A local theatre group has won a national award for its debut production.
Drum Machine Theatre (DMT) was awarded an adjudicator’s award at the National Drama Festival, in Bromsgrove, for its performance from ‘Brothers’ – a one act play by English playwright and screenwriter Kerry Drumm.
The award was given for a scene where the two brothers attack their father, with Adjudicator Jan Palmer-Sayed saying she “took [her] hat off” to the actors.
Audiences paid compliments to Brothers’ actors Simon De La Rue and Dave Hyett, director Fiona Dove, stage manager Clare Milner and assistant stage manager Laura Simpson throughout the four-day event.
Mr De La Rue said receiving the award was “gratifying”, because it was “a particular challenge to get right”.
He explained: “We’ve subsequently discovered that even the playwright was unsure it could work when she was writing the play.
“It required Dave to switch suddenly into playing our father before meting out a horribly violent beating, of which he then became one of the victims.
“His physical acting skills really came to the fore, and with Fiona’s careful handling and Clare’s perfectly pitched lighting design, it clearly had quite an impact.”
Grateful
DMT first performed Brothers in Guernsey, at GADOC’s One Act Play Festival.
The group then raised money to attend the festival, hosting performances at Avril Earl Dance and Theatre Arts Studio to fund its participation at the festival.
Mrs Dove said: “We’re very grateful to everyone who came along to those shows, those who further supported us with donations and those who provided encouragement and practical help such as lending props and giving us a space to rehearse.
DMT was also “very thankful to Guernsey Arts” for supporting the play, adding: “Their contribution made all the difference and enabled us to do Guernsey proud.”
DMT’s production was one of 14 at the festival, representing Guernsey among groups from Scotland, England, Gibraltar, Belgium and Switzerland.
