SATURDAY saw the culmination of three evenings of competitive drama at Hereford’s Courtyard Theatre in the 78th Annual Festival of One Act plays.

Seven amateur theatre companies from throughout the county had performed before professional adjudicator Jan Palmer Sayer and an appreciative audience in pursuit of a glittering array of trophies.

Now the marks were assembled and totalled and, after the adjudicator summarised the competing performances in each category, the awards and trophies were presented by Wincy Willis.

The overall winner of the competition was Hereford Players with their production of ‘Melody’ by Deirdre Kinahan.

The Runners-up cup was presented to Ledbury ADS for Dennis Potter’s ‘Blue Remembered Hills’ and the Wye cup for third place went to Exit Fool Productions for an original work ‘Rossville Barricade’ by Antony Jenkins. Other awards were: Oswin Cup for best Novice performance – Ledbury ADS.

The Bill Ashton Cup for best producer – Nicky Willett for Hereford Musical Theatre Company Youth in ‘Final Departure’. The Bishop Hodson Plate for best stage setting – Brian Jackson for Phoenix Theatre Youth in ‘Six Wives of Calais’. The Andrews Shield for best original play – Antony Jenkins for ‘Rossville Barricade’. The Kathleen Dade Trophy went to Eardisley LTC Youth for ‘Rememberance’. The Belmont Trophy for best actor – Pete Bird of Exit Fools Productions.

The Thinghill Trophy for best actress was shared between Heather Cooper and Catherine Crosswell of Ledbury ADS. The Janis Lewer Trophy for best individual youth performance went to Katie Pothecary of Phoenix Theatre Youth.

The Stennett Trophy for the best youth team and the Adjudicator’s award for the ‘Champagne moment’ was awarded to Hereford Musical Theatre Company Youth. Hereford Players and Ledbury ADS now go forward to compete in the next round of this All England Festival. This is the Western Division Quarter Final to be held at the Market Theatre Ledbury on Saturday, April 11.

Based on information supplied by .