IT WAS a weekend of trophy wins for Ilminster Entertainment Society as it took part in a one-act play festival.

The top prizes were won at the annual County Drama Festival, with the club laying claim to the Lydia Durston cup for greatest endeavour and Ken Steed winning the Best Actor award.

Michael Paine said: “I put two entries in and Lyn put one in. Two teams dropped out so there were eight competing, with four on each day.

“As the host venue next year we will want to put in two entries again.”

The two performances were Lydia Durston Cup-winning act, A Betrothal, directed by Michael Paine with the cast of Jo Neagle and Ken Steed, and A Life Sentence, directed by Lyn Lockyer with a cast of Irene Glynn and Mark Glynn.

The event was held at the Edgar Hall in Somerton on Saturday 19 and 20 March, and the one act plays were judging by Sonya Woolley.

The winner proceeds to the next round of the All England Theatre Competition.

From there, acts will progress to the UK-wide contest.

The judging gave out 40 marks for acting, 35 marks for direction, 15 marks for stage presentation and 10 marks for dramatic achievement.

Acts were given 10 minutes to put up the stage, and then five minutes to take it down again.

Ilminster Entertainments Society is a registered charity, formed in 1947; with its inaugural production of The Farmer’s Wife.

The society it presents five productions in the theatre every year and has more than 200 members.

They are based at the Warehouse Theatre on Brewery Lane, which accommodates 150 people.