Amateur Stage Magazine

The 38th British All Winners Drama Festival 2011

The annual competition, which is organised by NDFA, and is this year being hosted in Guernsey, runs from Saturday 23 July - Saturday 30 July at Beau Sejour Theatre and the Princess Royal Centre for Performing Arts.

The national week long event is a celebration of the very best of British amateur theatre in which three youth plays, three full length plays and nine one-act plays will go head to head to take the title of British All Winner 2011. The event has attracted the support of De Putron Fund Management and the adjudicator is Tony Rushforth GoDA.

Included in the programme is a rehearsed play reading of the winning play from the original play writing competition, which receives the George Taylor Memorial Trophy and £100 prize money generously sponsored by Amateur Stage.

There are fantastic prizes of £1,000 for the winning Full Length play and £500 to the Adult One Act play supported by the Guernsey Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Club and £500 prize for the winning Youth Play sponsored by NODA.


Festival Co-ordinator, Caron Parker said, 'We are absolutely delighted to be hosting such a prestigious event. Guernsey is very supportive of the Performing Arts and is very much looking forward to welcoming teams from across the British Isles to our beautiful island. We have great facilities here in Guernsey and feel confident the competing teams will take home memorable experiences of their time both on and off the stage'.

Caron says, 'As part of the British All Winners Drama Festival Chickenshed has been invited to deliver workshops for anyone aged 7+'.

Chickenshed is an internationally renowned theatre company. They work using an inclusive creative process which means everyone is welcome, and everyone is valued.

Chickenshed has had enormous, unprecedented success since its formation in a disused chicken shed in 1974. Highlights include invitations to perform in venues as diverse as: the Royal Opera House, Ethiopia, the Edinburgh Festival and The Royal Lyceum.

Part of their programme includes a presentation of their acclaimed production 'Crime of the Century' and interactive Theatre for pre - school children 'Tales from the Shed'.

For further information about Chickenshed's programme contact: Laura Simpson: educationbawf@cwgsy.net

The RSC, as part of their Open Stages Project will also be present during the All Winners Festival and Ian Wainwright, Producer RSC Open Stages and Michael Corbidge will be holding a workshop on Monday 25 July. For further information please contact Stephanie Andrijasevic at etceteraltd@cwgsy.net

And if all of the above isn't enough to tempt you to get involved, on Friday 29 July is the Black Tie Gala Awards evening including a Champagne Reception, Full Length Play, Supper prepared by Guernsey's most reputable catering establishment, and presentation of the Awards. Caron says 'We have secured a late license and anticipate the festivities going on late into the night'.

To close the week attendees will be invited to enjoy a performance by 'Living History' in the historical grounds of Castle Cornet. This will be followed by the firing of the noon day gun over looking the picturesque town harbour of St Peter Port.

For more information visit the Guernsey All Winners web site
www.guernseybritishallwinners.org or contact Caron Parker at cjp@cwgsy.net