Blog

  • RUNNING ORDER – LIGHTFEST 2026.

    TUESDAY JUNE 2 AT 7.15 PM

    Stourbridge Theatre Company.

    “12 hr Life” by Robert Scott.

    Co-directors Michaela Revel-Maton and Dan Price

    Technical Leads Tim French and Ken Gristwood

    Dylan should be going to a conference but, after a chance encounter with Samantha and some forthright discussion, he’s playing truant and having the time of his life. Is it possible to live a life in one day?

    Run time approximately 40 minutes.

    Kineton Amateur Dramatic Society

    “Village Fete” by Benjamin Keyser.

    Director tba

    Technical Lead tba

    In the immediate aftermath of a disastrous village fete, the WI committee meet to discuss what might be done to cause less bloodshed next year.

    Run time approximately 20 minutes.

    Lighthorne Drama Group.

    “Does My Bum Look Big In This?” by Johnny Grim

    Director Steve Farr

    Technical Lead Tom Willcock

    Three middle-aged friends – Donna, Janice and Sharon – meet up before Janice is due to leave to attend her sister’s wedding. Then, unexpectedly, they hear that the ceremony has been called off. Romantic ideals clash with the brutal realities of life.

    Run time approximately 25 minutes.

    WEDNESDAY JUNE 3 AT 7.15 PM

    Dandy Productions, Stratford.

    “The Hairy Biker” by Angela Dandy

    Director Angela Dandy

    Technical Lead Dwayne Dawson

    It’s Lizzie’s birthday and a day full of surprises, some welcome and some deeply unsettling. The Hairy Biker contests (contends) that, in a bewildering and often perilous modern world, human connection, kindness and shared laughter remain the deepest sources of reassurance.

    Run time 25 minutes.

    Clarke and Hunzinger Players, Warwickshire.

    “Where I Lie” written and directed by Imogen Clarke and Elizabeth Huntzinger.

    Technical Lead Oliver Clarke.

    A close friendship group come together for their annual catch-up. Tainted by a tragedy, smiles soon drop as they each admit to not wanting to continue the tradition. The play explores the difficulty of maintaining a withering friendship.

    Run time approximately 25 minutes.

    Monkee Dubonnet , Stratford 

    “All an Act” by Lewis Hills

    Director Benjamin Keyser

    Technical Lead Benjamin Keyser

    A washed-up director decides to stage Shakespeare in the village hall. A highly prestigious evening, can the cast pull off the best production of Hamlet the stage has ever seen?

    Run time approximately 45 minutes

    THURSDAY JUNE 4 AT 7.15 PM

    Banbury Cross Players, Oxfordshire.

    “A Handbag” by Anthony Horowitz

     Director Chrissie Garrett

    Production Manager Debby Andrews

    Technical Lead Lucy Byford

    THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST is being rehearsed in preparation for a first performance. As the actors tackle Wilde’s wit, manners and mistaken identities, comedy and reality collide.

    Run time approximately 40 minutes.

    Caramba Theatre Company, Gloucs.

    “RITA” by Mollie Howell

    Directed by Mollie Howell

    Technical Lead Kate Guest, Tbc.

    In a hidden bunker, a grieving father protects RITA – an AI created from the memories of his daughter. Programmed to learn empathy, the one human trait he believes could defeat violence and greed, RITA becomes both his refuge and his greatest risk. As enemies close in, their bond deepens, but the line between machine and child, love and survival, begins to blur. 

    Run time approximately 45 minutes.

    Broadly Speaking, Warwickshire 

    “Mop and Bucket” by Benjamin Keyser

    Director  tba

    Technical Lead tba

    Mr Bucket’s business is failing. After the cleaner finds him sleeping in the office, can a conversation help reignite the workplace ?

    Run time approximately 20 minutes.

    FRIDAY JUNE 5 AT . 7.15 PM

    Phoenix Players Stratford

    “What Lies Before Us“ by Chloe McDonald

    Director Karen McDonald

    Technical Lead Callum McCormick

    Have you ever wondered what faces you after your die?  Will you meet your loved ones again? Or will you meet someone you never expected? Follow Margot as she navigates her first steps through heaven, learning how to appreciate what she had, rather than wishing for what she has lost.

    Run time approximately 25 minutes

    Heckington Players, Lincolnshire.

    “Wise Men Nor Fools” by Kei Bailey.

    Director Colette Buchanan-Gray

    Technical Lead David Whipps

    Comedy duo Roger Salt and Peter Pepper shot to fame in the 1970’s with their TV show, A Pinch of Salt and Pepper. But celebrity status and a gruelling schedule took their toll. We find them in 1989, in the dressing room of a rundown theatre. Where did it all go wrong?

    Run time under 45 minutes

    Lynden Players.  Middleton Cheney, Northants.

    “Rambles on Radio” by Robert Scott

    Director Ben Tutt 

    Technical Lead Jo Bailey

    During a live broadcast which gradually descends into chaos, Christopher is delighted to be performing his play on the radio, with his daughter in a starring role, but others are less content with the casting. And there’s more drama behind the microphone than is going out over the air. 

    Run time approximately 30 mins

    SATURDAY JUNE 6 AT 7.15 PM

    Rugby Theatre, Warwickshire  

    “Day Of Judgement” by Michael Lynch

    Director Mark Rumsey

    Technical Lead Steve Orton

    In a modern day courtroom, a defendant is on trial and the prosecution must convince the audience of his guilt. Ultimately, after hearing the evidence, it is they who will decide whether he is guilty or not.

