Reigning British one-act drama champions, Didcot Phoenix Drama Group, will return in June to the Lighthorne stage where their successes of last year began.
The award-winning Oxfordshire group will open the 2018 Lighthorne Festival with “The Bench at the Edge”, a dramatic comedy by Luigi Januzzi.
Last June they won Lighthorne with Eugene Ionesco’s “The Lesson” which qualified them for the National Drama Festivals Association’s British All-Winners Finals, held at the Lamproom Theatre, Barnsley in July.
David Cooke as the Professor, Daisy Norton as the Maid and Corin Lawfull as the Pupil in the Didcot Phoenix Drama Group presentation of Eugene Ionesco’s classic 1950’s Theatre of the Absurd play, The Lesson.
There, they not only took the top prize in the One-Act section but also took the Youth Section trophy, which was won by 20-year-old Didcot actress Corin Lawfull.
This year’s Lighthorne line-up contains another four groups who have previously won through to the national finals – Abbey Players, Nuneaton; White Cobra from Northampton; Lighthorne Drama Group and Big Squirrel from Ely.
It also includes established favourites such as Armistice Theatre from Kenilworth; Stratford Playwrights; Phoenix Players, Stratford; Second Thoughts, Stratford; Rugby Theatre and Banbury Cross Players.
Newcomers include the Rose Theatre from Kidderminster, who were one of the groups chosen to provide the Rude Mechanicals for the RSC’s 2016 pro-am production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.
Lighthorne Festival chairman Rod Chaytor said:” We are delighted to welcome back loyal local groups as well as top-quality newcomers such as the Rose Theatre and Big Squirrel from further afield. There is also an interesting mix of off-the-shelf published plays and new work this year.
“We are looking forward to a really exciting Festival in June.”
In a change this year, performances will begin at 7pm and the cost of a four-night Season Ticket, including supper on each night, has been reduced to £40.
One enforced change from last year – a Thursday night Festival break – has been repeated this year by choice.
Chairman Rod Chaytor added:” In 2017 we had to move our scheduled Thursday night programme to the Tuesday because of the sudden calling of a General Election – our village hall, where the Festival takes place, is used as a polling station.
“However, the Festival Committee appreciated the break. We canvassed participating groups and our 2018 adjudicator, Chris Jaeger, and they supported repeating the exercise, so this year’s Festival will follow the same Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night pattern.”
The Box Office will open to the general public on Monday May 7, for preference by emailing lighthornefestival@gmail.com or via a link on the website https://lighthornefestival.org.uk or alternatively by telephoning Colin and Ann Such on 01926 651411.
Tickets are £12.50 each including a meal. Vegetarian meals are available but, once ordered, cannot be altered. We regret that limited catering facilities mean that other dietary requirements cannot be met. There is no ticket price reduction for those who do not wish to eat.
The full running order for the 2018 Lighthorne Festival of One-Act Plays is:
TUESDAY JUNE 5, 2018 at 7pm
Didcot Phoenix Drama Group. “The Bench at the Edge” by Luigi Januzzi.
Armistice Theatre, Kenilworth. “The Party” by Dan Blizzard and Rebecca Gardner Tildesley.
Second Thoughts, Stratford. “Whisking Eggs” by Jackie Lines.
WEDNESDAY JUNE 6, 2018 at 7pm
Mayhem Theatre Group. “Imagine?” by Stephen Moran.
Rugby Theatre. “Consensual Sex?” by Steve Crump.
Abbey Players, Nuneaton. “Conclusions” by Chris Jaeger.
(This entry is part of the Festival but does not form part of the competition).
FRIDAY JUNE 8, 2018 at 7 pm
Banbury Cross Players. “Warm, Hot, Getting Hotter” by Lou Treleavan.
Phoenix Players, Stratford. “What Is Normal ?” by Katie Cherry.
Lighthorne Drama Group. “White Lies” by Richard James.
SATURDAY JUNE 9, 2018 at 7pm
White Cobra, Northampton. “Blind Date” by Peter Quilter.
Stratford Playwrights. “The Age of Asparagus” by Steve Farr.
Big Squirrel, Ely. “Uke Belong To Me” by Kattreya Sheurer-Smith.