for A Room Without a Roof (Wanstead Players)
Other nominations:
Ben Hewis for Buried Deep (St Monica's Players)
Hayley Joanne Bacon for No Sight Worth Seeing (Adhoc Players Theatre Club)
Dean Rands for Raisins (Thurrock Courts Players)
Guy Gostling Award for Best Supporting Player
Winner: Ian Davenport, St Augustine's Players (Little Grimley Presents Strictly Sex Factor (On Ice) )
Other nominations:
Peter Wilson, Wanstead Players (A Room without a Roof)
Bryn Monroe, Woodhouse Players (Hamlet Part II)
Neil Gray, Darren Matthews, Blitzed Theatre Company (The Piece of Paper Paradox)
The Wanstead Players Pat Dancer Award for Best Supporting Player
Winner: Alison Roberts, Wadham Players (The Droitwich Discovery)
Other nominations:
Lizi Courtney-Magee, Wanstead Players (A Room Without a Roof)
Rose Floyd, Wadham Players (World Premiere)
Jill Atkins, Wadham Players (World Premiere)
Dick Williams Award for Comedy
Winner: Woodhouse Players (Hamlet Part II)
Other Nominations:
Wadham Players (The Droitwich Discovery)
St Augustine's Players (Little Grimley Presents Strictly Sex Factor (On Ice) )
Wadham Players (World Premiere)
Thurrock Courts Players (Raisins)
St Monica's Players (A Little Box of Oblivion
Roy Seammen Award for Adjudicator's Selection
Liz Butler as Joyce, St Augustine's Players (Little Grimley Presents Strictly Sex Factor (On Ice))
Chris Levoir Best Stage Crew Award
Winner: St Monica's Players (A Gulag Mouse)
Festival Award for Best Team in the Youth Section
Winner: Teenactors (A Memory of Lizzie)
Wadham Players Award for Second Team in the Youth Section
Winner: Waltham Forest Youth Theatre (Oubliette)
CADOS Award for Most Promising Performer 18 or Under
Winner: Louis Dodge, Waltham Forest Youth Theatre (Oubliette)
Nominated: Tanya MacPherson, Teenactors (A Memory of Lizzie)
Marcia Lee Award for Best Stage Presentation in the Youth Section
Winner: Teenactors (A Memory of Lizzie)
2014 Adjudicator Details
After the final performance each evening the Festival Adjudicator, Keith Thompson GoDA, will give a critical appraisal of each play to aid performers’ learning and encourage their improvement.
Keith's involvement in amateur drama started as a 13 year old in a London boys' school with a performance as Lucy, the maid in Sheridan's The Rivals. After several years in youth drama and local groups he joined the Barn Theatre in Hertfordshire in 1964, having moved there after getting married. He has acted and directed with this group for over 45 years, including drama festivals in England, Scotland and Wales, and he has played many times at the Minack open air theatre in Cornwall. He has just one festival success as a director, at the Felixstowe full length festival, but as an actor he has played in winning teams at the All England Final and on several occasions in plays placed first at the NDFA All Winners Final. He was awarded Best Actor at the Buxton Festival for his portrayal of Norman in The Dresser. His other favourite performances have been as Salieri in Amadeus, Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman, C.S.Lewis in Shadowlands, McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Candy in Of Mice and Men. The playwrights who give him most pleasure are Feydeau, Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams, and the musicals of Stephen Sondheim.
Keith has served on the committee of The Little Theatre Guild of Great Britain. He is a member of the Guild of Drama Adjudicators and has adjudicated at many festivals in England and Ireland. A retired property manager who commuted to London by train for thirty five years, this afforded lots of opportunities to see West End shows. His life is dominated by the theatre but he likes football as well!
