NewsThe latest AETF Newsletter can be opened HERE.It has been an exciting year for the All-England Theatre Festival with the inclusion of the National Shakespeare Competition – the only competitive element of the RSC Open Stages programme. We cannot say that this hasn’t caused some confusion within the ranks and maybe we should have explained things more clearly, but the end result has been well worth the hassle and it was a one off. Groups had the option of entering the AETF only, the Shakespeare Competition only or both, the objective being that the English Final would be a two day event including four Shakespeare plays and four non-Shakespeare plays, being the highest placed of each from the four Semi-Finals. The Final took place over the weekend of 9th & 10th June 2012 at the Swan Theatre, Worcester and right from the start things were buzzing. The workshop ‘Shakespeare Voice and Text’ run on both mornings by Jacquie Crago, the voice and text practitioner who works regularly with theprofessional actors at the RSC, was a great success - people are still enthusing about it.The eight plays were all of an excellent standard – the mixing of one Shakespeare and one non-Shakespeare play in each session went down very well; people who would not normally watch the Bard saw just how entertaining Shakespeare performed well can be. The quiz on the Saturday night was enjoyed by all those brave enough to take part – the winners, turned out to be Studio Theatre from Salisbury who also won the Shakespeare competition with their production of Hamlet. Having won three previous rounds of the contest to represent the West of England in the final, Studio Theatre will appear at the Swan Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon on Saturday 21 July. Further details and tickets available from the RSC website. Adjudicator Scott Marshall GoDA and Studio Theatre’s Lesley Bates, director of HamletStudio Theatre faced strong competition from the other groups in the Open Stages final, Saltburn ’53 Drama Group, Bawds and Total Arts Community Theatre. The other groups taking part were St Paul’s Drama Group, Oasis Youth Theatre, West Bridgford Dramatic Society and Nunthorpe Players.Total Arts Community Theatre, who came a close second to Studio Theatre, also entered their production of ‘The Tempest’ in the One-Act Play contest and took first place in this and will be representing England in the British Final of One-Act Plays at the Torch Theatre, Milford Haven on 7th July.Adjudicator, Scott Marshall said, “Open Stages was an enormously exciting addition to the All-England Theatre Festival Final. The standard was extremely good with a great vibrancy of acting and enthusiasm of performance and the play that is going on to Stratford – Hamlet – and the play that is going on to represent England at the British final – The Tempest – were superb examples of amateur theatre in Great Britain.” Directors of the playsEmail the Webmaster
News
The latest AETF Newsletter can be opened HERE.
It has been an exciting year for the All-England Theatre Festival with the inclusion of the National Shakespeare Competition – the only
competitive element of the RSC Open Stages programme. We cannot say that this hasn’t caused some confusion within the ranks and
maybe we should have explained things more clearly, but the end result has been well worth the hassle and it was a one off. Groups had
the option of entering the AETF only, the Shakespeare Competition only or both, the objective being that the English Final would be a
two day event including four Shakespeare plays and four non-Shakespeare plays, being the highest placed of each from the four Semi-
Finals.
The Final took place over the weekend of 9th & 10th June 2012 at the Swan Theatre, Worcester and right from the start things were
buzzing. The workshop ‘Shakespeare Voice and Text’ run on both mornings by Jacquie Crago, the voice and text practitioner who works
regularly with the professional actors at the RSC, was a great success - people are still enthusing about it.
The eight plays were all of an excellent standard – the mixing of one Shakespeare and one non-Shakespeare play in each session went
down very well; people who would not normally watch the Bard saw just how entertaining Shakespeare performed well can be.
The quiz on the Saturday night was enjoyed by all those brave enough to take part – the winners, turned out to be Studio Theatre from
Salisbury who also won the Shakespeare competition with their production of Hamlet. Having won three previous rounds of the contest
to represent the West of England in the final, Studio Theatre will appear at the Swan Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon on Saturday 21
July. Further details and tickets available from the RSC website.
Adjudicator Scott Marshall GoDA and Studio Theatre’s Lesley Bates, director of Hamlet
Studio Theatre faced strong competition from the other groups in the Open Stages final, Saltburn ’53 Drama Group, Bawds and Total
Arts Community Theatre. The other groups taking part were St Paul’s Drama Group, Oasis Youth Theatre, West Bridgford Dramatic
Society and Nunthorpe Players.
Total Arts Community Theatre, who came a close second to Studio Theatre, also entered their production of ‘The Tempest’ in the One-
Act Play contest and took first place in this and will be representing England in the British Final of One-Act Plays at the Torch Theatre,
Milford Haven on 7th July.
Adjudicator, Scott Marshall said, “Open Stages was an enormously exciting addition to the All-England Theatre Festival Final. The
standard was extremely good with a great vibrancy of acting and enthusiasm of performance and the play that is going on to Stratford –
Hamlet – and the play that is going on to represent England at the British final – The Tempest – were superb examples of amateur
theatre in Great Britain.”
Directors of the plays
Email the Webmaster
