Finals of the 1975 Coarse Acting Festival Held at Salisbury Playhouse

Adjudicated by Michael Green

In aid of the Salisbury Playhouse Appeal

Unbelievably it is over ten years since Michael Green’s classic The Art of Coarse Acting was published. And when the idea of this festival was first discussed less than ten months ago, all three of us directly concerned said: “Oh Yes. I have a copy--of course.” And all three of us sheepishly admitted a day or two later that ours could not be found. The result, no doubt, of the exercise of The Art of Coarse Lending.

The book covers the whole field of theatre - indeed it is sub-titled “How to Wreck an Amateur Dramatic Society” In this Festival we have restricted ourselves to the stage itself. Teams competing in the Preliminary Round in Salisbury, in Southampton and in Weymouth were given a list of subjects from which to choose and allowed 9 to 12 minutes, and from 2 to 7 performers with which to complete their task. For the Final, the same conditions apply except that the teams may perform any piece they like. But throughout, and above all, they have been asked to enjoy themselves and to entertain you, the audience. If any team has taken itself seriously it has broken Law One of Coarse Festivals.

In tonight's Final, we have the winners from each of the three Regional heats competing against a team from the Salisbury Playhouse and invited Companies.from The Questors (Michael Green's current Coarse Acting and Coarse Drinking home), and from the National Theatre. Four amateur teams taking on two professionals, so anything can happen - and should!

PROGRAMME

1 The Bournemouth Little Theatre Club

in

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE (ACT IV)

by William Shakespeare

Cast

Production Team

2 The Maskers

Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Hann

with

Members of The Eddystone Lighthouse Theatre-in-the-Round Company

In

HAMLET

Cast

Production Team

3 The National Theatre

In

A SKI LIFT TO MURDER

by Dame Agatha Coward

with assistance from Peter Robert Scott

Stage Manager: Phil Robins

Cast

4 Pitton Theatre Club

The Middle-Aged Vick

in

OTHELLO (ACT V)

by William Shakespeare

Adaptated and Directed by Jeanne Judd

Cast

5 The Salisbury Playhouse

Tenby Operatic and Dramatic Society (TOADS)

in

THE SEAGULL

by Anton Chekov

Produced by Reginald Askew (David Grout)

Cast

6 The Questors Theatre

THE VICAR DID IT

by Peter Out

Directed by anyone who happened to be passing at the time

Scene: The drawing room of d'Arcy Towers home of Sir Henry d'Arcy somewhere in Kent

Cast