2014 Running Order
Click on the play titles to see details
Tuesday 11 March 7.30pm
St Monica's Players present A Gulag Mouse
A Prison Play by Arthur M Jolly
Wanstead Players present A Room without a Roof
A thoughtful comedy by J. R. Allen New Play
Ad Hoc Players Theatre Club present No Sight Worth Seeing by Hayley Joanne Bacon New Play Unsuitable for children
Wednesday 12 March 7.30pm
Thurrock Courts Players present On Unofficial Business
A drama by Craig Sandeman
Woodhouse Players present Hamlet Part II
A parody by Perry Pontac
Thurrock Courts Players present Cracker Joke Writer
A comedy by Paul Richards
Thursday 13 March 7.30pm
Blitzed Theatre Company present The Piece of Paper Paradox
A comedic drama by John Arthur Green
Wadham Players present The Droitwich Discovery
A comedy by Nick Warburton
St Monica's Players present Buried Deep
An original drama by Ben Hewis with additions by Graham Wall New Play Unsuitable for children
Friday 14 March 7.30pm
St Augustine's Players present Little Grimley Presents Strictly Sex Factor (On Ice)
A comedy by David Tristram
Woodhouse Players present Within Required Parameters
An original drama by Kelly Read New Play
Wadham Players present World Premiere
A comedy by Charles Manders
Saturday 15 March 4pm
Waltham Forest Youth Theatre present Oubliette
A drama by David Foxton
Teenactors present A Memory of Lizzie
A drama by David Foxton
Saturday 15 March 7.30pm
St Monica's Players present A Little Box of Oblivion
An absurd play by Stephen Bean
Thurrock Courts Players present Raisins
An original play about dating by Dean Rands New Play
2015 Award Winners
Festival Award for Best Team
Winner: Woodhouse Players (Interview - a Fugue for Eight Actors)
Festival Award for Second Team
Winner: Wadham Players (The Old Lady Shows her Medals)
Romeril Award for Third Team (in memory of Phyl and Eric Romeril
Winner: St Monica's Players (Thank You for Protesting)
Festival Award for Best Performance by an Actress
Winner: Liz Butler, St Augustine's Players (Joining the Club)
Other nominations:
Linda Levy, St Monica's Players (Thank You for Protesting)
Carla Segal, St Monica's Players (Thank You for Protesting)
Rose Floyd, Wadham Players (The Old Lady Shows her Medals)
Festival Award for Best Performance by an Actor
Winner: Andy B. , Wadham Players (The Old Lady Shows her Medals)
Other nominations:
Adam Dryer, Tiger Productions (Bill and Ben)
Joe Krajewski, St Monica's Players (Thank You for Protesting)
Gary Catlin, Blitzed Theatre Company (On the Edge)
Festival Award for Best Stage Presentation of a play in the Adult Section
Wadham Players (The Old Lady Shows her Medals)
Other nominations:
Woodhouse Players (Interview - a Fugue for Eight Actors)
Vi Gostling New Writing Award
Winner: Paul Adam Levy, St Monica's Players (Thank You for Protesting)
Other nominations:
Blitzed Theatre Company (On the Edge)
Guy Gostling Award for Best Supporting Player
Joint Winners: Emily Zarate and Rosalinde Jade Morris, Woodhouse Players (Five Kinds of Silence)
Wanstead Players Pat Dancer Award for Best Supporting Player
Winner: Wendy Jones, St Monica's Players (Blue Remembered Hills)
Dick Williams Award for Comedy
Winner: Nikki Barlow, St Augustine's Players (Erica and Me)
Other Nominations:
Madeleine Emmerson, Thurrock Courts Players (Old Soldier)
Jill Atkins, Wadham Players, (The Old Lady Shows her Medals)
Peter Wade, St Augustine's Players (Erica and Me)
Roy Seammen Award for Adjudicator's Selection
Winner: St Augustine's Players (Joining the Club)
Other Nominations:
Abbie Knowles, Musician, Woodhouse Players (Interview - a Fugue for Eight Actors)
Teamwork, Wadham Players (Alarms)
Teamwork, Woodhouse Players (Interview - a Fugue for Eight Actors)
Teamwork, St Monica's Players (Blue Remembered Hills)
Sound effects, Wadham Players (Alarms)
Chris Levoir Best Stage Crew Award
