Running Order and Classes Entered
Tuesday 6th May – 7:30 PM
Pipers Corner School – The Addergoole Fourteen by Joseph Clements (All CLASSES)
Director: Phil Macken
‘The Addergoole 14’ tells the story of a group of 14 passengers on the Titanic, all from one small area of Ireland. “Ireland, with its troubles and its sorrows, couldn’t offer much to those who yearned for more. Fourteen souls, all from our little village, set off for a new life across the sea. Young and full of hope, they were, with a spirit that could light up the darkest night.” But when their darkest night arrived, what happened when these villagers had to fight for their lives?
North Oxford Youth Theatre – A Series of Public Apologies by John Donnelly (CLASS III)
Director: Joe Shuter
After the regrettable incident in the school toilets last week, we would like to take advantage of this public forum to make a short statement addressing the matter. We understand that you are all very busy, we do not intend to take up much of your time, we race just keen to deal with this now so we can all move on from the incident.
Artemis College – The Actor’s Nightmare by Christopher Durang (CLASS I)
Director: Tayla McHardy, Edward Morris, Harry Snipp
George Spelvin is a normal man: an accountant in his late twenties just trying to get by without attracting too much notice. According to him that is. According to everyone else he is a world class actor who has been rehearsing a number of classic plays for the past few months and must perform them live at the National. After being bustled on stage George is forced to perform despite his lack of theatrical training or knowledge of the script. The show must go on…
Wednesday 7th May – 7:30 PM
Headington Rye Oxford – The House of Bernarda Alba (One-act adaptation) by Nelly E. Cuellar-Garcia (CLASS II and III)
Director: Jannicke Stevens, Maia Grant Groves and Lexi Turner
When her husband dies, Bernarda Alba seeks to protect her four daughters the only way she knows how: by confining them all to their family ranch for eight years of mourning. But where the fierce matriarch sees a shelter from the men circling their fortune like wolves, her daughters see a prison, and the only way out is marriage. Headstrong Adela longs for Pepe El Romano, a man who has been chosen for her older sister Angustias, and turns to a chorus of women for prophecy and comfort as she makes a series of fatal decisions. As the world shifts beneath them, Bernarda Alba and her daughters search for a foothold, but will they turn against each other?
The Sinodun Players – Moving On by Alice M. Underwood (CLASS I and II)
Director: Marilyn Johnstone
A mother and daughter, estranged for seven years following the mother’s sudden desertion from the family home, meet unexpectedly in a health spa. Amidst an atmosphere charge with resentment and angry recrimination, is reconciliation out of the question?
Thursday 8th May – 7:30 PM
Acorn Music Theatre Company – Fairly Awful Tales by The Brothers Grimm (CLASS III and IV)
Director: Gail Rosier
Acorn is an educational charity who produces site specific work through improvisation. Young people are involved in the process of designing their own costumes, writing, directing and creating the music. Using physical theatre and live music, they are usually to be found performing in the barns and gardens of South Oxfordshire, although they performed their own version of A Christmas Carol at the Kenton in January 2024. They have also performed at The Edinburgh Festival and Graham’s Town Festival South Africa.
Over the last 30 years Acorn has produced original work including The Odyssey, Tales from the Norse, Scary Tales for Dark Nights, Henry Muge a pirate comedie and lamentable tragedie, full and unabridged.
Abingdon Drama Club – Bridgers by Tony Green (CLASS I, II, and IV)
Director: Tony Green
For Ellie, it was the best day of her life. The moment when the whole point of her existence had become clear and her heart was so full of love she thought it might burst. So why is she standing on a bridge in the middle of the night? What is she going to do and can the stranger who stops his car to speak to her, talk her out of it?
Note for viewers to please be aware that the theme of suicide is discussed in this play.
Didcot Phoenix Drama Group – Visitors by Emma Gardner (CLASS I and IV)
Director: Emma Gardner & Jane Clewett
Welcome to Little Denys castle, England’s most boring ancient monument, where the staff are facing an unexpected new phenomenon: visitors. Freya and her team must overcome fudge shrapnel, new-age gardeners and flying tomatoes to convince them that Little Denys Castle is worth visiting. Above all, they must stop their unexpected visitors escaping to Beaumaven – the grand castle next door, whose site manager would very much like her visitors back…
Friday 9th May – 7:30 PM
StageWorks – Sorry, Wrong Number by Lucille Fletcher (CLASS I and III)
Director: Lloyd White
‘Sorry, Wrong Number’ by Lucille Fletcher, is a tense psychological drama presented in the form of a radio play. A woman lies alone in her bed – her only contact with the outside world being her telephone. One night, via a crossed line, she accidentally overhears what she believes to be a plot to commit murder. What follows are her increasingly desperate attempts to foil the plot and convince the police – or anyone – to take her seriously.
Oxford Theatre Guild – Sugar by Heather Dunmore (CLASS I and IV)
Director: Vicky Wild
Oxford Theatre Guild presents Sugar – the premiere of a new play by local playwright Heather Dunmore.
Sugar is a satirical exploration of how far a man will go when he simultaneously discovers that he has diabetes and that his ancestor was involved in the slave trade. The play considers whether there’s more to sugar than simply being a sweetener.
Back to Front Theatre – Reckoning by Kathy Mead (CLASS I)
Director: Shirley Cumming
Set 20 years in the future in a prison visitors room Rachel relives memories of family and hidden secrets.
Back to Front Theatre was formed 10 years ago by like minded people who wanted to take their theatre around the country. In 2016 we won the All Winners final and have been commended for performances in the years since.
Saturday 10th May – 7:00 PM
Runnymede Drama Group – Little Dolls by Nancy Harris (CLASS I)
Director: Troy Chessman
Many years have passed since the school trip that changed Vickys life, forever. Now an adult, Vicky has an intense fear of the dark. Once again, Her counsellor John has boldly turned off the lights so Vicky can overcome her fears and navigate the darkness.
“The darkness is a disease. And you are right not to want to catch it”.
Nancy Harris’s short play ‘Little Dolls’ was first performed at the Bush Theatre in October 2008 as part of the Broken Space season.
Henley Players – The Prize Fish by Mike Rowbottom (CLASS I and IV)
Director: Darrel Poulos