Wilmslow Guild Players will be running their annual competitive festival of One Act Plays from 10th to 14th June at Wilmslow Guild on Bourne Street.
The Wilmslow Festival of One Act Plays, which has been running for over seventy years, will see many varied short plays (around 45 minutes) presented by groups from all over Cheshire, Manchester and further afield. Some plays are written especially for the festival.
Each night there are three different plays from different societies. Each play has been rehearsed and produced by the entering societies, and they bring them to the festival for the audience's enjoyment and also to compete for awards. The night ends with a verbal adjudication by independent adjudicators James Chalmers and Sue Bence. Awards are made on the Saturday night.
There are three age categories: junior (under 14), youth (14-18) and senior. This year the age ranges have been mixed for each night, so there are plays from each age category each night.
"Once again this year we have been inundated with entries," said publicity officer Bill Beton. "We have fifteen plays in all, over five nights, and we have had to turn some groups away because we are full. We are starting to consider whether we need to run the festival for an additional night next year. It's wonderful to see such an increase in interest in amateur theatre: back in 2004 we only had three entries, and now we are turning people away!"
Entries in the festival come from Phoenix School of Dance and Drama, Knutsford Little Theatre, Players Dramatic Society, Barton Theatre Company, Wistaston Young Drama Group, Woodford Community Players, Cheshire Academy of Performing Arts, Altrincham Creative Theatre School, Chelford Players, Heald Green Theatre Company, Hyde Little Theatre, Nantwich Players and an entry from the festival hosts, Wilmslow Guild Players.
"Whichever night you come, you can be sure to see an interesting and entertaining selection of theatre," said Mr Beton. The running order for the festival is published on the Guild Players' web site.
Tickets cost £4 for each night. Tickets can be booked online at www.wgp.org.uk, or by emailing [email protected] or calling 01625 520126.
Photo caption: Wilmslow Guild Players' one act play a previous year: White Lies.
Member post by Bill Beton.
