Community Theatre National Final is coming to town

Media Release

Festival of Community Theatre National Final is coming to town

The New Zealand Theatre Federations (NZTF) Festival of Community Theatre National Final is coming to town – and Nelson has TWO plays who’ve won the right to compete for the ‘Overall Book of Honour 2011’.

Last night’s Upper South Island Regional final saw The Playhouse Café and Restaurant packed once again as the 4 qualifying plays from the Top of the South District and Canterbury District took to the stage.

Adjudicator Lindsay Nash gave an overview and commented on each play as it concluded, offering tips and critique for cast and crew.

The clear winner on the night was Scott Fraters written and directed Youth Section comedy, ‘Cod of War,’ taking out the Best Youth Production, Overall Winner and the People Choice Awards.
‘A Resident Evil’ written and directed by TJ Ramsay won the Selecon Best Technical award, and two ‘Excellence in Acting’ awards for cast members Tim Coughlin in his role as ‘the Man’ and George Hollinsworth as the’ Marquis de Sade’. ‘Magic Moments’ to ‘White Noise’ and the ‘Cell-phone rose scene’ in Lincoln High Schools ‘A Rose so Red’.

Regional final adjudicators, Lindsay Nash and Denise Walsh went through the scoring of all plays over the District and Regional rounds on Sunday morning and decided 8 plays qualified to go through to compete at the NZTF National Final, to be held at Nelson’s Theatre Royal on August 5th and 6th.

Competing for Nelson will be Dramatix teams ‘Cod of War’ and ‘A Resident Evil’ ‘Cod’ and ‘Evil’ will be up against entries from Napier, Tolaga Bay, Pahiatua and Invercargill.

Ticket prices are; $18 per night, or a two night concession for $32, Students and Greypower with ID $15 per night, judging by the sell-out crowds for the preceding heats, booking is recommended , please call Scott on 5482367 to reserve your seats. Door sales are from 6pm, there will be no entry once the plays start.
There is also a ‘Peoples Choice’ Award for each night of the competition and the audience is encouraged to fill in the form to vote for their favourite play.

Background and extra information

The NZTF Festival series is open to all NZTF members and follows international one act play guidelines. Participants are judged on the presentation, script interpretation, technical and set aspects of the performance, with meeting the strict timing criteria around technical rehearsals, stage set and strike and performance also playing a part in the Adjudicators decision.

The out of town teams, complete with cast, crew, directors and supporters, will converge on Nelson for the August Final, with 4 plays to be performed each night of the competition.

The extended Dramatix ‘family’ will provide each team with an Ambassador and a ‘Welcome Pack’ of timetables and special offers and vouchers from generous Nelson businesses.
During the course of the weekend each team will be allotted a technical rehearsal time, giving them the opportunity to get a feel for the Theatre Royal’s stage before their performances, and to set their lights and sound requirements.

They will also participate in a series of workshops during the day on Saturday:

“Bangs for a Buck” – Sound and special effects for a theatre company on a limited budget by RAGE NOISE AUDIO’s Grant Ellis.

“The Body in Space” –Focusing on building a stronger ensemble and better movement onstage by Body in Space.

“Voice and Stage” – the use of voice and movement onstage by Pam Logan.

“Constructing Maps for Theatrical Journeys” – Playwriting tips for stage and characterisation by Elizabeth O’Connor.

At the conclusion of Saturday Night’s performances, the Adjudicator and assistants will retire to decide the winners while Dan from ‘Body in Space’ will entertain with theatre sports - to keep competitors nerves at bay, and the audience entertained while the big decisions are made.

Awards will be given for aspects of technical, acting, costume and Best Youth Production –and the grand prize - the Overall Book of Honour.

Also to be presented on Saturday Night, will be the Olga Harding Playwright Award – a prestigious annual competition held in conjunction with ‘the NZTF Festival’ and open to the writers of original New Zealand plays. Multiple past Olga Harding winner TJ Ramsay, and last years highly commended entrant, Scott Frater, both have original pieces entered in this writing competition.

Nelson’s Scott Frater’s youth play ‘Youthanasia’ won the ‘Book of Honour’ in 2009.

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