ILMINSTER Entertainment Society (IES) once again claimed the prestigious County Shield for Best Overall Production at this year’s County Drama Festival, held at The Warehouse Theatre in Ilminster.
Their play My Best Friend by Tamsin Oglesby, directed by Irene Glynn, "wowed" the audience with “stunning” performances by Silvey Binmore, Rosie Hawkins, and Laurie Sandford.
Rosie Hawkins also earned Best Actress for her captivating portrayal of “Bee Hannon” and “Milly” in Gilly’s Gem.
The festival, organised by Irene Glynn of the Somerset Fellowship of Drama, is a vibrant celebration of community theatre, showcased 10 diverse plays from nine groups across Somerset, featuring everything from comedies to dramas.
An especial highlight, according to a County Drama Festival spokesperson was the “exceptional youth performances”, with Clevedon School’s Youth Theatre taking home the Eyris Jones Memorial Trophy for Best Youth Production for their moving piece One Evacuee.
The Cely Trevellian Award for Best Original Script went to the @2K Theatre for Valerie’s Salon, a slick comedy written and directed by Stephen Mercer.
Minehead Amateur Dramatic Society's The Singing Mole won the Hope Cup for its delightful children’s production.
The festival also saw the newly introduced Philip de Glanville Trophy, awarded to Taunton Thespians for their ‘Champagne Moment’ in Rats by Phoebe Rees.
Ilminster Entertainment Society (IES) claimed an additional award - The Brian Edwards Trophy for Technical Excellence, for ‘Gilly’s Gem’ directed by Ken Cooper, his first directing role.
All the competitors were adjudicated by award winning director Bob Tomson GoDA, who lives in West Sussex has been an actor, stage and screen writer, a university lecturer in drama, and now divides his time as professional director in theatre and TV.
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