Winner: St Monica's Players (Blue Remembered Hills)
Other Nominations:
St Augustine's Players (Poison)
Theatreskool (Ghost Writer)
Festival Award for Best Team in the Youth Section
Winner: Waltham Forest Youth Theatre (The Ragged School)
Wadham Players Award for Second Team in the Youth Section
Winner: Theatreskool (Ghost Writer)
CADOS Award for Most Promising Performer 18 and Under
Winner: Caitlin Elsworth, Blitzed Theatre Company (On the Edge)
Other Nomiations:
Jasmine Collier, Teenactors (The Board)
Jack Snell, Waltham Forest Youth Theatre (The Ragged School)
Arthur Phipps, Theatreskool (Ghost Writer)
Marcia Lee Award for Best Stage Presentation in the Youth Section
Winner: Waltham Forest Youth Theatre (The Ragged School)
2015 Running Order
Click on play titles or company names to see more details
Monday 16 March 7.30pm
Teenactors present The Board
An original drama set in the 1950s by Members of the Group New Play
Waltham Forest Youth Theatre present The Ragged School
A drana set in Victorian London by Bill Owen
Tiger Productions present Bill and Ben
A comedy by Richard James
Tuesday 17 March 7.30pm
Woodhouse Players present Five Kinds of Silence
A powerful drama Exploring adult themes of abuse and violence by Shelagh Stephenson Unsuitable for children
St Monica's Players present Blue Remembered Hills by Dennis Potter Unsuitable for children
Wednesday 18 March 7.30pm
Thurrock Courts Players present Old Soldier
An original comedy by Michael McFarlane New Play
St Augustine's Players present Erica and Me
A one-act farce by Alan Robinson
Wadham Players present Alarms
A comady by Michael Frayn
Thursday 19 March 7.30pm
St Monica's Players present Thank You For Protesting
An original comedy by Paul Adam Levy New Play
St Augustine's Players present Joining the Club
A comedy by David Tristram
Friday 20 March 7.30pm
St Augustine's Players present Poison
A thriller, edged with black comedy by David Neale
Wadham Players present The Old Lady Shows her Medals
A domestic drama by J M Barrie
Woodhouse Players present Interview - a Fugue for Eight Actors
A drama by Jean-Claude van Italie
Saturday 21 March 7.30pm
Theatreskool present Ghost Writer
A comedy for young people by Nick Warburton
Blitzed Theatre Company present On the Edge
An original comedic drama by John Arthur Green New Play
2015 Adjudicator Details
After the final performance each evening the Festival Adjudicator, Colin Dolley GoDA SASDA, will give a critical appraisal of each play to aid performers’ learning and encourage their improvement.
An extremely busy adjudicator, Colin has assessed more than 2,500 productions at over 250 festivals over the past 30 years. His numerous engagements have ranged throughout the British Isles – and beyond. He has adjudicated the National Finals in England, Scotland, Wales, Ulster and All-Ireland One act Festival, the All-Winners Festival, and festivals in Europe.
Trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama in the Art of Theatre Criticism, he was Head of English and Drama in a large Surrey secondary school. For many years he was theatre critic for a West London newspaper and has served on the Barclay’s Award Panel assessing professional productions nationwide.
He has recently completed his Chairmanship of the Guild of Drama Adjudicators and is also a Member of the Scottish Association of Speech and Drama Adjudicators.
Along with his friend and colleague Rex Walford he has co-written ‘The One-Act Play Companion, published by A & C Black. He has also edited the book ‘On Being a Drama Adjudicator’.
He is one of the three judges on the panel selecting the winners of the Annual National Drama Festivals Association New Playwriting Competition. In addition he is on the training team for a national telephone help-line.
He is delighted return to Waltham Forest for the sixth time to adjudicate the 2015 Festival.
