Previous Drama Award Winners

Arts Centre Group Drama Awards 2017

In 2017 we were looking for 30 minute One Act Plays on the Theme: Faith Within A Contemporary Context. The play may cover any aspect of faith e.g. Women and the church; Faith in pop culture; Faith and the atheists; Faith and politics. Music and song may find a place in the script, but should not be in total more than around 7 minutes.

The Competition Administrator was Tony Jasper, author, broadcaster, playwright and actor.

Scripts were judged by a team of distinguished judges, including theatre and radio directors and producers.

The script should not have been broadcast other than on student, hospital or local radio. It should also not have been performed within a professional theatre context.

One award was made:

  • The Jasperian Drama Award for playwrights age of 25 and over. Prize £100.

In addition the winning play was given a play reading in a London location by professional actors.

1803_drama2017-3.jpg

Photo Jason Blackwood. Left to Right: John Coutts, Michael Billington and Peter Moreton.

The presentation of ACG’s 2017 Drama Awards was made on Saturday 18th November at the Methodist Central Hall, Westminster with the award winner, John Coutts, receiving his prize from Guardian Theatre critic, Michael Billington for his play Jesus in the Broomcupboard.

1803_drama2017-2.jpg

Interviewed by the event organiser, Tony Jasper, Michael Billington gave his views on religious theatre writing of the last few decades. His position was that religious writing should have a certain seriousness and gravitas, and he wasn’t keen on the superficial gloss given by musicals such as Godspell. Tony Jasper asked questions and also quoted from his book Jesus Centre Stage. The book references over 200 plays which have covered or included the subject of the person of Jesus. While not always agreeing, they gave a stimulating overview of the religious writing for the theatre with astute observation and stimulating discussion.

1803_drama2017-4.jpg

After the interval Peter Moreton gave ACG’s inaugural drama lecture on the topic of faith in the theatre and in his personal experience as an actor.

This was followed by a play reading of the winning play – Jesus In The Broomcupboard. John Coutts explained, that while fictional, it had been based on events from his own Salvation Army background.

1803_drama2017-1.jpg

All photos Jason Blackwood.

Arts Centre Group Drama Awards 2015

This year we were looking for revue scripts of 29 minutes in length that could find a radio outlet or be adapted for stage. Subject matter can focus on one subject or for instance, in a revue of ’Life in Britain in the last decade’, it could cover various subjects and use different media. Material should have a social, political or religious dimension. You can suggest music or compose your own music both for a signature tune and if wished to punctuate the items. The one minute from 30 is intended for the show title, credits and music. However, the suggested music may be a riff or a sample, rather than a new composition. You may, if you choose to, make it a musical revue. Ensure timing is correct.

There are two awards:

  • The Julian Battersby Award for young playwrights under the age of 25. Prize £300.
  • The Jasperian Drama Award for playwrights age of 25 and over. Prize £100.

The Competition Administrator was Tony Jasper, author, broadcaster, playwright and actor.

Scripts would have been judged by a team of distinguished judges, including theatre and radio directors and producers. Judges were as follows:

  • Tony Jasper Broadcaster/Journalist/Playwright/Actor
  • Tim Blackmore Former Head of Music on Capital Radio, Exec Producer BBC Radio 1, Managing Director Unique Broadcasting
  • Les Ellison Playwright whose plays and revue sketches have found theatre and radio performance
  • Cathy Sara Actress whose credits include regular work on The Archers, and involvement in actor training
  • Peter Moreton is a founder member of Applecart Theatre Company. He has toured extensively as an actor and been cast for works from major companies, including Cheek by Jowl and the RSC. 

General Requirements

The script should not have been broadcast other than on student, hospital or local radio. It should also not have been performed within a professional theatre context.

Entry fee for the under 25 category is £10 per text. Entry fee for the over 25 category is £20 per text. For an additional fee of £30, the text may be evaluated.

Closing date was 7th September 2015.

In the event no awards were made due to insufficient entries.

