WALES are the winners!
The Unknown OUTCasts have broken the 24 year long wait for the Howard de Walden trophy to return to Wales with their play Contractions.
This was particularly poignant for the Welsh team as the last time the British Final was won by Wales it was also held at the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff.
A joyous weekend in Cardiff, with local members taking such delight in welcoming friends old and new to our lovely city, focussed around a delightful civic reception on Saturday morning in the Senedd building (the Welsh Parliament) in Cardiff Bay, hosted by Huw Irranca-Davies, AM.
Deputy Lord Mayor of the City of Cardiff Council, Councillor Georgina Phillips presenting the Howard de Walden trophy to Lon David, Director The Unknown OUTCasts.
Deputy Lord Mayor of the City of Cardiff Council, Councillor Georgina Phillips presenting the Geoffrey Whitworth trophy (Best Play receiving its premiere performance) to Toby Rome for The Arrangement.
The running order was as follows
Friday 1st July 2016
- Wales - The Unknown OUTCasts Contractions by Mike Bartlett
- Northern Ireland - Rosemary Drama Group The Martha Syndrome by Scott Marshall
Saturday 2nd July 2016
- Scotland - Studio Theatre Group A Bench at the Edge by Luigi Jannuzzi
- England - St. Albans Players Interior Designs by Jimmie Chinn
Part of the Show written by Kevin Myers was the winner to a competition run by DAW to open the 83rd British Final Festival. Performed by Kevin Myers, Tammy-Rais Bois with Kim Littlechild, Hafwen Hibberd, Miryam Edwards, Carly Griffin, David Millard (from The Unknown Theatre Company) and Tenovus Cancer Care 'Sing with Us' Choir, Rhiwbina.
We were also grateful to Tenovus Cancer Care 'Sing with Us' Choir, Pontypridd who performed on the Saturday night www.tenovuscancercare.org.uk/singwithus Further photos from the weekend taken by Tony Flisch can be found here.Mr. Michael Sheen, OBE and patron of DAW writes:
'My family have been involved in amateur theatre for generations, so I have experienced first-hand the creative and social benefits it provides and the strong sense of community it can engender. This annual competition is a fantastic example of hundreds of amateur groups competing in their respective parts of the UK to be the representative group from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales at this prestigious annual event.
I am delighted to be a Patron of DAW and support this brilliant event in 2016.'
Photographer: Rich Hardcastle