2013 Award Winners
Marcia Lee Award for Best Stage Presentation (in the Youth Category)
Winner: Waltham Forest Youth Theatre (Us and Them)
CADOS Award for Most Promising Performer under 18 (in the Youth Category)
Winner: Hannah Dodd, Waltham Forest Youth Theatre (Us and Them)
Wadham Players Award for Second-Place Youth Team
Winner: Super Trouper Theatre School (The Death of Romeo)
Waltham Forest Services Shield (for the First-Place Youth Team)
Winner: Waltham Forest Youth Theatre (Us and Them)
Best Stage Crew Award (presented by CADOS in memory of Chris Levoir)
Winner: College Players (To Fake or not to Fake) Nominated: St Augusine's (Swingers)
Nominated: Wadham Players (In by the Half)
Roy Seammen Award for Adjudicator's Selection
The adjudicator decided to give this to a supporting player because the Festival only has one trophy for A supporting player
Winner: Adam King, Wadham Players (Big Dos are Us)
Nominated: Trevor Povey and Michael McFarlane, Thurrock Courts Players(Babels in Arms)
Nominated: Pauline Crowhurst, Thurrock Courts Players (Tea and Crumpet)"
Dick Williams Award for Comedy
Nominated: The vest sequence in Swingers, St Augustine's Players
Nominated: The can can sequence in A Kind of Vesuvius, Wadham Players
Winner: The gorilla sequence in What's for Pudding, St Augustine's Players
Guy Gostling Award for Best Supporting Performance
Winner: Jill Atkins, Wadham Players (In By the Half)
Nominated: Darren Matthews, Blitzed Theatre Company (Brothers)
Nominated: Simon Billig, Wadham Players (A Kind of Vesuvius)"
Vi Gostling New Writing Award
Winner: JR Allen for Ghost Light, Wanstead Players
Nominated: Sue Welch for To Fake or Not to Fake, College Players
Nominated: Jump the Broomstick, devised by Adhoc Players Theatre Club"
Guardian Trophy for Best Stage Presentation
Winner: Wadham Players (In by the Half)"
Nominated: St Monica's Players (Badly Drawn)
Nominated: The Wanstead Players (Ghost Light)
Arts Council Award for Best Performance by an Actor
Winner: Richard Millen, St Monica's Players (I Am Hamlet)
Nominated: Jonathan Cruse, St Augustine's Players (What's for Pudding?)
Nominated: Jim Killeen, Woodhouse Players (A Separate Piece)"
Arts Council Award for Best Performance by an Actress
Winner: Rose Floyd, Wadham Players (In by the Half)
Nominated: Mary Tempesta, St Augustine's Players (What’s for Pudding?)
Nominated: Nikki Barlow, St Augustine's Players (Swingers)
Romeril Award for Third Team (in memory of Phyl and Eric Romeril
Winner: Blitzed Theatre Company (Brothers)
Classified Trophy for Second Team
Winner: St Monica's Players (I am Hamlet)
Arts Council Shield for Best Team
Winner: Wadham Players (In By the Half)
Rose Floyd and Gill Atkins in a scene from In by the Half
2013 Adjudicator Details
After the final performance each evening the Festival Adjudicator, Louise Manders, LLAM, ALAM, GoDA, will give a critical appraisal of each play to aid performers’ learning and encourage their improvement.
Louise first trod the boards when only five days old and has never looked back. Her professional theatrical career began with Haymarket Stage Productions progressing from stage management to acquiring her Equity card as an actress. She enjoyed touring the UK and appearing in all aspects of theatre including repertory and musicals. Louise is presently Artistic Director of the Phoenix Youth Theatre in Southend, Head of Drama at Crowstone Preparatory School in Westcliff, Speech Tutor at St. John’s Billericay and an adjudicator for the Guild of Drama Adjudicators. She has taught speech, drama and dance to all ages of students, including adults and specialises in the LAMDA examinations. Louise is an experienced theatre director and even finds time to write plays and poetry, and dance flamenco!
2013 Running Order
Click on the play titles to see details
Tuesday 19 March 7.30pm
Wanstead Players present Ghost Light by J R Allen New Play
College Players present To Fake or Not to Fake? by Sue Welch New Play
Wednesday 20 March 7.30pm
St Monica's Players present I am Hamlet by Richard James
St Monica's Players present Badly Drawn by Alan Robinson
Wadham Players present Big Do's R Us by Doreen Friend New Play
Thursday 21 March 7.30pm
Thurrock Courts Players present Tea and Crumpet by Trevor Povey New Play
Wadham Players present In by the Half by Jimmie Chinn
Thurrock Courts Players present Babels in Arms by David Ives
Friday 22 March 5pm
Waltham Forest Youth Theatre present Us and Them by David Campton
Souper Trooper Theatre School present The Death of Romeo by Suzanne MacPherson New Play
Friday 22 March 7.30pm
Blitzed Theatre Company present Brothers by John Arthur Green
Wadham Players present Babels in Arms by Gillian Plowman
Saturday 23 March 4pm
Ad Hoc Players Theatre Club present Jump the Broomstick by A devised piece by members of the company New Play
St Augustine's Players present What's for Pudding? by David Tristram
Saturday 23 March 7.30pm
St Augustine's Players present Swingers by Paul Beard
Woodhouse Players present A Separate Peace by Tom Stoppard