Drama Competition 2014

ACG held its second playwriting competition in 2014 with two drama awards for innovative play and creative play scripts, 40 to 50 minutes in length. There was no fixed subject but it should in some way reflect the human condition. The two awards were: 

  • The Julian Battersby Award for young playwrights under the age of 30. Prize £300.
  • The Jasperian Drama Award for playwrights from any age. Prize £100.

It has proved a great success. This time there were vastly more entries and the overall standard was high.

1411_drama_winners1.jpg

Winners Katrina Ffiske and Emma Rogerson

The winner of the Under 30 category (Julian Battersby Award) was Emma Rogerson for The Sad Truth. Just 16 years old her text thrilled the judges. The piece would work well for a physical theatre group. Emma came down to London with her parents from Nantwich. The judges nearly gave their award to a play of a different type – Indiscretion by Lexi Wolfe. It was a worthy second.

In the all-age group (Jasperian Award) there was almost a unanimous decision in awarding the first place Award to Katrina Ffiske. Her play If Only Every Day was seen as funny, relevant and quirky. It was well constructed and entertaining. The runners-up in this category were Richard Moore commended for his play The Ante Room and Geoffrey Heptonstall, commended for his play The Night City.

1411_drama_winners2.jpg

L to R: Peter Moreton, Susanne Scott, Tony Jasper and Katrina Ffiske

The awards were presented by Peter Moreton, actor and playwright and also founder of the Applecart touring company which wowed Greenbelt in 2013, on Thursday October 23rd 2014 at the Society of Authors, London SW10.

The competition administrator was Tony Jasper.

Judges also included: Clare Davidson, coach and theatre director with a world wide reputation, Linda Slade, Voice Coach and actor, Amie Buhari, trained actress and singer, Alfred Hofmann, actor in film and TV, Cathy Sara, actress, won Carleton Hobbs BBC Radio Award 1993 and has enjoyed leading roles in Theatre and on Television.

It is intended that the winning plays will be showcased in part or in whole by professional actors. Look out for details.

Drama Award 2012

The ACG held its first Drama Award competition in recent years in 2012, looking for innovative and creative play scripts of 40 to 50 minutes in length. There was no fixed subject but they were intended in some way to reflect the human condition, either personally, socially or politically.

The competition administrator was Tony Jasper.

On 15th April 2013 there were performances of the two commended playscripts at Café Eterno, and it is hoped that these inaugural ACG drama awards would be a springboard for future competitions to encourage new playwriting.

The award presentation was held on Friday 26 October 2012 by Frank Barrie at the Society of Authors, London SW10. Frank Barrie is one of Britain’s most celebrated classical actors. He is a highly respected mentor and a Senior Examiner for Trinity Guildhall Examination.

1211_award2012.jpg

He presented Certificates of Merit to Danielle R. Corgan (left) for her play Writing To The Queen and to Kit Walkham (right) for Postcard To The Edge.

Frank gave an enthralling talk which included reminiscences of the late Julian Battersby. The drama awards had been instigated partly in honour of Julian’s memory, so it was particularly apt that Frank and Julian had worked together in a Shakespeare play during the early part of their careers. Frank recounted how, in the same week, he had been offered the opportunity to work at the Old Vic by Sir Laurence Olivier and Julian had secured a place with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Scripts were judged by a team of distinguished judges as follows:

Tony Jasper Broadcaster/Journalist/Playwright/Actor

Clare Davidson Coach & Theatre Director/Lecturer

Richard Everett Actor/Playwright/Director of First Media Syndicate

Robin Meredith Actor/Director of New Directions Theatre Company / Mentor to young writers

Kenneth Pickering Actor/Director/Lecturer/Playwright

Paula B Stanic Playwright

Felicity Wilson Actress/Trainee Director

Susan Beresford Actress/Writer/Voice Coach

Nicola Blackman Actress

Amie Buhari Actress/Writer

Cathy Sara Actress