DROITWICH’S Norbury Theatre will play host this weekend to an annual event which showcases one-act dramas performed by local groups.
The Worcestershire Theatre Festival, which is now in its 56th year, will take place at the Friar Street venue tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday (March 8).
During that time a staggering 12 one-act plays – ranging from 25 to 55 minutes – will be staged in front of audiences and an esteemed professional adjicator.
Each one will be critiqued by the judge for acting, direction, stage presentation and dramatic achievement with the winners being announced on Sunday night.
The overall winner will go through to the quarter-final of the All England Theatre Festival.
At 2pm tomorrow (Saturday), there will be There’s Always Spring by Arthur Loveridge, performed by the Norbury Youth Theatre, Suitcase by Mary-Jayne Russell de Clifford, which will be staged by Dedrama Theatre and The Day they Lost Raggerty Ruth by Tony Edwards – that will be performed by Theatre 282.
Then at 7pm tomorrow (Saturday), Like the Picture Prodictions will perform In My Time of… by Liam Alexandru, the Great Witley Operatic Society will put on Cox and Box by FC Burnand and Arthur Sullivan and there will be Losing it by Derek Webb. That will be staged by The Temperamental Trio.
On Sunday at 2pm, there will be A Charming Murder by Liam Alexandru, which will be performed by Like the Picture Productions, The Last Bread Pudding by Nick Warbuton and staged by The Norbury Players and The Sandlewood Mouse – that has been written by Stephen Moran and is being performed by The Mayhem Theatre Company.
Then at 7pm on Sunday, The Tewkesbury Arts and Drama Society (TADS) will perform Brenda Read-Brown’s The Poodle Tree, Swan Youth Theatre will put on Happy Birthday by William Douglas and Wordesley Amateur Dramatic Society (WADS) will perform Bernard Shaw’s Passion, Poison & Petrification or the Fatal Gazogene.
Mark Moran, one of the members of the festival committee, said: “It’s like Britain’s Got Talent for theatre – you never quite know what you are going to get.
“The event at the Norbury last year was the best one we have had for many years.
“A jolly time was had by all and we are hoping for a similar reponse this year.
“The Norbury is such a lovely venue – it’s cosy, compact and comfortable and the staff are so friendly.
“Every town should have a Norbury Theatre,” he added.
Tickets, at £6 for each three-play session, are available on the door, at www.norburytheatre.co.uk or by calling 01905 770154.
