Play Writing Competition - June 19th 2004
Robin Hood Theatre, Averham, Nottm

The Play Writing Competition Festival was held on June 19th at the Robin Hood Theatre, Averham - 6 plays and 4 sketches were shortlisted by our adjudicator Arthur Aldrich.
You will see that entrants came from all over the country with only one shortlisted author from Nottingham - our very own Treasurer, Neil Mackintosh. The entrants forms were submitted to the adjudicator under pen names and his comments included :

There is something of interest and potential in all the plays entered. But some of them have not progressed beyond the ideas stage. Mostly it is because the story and the characters have not been developed in a dramatic way. There is no guarantee that the ones I have chosen will work but I feel that the writers of the shortlisted plays have reached a stage where they will benefit from seeing the plays in performance or, at least, in a rehearsed reading.
I have judged them on the originality of the subject matter, the manner, style and craft, with which it is presented, and the dialogue used, ie. whether it creates character and tells the story in a dramatic way. Three of the plays were an easy choice - it was instantly possible to "see" them in performance. The other three chosen were more problematical but it will be interesting to see them in performance. They may surprise me.
Sketches - The standard of sketch writing was, in my opinion higher than that shown in the playwriting. It was therefore easier to make a final choice. Based more or less on the same criteria that was applied to plays, but looking for brevity and if possible a twist! - Arthur Aldrich.

1st Man with the Christmas socks - Audrey Ringrose - London - - - Elspeth Whitaker Trophy
2nd Putting the Children First - Amanda Bellamy - Leicester
3rd Bed & Breakfast - Eddie Coleman - London
Runners Up
Stand & Deliver - Neil Mackintosh - Nottingham
Final Jeopardy - Kay Massey - Sheffield
Just A Gigolo - Ken Thorp - Dorset

Sketches
Winner The Visitor - Judith Fox - Manchester
Runners Up
Knights Out - Peter Haslam - Bolton
Animal Form - Peter Haslam - Bolton
Freedom Found - Angela Higson -London

The days events consisted of a Play Writing Workshop lead by Arthur and performances of the above plays and sketches by our member groups and others taking place during the afternoon and evening. Feedback from the shortlisted authors on receiving their "crits" has been very encouraging

Tickets were priced at £5 for either session, £5 for the Workshop or £7 for the two sessions
Maggie Andrew - Co-ordinator