Aberfeldy club is real class act Next it’s Belfast final for drama group
Aberfeldy Drama Club is celebrating winning a national competition for performing a one act play – making it only the second drama club from Perthshire to do so in 90 years of the competition.
Having competed with “Ringroad” in the Scottish Community Drama Association’s One Act Play Festival, Aberfeldy Drama Club savoured its first triumph over players from around 100 other clubs in Scotland. Their rivals came from as far afield as Castle Douglas and Kirkwall.
The play already progressed through the two previous rounds of the competition staged in Birnam and Orkney before playing to a hugely supportive local Perthshire audience in Pitlochry Festival Theatre last weekend.
Now the amateur actors from Highland Perthshire will represent Scotland in the British final held in Belfast on July 7.
Ringroad director and honorary member of Aberfeldy Drama Club, Gilbert Price collected the Wheatley Tassie for the club’s dramatic efforts.
He commented: “The Drama Club enjoys tremendous support from the people of Aberfeldy and the whole community should feel very proud of this achievement.”
Previously the club reached the Scottish Final of the Scottish Community Drama Association competition twice before, but never won.
“For a relatively small club to win a national competition and go on to represent Scotland in the British final is a big deal for the town and we are all really pleased.
“We have reached the Scottish Final on two other occasions, so this is marvellous, ” said the club’s David Roy.
He and co-star Hazel Johnson began as child members of the Aberfeldy Drama Club some 30 years ago. Producer Anna Price commented: “It was such a thrill to get to perform in the Scottish final in Perthshire, in front of a local audience. This was a unique occurrence and a fantastic showcase for the club in what is acknowledged as the high point of amateur drama in Scotland.”
Anita Vettesse’s play Ringroad tells the story of Lisa, struggling with a mid-life crisis, and her attempt to ensnare her brotherin-law Mark, who she lures to a cheap hotel near a ring road.
Staring all well known Aberfeldy faces Hazel Johnson, David Roy and Patrick Ruddy, the piece explores the themes of love, lust, lies and loss through sharp wit and empathy.
The highly regarded adjudicator, Jan Palmer Sayer, noted the Aberfeldy production was “very near perfect.” Director and honorary member of Aberfeldy Drama Club, Gilbert Price, with the Wheatley Tassie Pic Walter Hampson Aberfeldy’s talented actors made it a rare win for Big County drama fans