    Run time approximately 25 minutes

    Criterion Theatre, Coventry.

    TBA

    Free Spirit Productions, Stratford.

    “Whisking Eggs” by Jackie Lines.

    Director Jackie Lines

    Producer Ian McLean

    Technical Lead tba 

    A Vicar’s naive wife finds herself as a lodger to menopausal telephone Dominatrix, Doreen, whose clients include the clergy. Can the truth be hidden or will all be revealed by the outrageous and eccentric Lady Cartingdon Smythe? Mild sexual references.

    Run time approximately 35 minutes.

  • Praise for Lighthorne Entrants at the National Drama Festival

    Lightfest 2025 winners Banbury Cross Players claimed no less than THREE nominations at the National Drama Festival (Thursday July 31 – Sunday August 3, 2025).

    A scene from the BCP performance of "Goodbye Charles" at Lighthorne Drama Festival 2025

    Phil Wintle, who directed the comedy “Goodbye Charles” by Gabriel Benjamin Davis, was nominated for Best Director. GoDA adjudicator Tristan Marshall, who coincidentally adjudicated the NDF as well as Lighthorne this year, described the production as a “masterclass” in direction.

    Ian Nutt was nominated for Best Actor for his triple interpretation of the characters André, Kennedy and David. The adjudicator said that to carry off one of those roles was impressive, and successfully to portray all three was exceptional.

    Banbury’s production, which transferred seamlessly from Lighthorne to the full stage of the Artrix Centre in Bromsgrove, Worcs., was also nominated in the category of Technical Excellence.

    And Conquest Theatre, Bromyard, who brought Educating Rita to Lighthorne but qualified to take it to the NDF by winning the Hereford Festival, received a fault-free adjudication at the National Festival.

    Tristan Marshall nominated Amanda Vincent-Perkins as Best Actress for her portrayal of student Rita and Hugh Farey as Best Actor in his role as lecturer Frank.

    Tristan said that Amanda had made Rita her own, and not a Julie Walters copycat, and that Hugh had portrayed Frank’s emotional vulnerability to great effect. 

    Plaudits for this year’s returning Lighthorne Festival of One Act Plays continue to come in, and it became a theme of the NDF.

    A call has now formally gone out for Expressions of Interest for Lightfest 2026. Some groups have already been in touch and more are welcomed.

    Our adjudicator for next year’s Festival, which will take place between Tuesday June 2 and Saturday June 6, 2026, will be someone we regard as being part of the Lighthorne Festival Family, award-winning actor and director, NDFA Chair, Ruth Cattell, GoDA.

  • Lighthorne Festival of One Act Plays 2025

    Banbury Cross Players have become the first-ever amateur theatre group to win the prestigious Lighthorne Drama Festival twice.

    Director P Wintle on stage with adjudicator Trastan Marshall and Rod CHaytor at the awarding of the trophy

    Their piece, “Goodbye Charles” by Gabriel Benjamin Davis, directed by Phil Wintle, was given a score of 86 out of 100 by Tristan Marshall of the Guild of Drama Adjudicators.

    He told the sell-out, and relaunched Festival’s packed hall, ”It was a masterclass in directing.”

    A score of 80 is considered to meet GoDA’s benchmark of excellence. In all, seven of the 12 competing groups met that standard – a Lighthorne record, by one.

    Second by one point were the Stourbridge Theatre Company with “The Act of Living” by Robert Scott, and a highly-commended third were Kineton Amateur Dramatic Society with “Pigeon Syndrome”, written and directed by Benjamin Keyser.

    The win means that BCP have now been invited to compete in the National Drama Festival, to be held from July 31 to August 3 at Artrix in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, where they will come up against other festival-winners from across the United Kingdom.

    “Goodbye Charles”, a light-hearted comedy, tells the story of Jill, a woman forlorn, who sets out on an increasingly strange journey to find her missing husband. Five actors between them take on the play’s eight roles,  One, Ian Nutt, plays three different characters, slickly moving between roles with a change of jacket, accent and posture.

    A scene from the BCP performance of "Goodbye Charles" at Lighthorne Drama Festival 2025

    Banbury Cross were the first top-class local amateur theatre group to sign up to enter the Lighthorne Festival of One-Act Plays when it launched in June 2013.

    They won our now nationally-recognised Festival six years later with “Contractions” by Mike Bartlett, directed by Chrissie Garrett. That play also went on to the National Finals.

    The Lighthorne Festival offers a cash prize of £1,000 – the biggest in UK amateur theatre. Under Festival rules, the payout must be split 50/50 between the winning group and a registered charity of their choice.

    The winners also receive a theirs-to-keep glass trophy engraved with details of their production.

    After receiving the glassware on stage from adjudicator Tristan, BCP director Phil Wintle nominated two local charities – Homeless Oxfordshire and Asylum Welcome.

    The Lighthorne Festival was suspended in 2024 due to unforeseen circumstances but returned this year to a full complement of 12 different one-act plays performed by a dozen different groups from across central England, which sold out on each of its four nights.

    After the disappointment of last year, it was great to be back and with a bang.

    Banbury were worthy winners and brilliantly directed. And it is so appropriate that one of our founder members should return to triumph, again.

    Rod Chaytor
    Chair,
    Lighthorne Festival of One-Act Plays.