EPT’s Book Club wins One Acts
Edinburgh People’s Theatre overall winner at SCDA One Act Festival
The Edinburgh People’s Theatre’s production of The Book Club of Little Witterington won first prize and the Edith Forbes Trophy in the Edinburgh district round of the SCDA’s One Act Play Festival 2023, held at the Church Hill Theatre over Friday and Saturday evenings.
EPT’s production of Joan Greening’s script, directed by Derek Ward, beat competition from five other local amateur groups to take the top spot. Runners up, and winners of the Mrs Charles Rowland Cup, were Leitheatre (Kirkgate) with The Infernal Serpent by David Gerow, directed by Rik Kay.
Don Arnott with Joanna Meiklejohn of winning company EPT. Pic: Ailie Henderson
Both plays will now go on to compete against the top plays from Fife and Stirling districts in the Divisional finals at the Regal theatre in Bathgate on March 10 and 11 2023. EPT will be performing third on Friday 10 and Leitheatre will be performing third on Saturday 11.
The third placed production and winner of the lan Wishart Quaich was St Serf’s Players with Socks by Rosemary Frisino Toohey, directed by Moira Macdonald.
Adjudication for the competition was by Kate Stephenson. The one act plays are judged on quite strict criteria with the adjudicator scoring each production out of 100. Marks are available for Acting (40), Production (35), Stage Presentation (15) and General Achievement (10).
EPT also won the Eric Bennett Trophy for Highest marks for Production, while Leitheatre (Kirkgate) took the Bobby Watt Memorial Cup for best stage presentation.
Edinburgh Graduate Theatre Group won the Margaret Allan Quaich for highest marks for acting, for Tunnel Vision by Sheila Hodgson, directed by Claire Morand and featuring Trevor Lord, Serena Park, Nicola Alexander, James Scott and Eirini Stamkou.
Don Arnott with a member of runners up, Leitheatre, Kirkgate
The John Mclntyre “best moment in theatre” trophy, judged by the Emergency panel of Mike Appleby and Helen Bannatyne, went to a moment in Leitheatre (Sunnyside)’s Tickless Time by Susan Glaspell, directed by Lynne Morris.
The Audience Choice Award (voted for by the audience each night) went to Edinburgh Theatre Arts’ It Takes Two by Iain Robertson on Friday night and to The Book Club of Little Witterington on Saturday night.
The Colin Peter Trophy for Youth winners went to the only youth club entered: St Kentigern’s Academy Youth Theatre with Everybody’s Dying to Meet You by Alan Richardson, directed by Charlotte Gray.
The awards were presented by Don Arnott, who recently stood down as chair of the Edinburgh district branch of the SCDA.
SCDA One Act Results in full
Overall first place and winner of the Edith Forbes Trophy
Edinburgh People Theatre with The Book Club of Little Witterington by Joan Greening
Director: Derek Ward, Stage manager: Kevin Edie. Starring: Carol Bryce, Joanna Meiklejohn, Pat Johnson, Sally North, and Jacquie Clayton.
Runners up and winner of the Mrs Charles Rowland Cup:
Leitheatre (Kirkgate) with The Infernal Serpent by David Gerow
Director: Rik Kay, Stage manager: Marion Donohoe. Starring: Alicia Smith, Pablo Lopez Sanchez-Matas, and Susan Duffy.
Third place and winners of the lan Wishart Quaich:
St Serf’s Players with Socks by Rosemary Frisino Toohey
Director: Moira Macdonald, Stage manager: Glen Sutherland. Starring: Malcolm McFadyen, Alison Carcas, Graeme Lobban and Fredericka Morrison.
Winner of the The Eric Bennett Trophy for highest marks for production:
Edinburgh People’s Theatre for The Book Club of Little Witterington by Joan Greening
Winner of the Bobby Watt Memorial Cup for best stage presentation:
Leitheatre (Kirkgate) for The Infernal Serpent by David Gerow
Winner of the Margaret Allan Quaich for highest marks for acting:
Edinburgh Graduate Theatre Group with Tunnel Vision by Sheila Hodgson
Director: Claire Morand, Stage manager: Lois Adams. Starring: Trevor Lord, Serena Park, Nicola Alexander, James Scott and Eirini Stamkou.
Winner of the Colin Peter youth Trophy:
St Kentigern’s Academy Youth Theatre with Everybody’s Dying to Meet You by Alan Richardson
Director: Charlotte Gray, Stage manager Joseph Yeardly. Starring: Julia Rzymska, Lola Mullen, Brandon McNeill, Rachel Horne and Joanesia Stamps.
Winner of the John Mclntyre Trophy for best moment in theatre (Voted for by the Emergency Panel):
Leitheatre (Sunnyside) with Tickless Time by Susan Glaspell
Director: Lynne Morris, Stage manager: Lindsay Cor. Starring: Bob Grindley, Briony Davies, Ruari JT Johnson, Clara Wilson, Phyllis Ross and Sanna O Maern.
Audience Choice Award (Voted for by the audience each night)
Friday: Edinburgh Theatre Arts with It takes Two, written and directed by Iain Robertson. Starring Ruairidh Hastie and Georgie Purvis. Stage manager: Colin McPherson.
Saturday: Edinburgh People Theatre with The Book Club of Little Witterington by Joan Greening.
ENDS
