Congratulations to the cast and crew of New World Theatre Club’s award-winning production of Jolly by David Mamet. They were honoured with the prestigious Sydney Fisher Trophy for excellence in backstage organisation at the NDFA’s (National Drama Festival Association) 37th British All Winners Festival at the Thamesie Theatre in Grays, Essex on 31 July 2010. It was a close adjudication by Paul Fowler (GODA adjudicator) for other top prizes with many glowing remarks to the entire cast and crew for an ambitious, successful production.

NWTC won the privilege of participating in the All-Winners Festival in May at FEATS (Festival of European Anglophone Theatre Societies) in Bad Homburg, Germany, sweeping up the Founders’ Trophy for Best Production and the Blackie award for Best Actor (Timothy Lone) and nominations for Best Stage Presentation and Best Actress (Christine Probst).

The Anglophone societies of Luxembourg were well represented in the ensemble: two Yanks and one Canadian on stage, Brits and ‘Bourgers backstage. Director Erik Abbott and cast members Christine Probst (Jolly) and Timothy Lone (Bobby) are American; Mathew Kovacs (Carl) is Canadian. In the crew of Jolly, Ann Overstall (Stage Manager), John Overstall (props), Pam Carlisle (props), and Alain Carlisle (lighting technician) are all British transplants to Luxembourg. Nathalie Jacoby (sound technician) is a Luxembourger, sound designer Deborah Fulton-Anderson is American and lighting designer Valerie Scott is British. Barbara Buchanan, who co-ordinated the props and served on the crew for the production at FEATS and for its Luxembourg run (05 – 08 May), has British, Australian and Canadian citizenship. All deserve the accolades given to the group for a spectacularly simple yet powerful production.

The National Drama Festivals Association (NDFA) was formed in 1964 to encourage and support amateur theatre in all its forms and in particular through the organisation of drama festivals. There are now 45 member festivals throughout the UK (and one, FEATS, in Continental Europe), which between them organise 17 Full Length and 40 One Act festivals.

Each year, the NDFA organise the British All Winners Festival where the very best of British amateur theatre take part in a week-long celebration of theatre. The participating groups are adjudicated by a GODA adjudicator, scores are tallied at the end of the festival and the winners are announced on the final night of the festival.