OTTC Retain the Title

Peter Edge-Partington, OTTC's Director, accepts the Betty Peck Rosebowl for the Winning Play from Cllr Ray Ballman, The Deputy Mayor of Swindon (Photograph ©Mel Hopkins)

For the second consecutive year, Swindon's Old Town Theatre Company (OTTC) and Whole Hog Productions reigned supreme at HJ, taking first and second adult places respectively!

Powerful Performance

The festival adjudicator, GODA's Chris Jaeger, told the final night's audience how much he'd enjoyed their performances. OTTC's "Recidivists", said Chris was potentially the best drama he'd seen on a festival stage. Chris was equally full of praise for Whole Hog, who won the Charles Grace Cup for the Runners Up, and their play, 'Live as you dream.'

OTTC's entry, by Matthew Clift, tells the story of two prisoners, thrown together in a cell. One is a violent homophobe; the other, a camp homosexual. The resulting performance was a pleasure to watch, with Bob Charman as Honey, and Ryan Gilks, as Frank, also sharing the award for Best Adult Actor.

Going the Whole Hog

Becky Cann and Matthew Clift accept the Charles Grace Cup for the Runners-Up from Cllr Ray Ballman, The Deputy Mayor of Swindon (Photograph ©Mel Hopkins)

Whole Hog entered two plays and it was their second performance, 'Dream as you live', which so impressed the adjudicator. Performed by its duo writing team, Matthew Clift and Becky Cann, audiences were drawn into the seemingly lighthearted reflection of a young girl's life through her love of iconic films. As the play progressed though, we realised the sad conclusion to the story.

Chris Jaeger pointed out Matthew's contribution to the festival, reminding audiences that Matthew co-wrote one play, and acted in it, as well as directing it; stage managed another, and wrote the winning play as well!

Pewsey Power!

PVADS' cast and crew for their winning play in the youth category, 'The Meadow' (Photograph ©Mel Hopkins)

Pewsey Vale Amateur Dramatic Society walked away from HJ'11, frankly in need of a bigger trophy cabinet! Between their two entries, the company won seven out of 13 awards!

The most noticeable haul came through their youth performance of 'The Meadow', a charmingly funny story of dandelions, daffodils, poppies and bees.

A beautiful, ensemble show, which delighted the festival audience and our adjudicator. So much so, that not only did "The Meadow" win Best Youth Play, but also Best Dramatic Endeavour, Best Director, and Best Technical!

HJ11 - Another Success Story

"Another very, very rewarding year", said Festival Director, Ashley Heath. "Nine plays in two days, with a hugely strong youth session on the Saturday afternoon. As I sat, watching these plays, each had something to offer the audience. From those moments where you could hear a pin drop, to the other extreme, when the room erupted into deafening laughter!

Full Results

For full details of all of this year's results, please see Festival 2011 Results.