FOUR thought-provoking but very different plays featured in the Woolstore One Act Play Festival at Codford.

Mere Amateur Dramatic Society won the Best Original Script for Adrienne Howell’s Katie’s Party’, while Trowbridge Players won Best Actor Award for Andrew Morrison as the Hangman in Sequence of Events.

Salisbury Studio Theatre netted Best Play, the Adjudicator’s Award and Best Supporting Actor for Rachel Fletcher as Dolorosa in A Flock of Tigers.

The fourth of the 40-minute One Act plays was Warminster-based Apollo Production’s version of Bob Tucker’s Citizens.

The plays were judged by an adjudicator, Nancy Heath, who has more than 30 years’ experience working in both amateur and professional drama.

Romey Wyeth, a Codford resident, who attended the festival on March 15 and 16, said: “A teacher, actor and director, she was incisive, amusing and even-handed in her deliberations and proved to be an entertaining and enthusiastic arbiter.”

The first of the four plays performed was Mere ADS’s Katie’s Party, followed by Trowbridge Players in George McEwan Green’s Sequence of Events, tightly directed by Tony Giddings.

The second night began with Salisbury’s Studio Theatre offering, the outstanding production A Flock of Tigers by John Finnemore and directed by Lesley Bates.

Mrs Wyeth said: “The railway carriage set was stunning in its simplicity. The adjudicator noted the opening narrative, the spot-on sound effects and timing.

“This was brilliantly acted, fast-paced, witty and inciteful play about the battle of the sexes and a clash of cultures.

“Paul Chambers gave an outstanding performance as Edmund, and Rachel Fletcher as Dolorosa with her authentic American accent, fast paced dialogue and perfect timing, well deserved her Best Supporting Actor Award.

“This was as near to perfection in a production as I have seen at a festival and without doubt the audience was aware from the moment the curtain drew back that this was a quality production.”

An art exhibition in the Woolstore Theatre foyer showcased paintings by talented local artists.

Jon Foster won first Prize with his Orange. Sally Thomson was second with Mouldy Apples and Kate Hayne’s Pears took the third prize.

On Sunday, the Woolstore resounded with the unique sound of

Nectarion, with circle dance music from Crete and the Eastern Mediterranean.