Mary Taylor, from the Thursday Night Project, of Esher, Surrey, on stage in Lighthorne in “Every Brilliant Thing” . Adjudicator Jan Palmer Sayer said:”I rarely use this term, but this was, genuinely, a tour de force
June 2022.
Two plays achieved the highest-ever scores at the 2022 Lighthorne Drama Festival, and are among three from the village festival which have qualified for the National Finals in Coventry next month.
“Every Brilliant Thing” by Duncan Macmillan, and performed by Thursday Night Project from Esher, Surrey, scored an astonishing 91 marks out of 100 from international adjudicator, Jan Palmer Sayer, GoDA.
Runner-up “The Gift” (Act II) by Janice Okoh, from the Criterion Theatre, Coventry, was awarded 90 points – equalling the previous record from 2018.
In total, five of the 11 entries scored 80 points or over, again equalling the previous record. A score of 80 on the standard Guild of Adjudicators mark sheet is considered to have met the Guild’s benchmark of excellence.
A third play from the Lighthorne line-up – “Pinteresque” by Stratford playwright Roger Gowland – was placed third and has since also been selected to compete at the seven-night National Drama Festival.
It will run from Sunday July 17 to Saturday July 23 at the Albany Theatre, Coventry, with a one-day Conference on Inclusion and Diversity in British amateur theatre in the Albany Studio on Saturday July 23.
Rod Chaytor, chair of the Lighthorne Festival of One-Act Plays, said: “The overall standard has been truly amazing, in particular when considering what a difficult year this has been for drama festivals nationwide, with many deferring their re-start to next year or closing for good.
“In large measure, our audiences returned and everyone seemed to have a wonderful time. We look forward to what will hopefully be a complete return to normal next year.
“Those who managed to see these top-quality plays will now have the opportunity to view them again in Coventry together with a great line-up of performances from top-quality theatre companies nationwide. Those who missed them, or some of them, will now have a second chance.
Under Lighthorne Festival rules, the £1,000 first prize – the biggest in UK amateur theatre – is split 50:50 between the winning group and a registered charity of the winning group’s choice. Thursday Night Project nominated Place2be, a children’s mental health charity with over 25 years’ experience working with pupils, families and staff in UK schools.
To book tickets for Coventry, go to the NDFA website https://ndfa.co.uk and click on “see the full Running Order and buy tickets.”
Rod
Rod Chaytor
Chair
The Lighthorne Festival of One-Act Plays.