Grads grab one-act crown
A Number wins at one act fest
The Edinburgh Graduate Theatre Group, the Grads, has triumphed in the Edinburgh and District heats of the SCDA’s 2018 one act festival with both its entries in the top three productions.
The Grads’ production of Caryl Churchill’s A Number, directed by Anji Harkness Robertson, took first spot at the three-day event which was held at the Church Hill Theatre under the adjudication of Gavin Orr.
Michael Scott and Sam Cromas in A Number. Pic: Walter Hampson
Coming second, and winning the award for highest marks in acting for performers Jeff Robinson and Jack Stewart, were the Livingston Players with their take on Tim Whitnall’s The Sociable Plover directed by Ronnie Barnes.
Coming in third was the other Grads group, which saw Hannah Bradley directing her great grandfather’s play, The Ram In The Thicket, written under the pen name of Glen Mhor.
Besides winning first place, A Number won the award for best stage presentation and the award for highest marks in a production. Featuring Michael Scott as the father and Sam Cromas as his sons, it had a set designed by David Grimes, built by Chris Allan and Michael Mulligan, and lit by J Gordon Hughes.
Best moment in theatre
Also in the prizes were the Twilighters who won Best Moment in Theatre award for their SCDA one-act debut production of Peter Quilter’s Blind Date, directed by Phil Wilson.
Jeff Robinson and Jack Stewart in The Sociable Plover. Pic: Walter Hampson
Three productions go forward from these heats to represent Edinburgh at the Eastern Divisional Final of the competition in Killin, from 22 to 24 March 2018. However, as only one team from each group may go through to the next round, Bradley and her company lose out on that regard.
Fourth placed Leitheatre Sunnyside with David Campton’s After Midnight, Before Dawn, directed by Christine Dall, will take their place.
Listings & Links
SCDA Edinburgh District Youth Festival
Church Hill Theatre 33a Morningside Road, EH10 4DR
Sunday 25 February 2018
Early start: 5pm.
Tickets £10 (£6 student concessions) from www.scdaedinburgh.org.uk.
Eastern Division Final
McLaren Hall, Killin, Stirling FK21, UK
Thursday 22 – Saturday 24 March 2018
Evenings: 7.30pm.
Event Facebook Page: www.facebook.com.
The Edinburgh District branch of the SCDA has a selection of Walter Hampsen’s images from the competing productions on its Facebook page: @BESToftheFESTedinSCDA.
SCDA website: http://scda.org.uk.
Rear: Gavin Orr (Adjudicator), Jackie Westerman (SCDA), Phil Wilson (Dir: Blind Date) & Christine Dall (Dir: After Midnight, Before Dawn).
Front: Hannah Bradley (Dir: The Ram In The Thicket), Angela Harkness-Robertson (Dir: A Number) & Ronnie Barnes (Dir: The Sociable Plover). Pic: Walter Hampsen.
ENDS
