Reviews / Shetland County Drama Festival: Long may it continue
Drama is alive and kicking in Shetland, reports Carol Jamieson from the last night of the 73rd county drama festival
Daaarlings… how wonderful to be in the theatre soaking up the talent and ambience of the 73rd Drama Festival. Yes…73rd. That’s a lot of board treading, rehearsing, tears and sweat, but definitely worth it.
There was a wonderful atmosphere in the Garrison Theatre on Thursday night. It was the last night so everyone involved was relaxing, patting each other on the back and breathing a sigh of relief.
Kevin Briggs, chairperson for Shetland County Drama, gave us all a warm welcome at the start of the night while thanking all the people behind the scenes. Well done to him for another successful festival.
There were 14 plays packed into four days. Some feat!
The last night served up three plays, the first being Brae High School 4th Years’ Dr Korczak’s Example by David Grieg and directed by Izzy Swanson.
It was set in the street of a Jewish ghetto in Warsaw and an orphanage in 1942.
Although there were only three actors, they all played more than one part and put the heartrending story across very well. The three students used the minimal props and costumes to great effect as well as strong storytelling and picture painting.
Written by Lesley Leslie and produced by Jane Bray.
The second play Cauld Waars was written and produced by Doug Forrest and set in the cold war era. Based on a real event, it tells of a Shetland family, elderly mother, daughter and son in law, sheltering a Russian soldier defector hiding from the Lieutenant chasing him.
Entertaining and at times humorous, Marsali Taylor had the unenviable task of speaking in Shetland dialect (tutored by Iris Sandison) while not being a Shetlander. She did an excellent job trying to sound as ‘Westside’ as possible. All the players did a wonderful job although Kari Williamson was the shining light in this one.
Last but not least came Artificial Irritation by Tom Mallender and directed by Izzy Swanson. With fun and frolics on the stage, you could see everyone was enjoying presenting this play, it was amusing and engaging with good character acting from all four players.
It was about the joys of getting older while trying to keep abreast of the advancements in the technical world, a topic I can identify with fully.
Matthew Lawrence played the part of an irritated and frustrated older gent with aplomb. His amusing attempt to open a packet of biscuits really hit home with me. All the players were cast well and played their part beautifully, receiving many laughs throughout.
The adjudicator rightly saw fit to award Izzy Swanson the Most Meritorious award and it’s easy to see why – she directed seven of the 14 plays!
She teaches in schools, runs Open Door Drama and even found the time to be in one of the plays. She is a massive asset to Shetland drama.
Izzy said: “As usual it was exciting to be part of so many varied performances, but my favourite thing of all is to bring children into the theatre to experience the excitement of being on the stage.”
The whole event was adjudicated by Bruce Adam who has been teaching and lecturing in drama for many years, everything from panto to Shakespeare as well as writing plays and books. He also finds time to examine for the SQA and adjudicate the occasional festival.
In his address he pointed out how special Shetland County Drama Festival is, reminding us all how in many places the art of community drama is subsiding.
It is so refreshing to see it alive and kicking here in Shetland. Long may it continue!
The awards:
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