The BT Biennial play has now been abandoned and in its place comes Global Applause. Some aspects of the project are similar but there are many improvements and , listed below are the major features of the scheme:

More details regarding the play and it’s author will be available next month but in the meantime, register your society’s interest in the project (it costs nothing!) by either phoning , sending an Email or writing to -

Global Applause Hotline 0845 766 8860

Email events@wwf.org.uk

Write to Global Applause WWF UK
Freepost, SCE729
Panda House
Weyside Park
Godalming
Surrey
GU7 1BR

PS Just in case you missed no 5 — NO ROYALTIES — if your funds are tight this could save you quite a lot of money.

There are hundreds of budding playwrights out there just waiting for the chance to stage a play. Knutsford Little Theatre are lucky enough to have their own theatre.

So put two and two together . . And Knutsford Little Theatre and it’s members would like to offer the opportunity to anyone who would like to submit a one act play, and the theatre will stage it at their open evening in the autumn of 2002.

There are no rules (except the play must run between 10 minutes and half an hour) and the subject can be of your own choice.

They say there is a book (or play) in everyone so put pen to paper or fingertips to keyboard and send a copy to Knutsford Little Theatre, Queens Street, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6HZ for April 30th 2002. All entries will be carefully judged by a specially appointed and qualified drama committee and returned to their authors with utmost care.

After a generous donation of a bar, carpet and comfortable chairs from the new owner of the Royal George in Knutsford the members of Knutsford Little Theatre set to with a will to put all these things in place before their next production. As this was a pantomime to be staged from the 11th January time was indeed tight!

All work party nights were diverted from set building (sorry Mr Director) and the old bar was ripped out and thrown away. The splendid new ediface slowly took shape with no end of debate, which way round, how high should the optics be, will that cut down to get in there, where does that light fitting go and what height should the ceiling be? Meanwhie a hoard of people less used to handling drills and saws were setting to with scrapers, sand paper, paint brushes and wallpaper paste to change the whole ambience of what had become a slightly tatty bar, lounge and tudor room.

The challenge was to complete as much as possible before Christmas so that the members could have a festive get together before commencing on a death defying race to build the Sleeping Beauty set in two weeks!

We didn’t make Christmas but the set was complete (just before opening night) to the satisfaction of a very tolerant director. The bar on the other hand still has bits to be finished. Luckily it is completed sufficient to enable us to sell alcohol and coffee at the panto.

Now we have finished the bar properly we will be pleased to see you.

On a Sunday in mid December, Liz Smith, long time leader of Bollington Junior Festival Players, came across an invitation in the mail, waiting for her at the Bollington Arts Centre, for the Players to enter a competition about caravanning. This was to be in time for the Caravanning and Holiday Home show in January. To register within 7 days, and send a script within a month. The scenery was to include a caravan, and the script to have at least some of the suggested words sent, to promote caravan life. All of this woulkd have taken place in the midst of rehearsing for the Christmas pantomime.

Chrissie, Hannah, Jenna and Matthew were soon ntrying out ideas. A basis of a plot was given to Liz from which she knitted a story. End of December they had a short one act play - sent in for the mid January deadline. Two days before the start of show they were informed that they had won the competition, £500 and free tickets for a play of their choice.

After much hard work and some unforseen hitches they travelled to Manchester where they were interviewed by GMR and then later performed an excerpt from the play. A splendid effort by Bollington’s young people who deserve much praise.

Thursday 18th April 6 p.m. - Waiting for Godot.

Thursday 27th June 2.30 p.m. - Misery

For each session you need to have read the play beforehand. There will be an informal opportunity to talk about the play over a cup of coffee - you will then see the play and following the performance there is a talkback session to find out how the play was transformed from a script to a live performance. The total cost is £6.50 per person including the ticket to see the play (excellent value). Contact Chester Gateway on 01244 340392 to book.

The dates are 22nd and 23rd June at Harlequin Players Theatre in Queen Street, Northwich. The Adjudicator will be Pam Slater. The deadline for applications is 24th May, so get your entries in, you can learn a lot from one act play festivals.

The entry forms have been sent out and should be with you. If for any reason you need another form sending to you please contact Gerry Card in any of the following ways. -

Director
A person engaged by management to conceal the fact that the players cannot act.
                                                                                                                James Agate - Drama Critic