The First World War centenary is a huge influence on this year’s Harold Jolliffe One Act Play Festival entries with gritty dramas and three plays with wartime themes.

The Swindon festival runs over three days and has a rich mix of drama, comedy, and new, unpublished productions.

The annual festival takes place at the Arts Centre in Devizes Road, Old Town, from Thursday April 10 to Saturday April 12 at 7.15pm, and is hosted by the Swindon and District Theatre Guild.

Assistant festival director, Fenella Harrop, said: “This year we are reflecting on the centenary with a poignant adult drama, an enthralling youth entry and an entertaining second youth entry which looks at life in the trenches from a very unexpected point of view.’’

The festival is also a fiercely fought competition with adjudicators judging the acting, production, stage presentation and dramatic achievement of each play. The event is a preliminary, independent round in the All England Theatre Festival and the winners will go forward to compete in the next regional round.

The festival is always keen to encourage young talent and this year has a full session of three youth plays. Fenella said: “We are delighted to see so much young talent at our festival particularly in the year we lost our president Joan Cheshire, who was such an advocate for youth theatre.’’ Joan died in November last year, she was 93 after many years working tirelessly to encourage new actors to the stage.

There are a number of trophies up for grabs including the Swindon Advertiser Award for an original production. Last year’s top slot went to the Whole Hog Theatre Company, who walked away with the Betty Peck Rosebowl for overall winning play, with their production of Ha Ha.

The Harold Jolliffe One Act Play Festival was started in 1947. It was named after the Chief Librarian and Curator of Swindon Council who oversaw the opening of the country’s first dedicated municipal Arts Centre, in Swindon, the year before.

The curtain rises on some enthralling dramas about the First World War, a period piece set in plague-ridden England of the 1665, a two handed comedy set at Christmastime, and a comical thriller.

Fenella said: “The Pewsey Vale Amateur Dramatic Society entry is based on five strangers who gather in an office to meet the same man, but for entirely different purposes. They find they are locked in. Trapped!. So, they must work together to discover why they are there and what on earth is going on.

“All the plays are an exciting mix of storylines and genres. It is a great way to kickstart the festival with such gripping productions.’’ Tickets for each session of the 67th festival are £10.50 or £8 concessions from 01793 614837. - Flicky Harrison

 

Entries

The Lechlade Players - "Two Purple Gloves" - a comedy by Michael Park Christmas story about a security guard and a tramp who find they have more in common than they realised. Directed by drama coach John Williams.

The Athelstan Players - "Isolation at Eyam" - a drama by Joyce Dennis A heart-rending play based on the true story of the village of Eyam that is struck down by the dreaded plague in 1665. The drama tells the story of the self-sacrificing example of Reverend William Mompesson, and his wife Catherine, who manage to stop the plague from spreading outside by keeping the villagers contained. Out of a population of three hundred and fifty, two hundred and fifty died of the plague.

Pewsey Vale Amateur Dramatic Society, Youth Section - "Call to Duty" - a drama by Nettie Powell A teenager’s life turns into a nightmare after his Call of Duty game becomes real warfare.

Pewsey Vale Amateur Dramatic Society, Youth Section - "Of Lice and Men" - a comedy by Nettie Powell A comedic tale about the life of a louse in the trenches of WW1

New College Stage Company - "Piégé" - A drama, devised by its cast exploring and experiencing a variety of mental illnesses. The play deals with how easily the brain deteriorates. The cast ask you to open your mind's eye, and experience every feeling and thought, as they travel into the human mind. Directed by Matthew Clift theatre manager at the Phoenix Theatre.

RWB Productions - "There Just Has To Be a Better Way" - a drama by Derek and Paula Clifford A story based during the First World War and how, after the combat we face the future. It never was the war to end all wars.

Pewsey Vale Amateur Dramatic Society - "The Connection" - a comedy by Graham Jones Not so much a whodunnit as a 'what on earth is going on'? as it morphs from a comedy of mistaken identity to thriller and back.