Dersingham-born TV star Claire Goose opens One-Act Drama Festival in Hunstanton

The Hunstanton One-Act Drama Festival put on ten plays over three days at the town’s Princess Theatre, involving 77 performers.

Former Casualty star Claire Goose, who originates from Dersingham,opened the event and stayed on to enjoy performances from the Sutton Bridge Players and Angles Theatre.

Awards were presented by Hunstanton’s Mayor Mike Ruston, with The Wisbech Theatre Players walking away with Best Male Actor (Martin Lightburn), Best Female Actor (Wendy Coles) and Best Technical Production (Director Gay Hoyle).

The Angles Theatre’s ‘Shakespeare’s Dead Dames’, also from Wisbech, won Best Overall Production and the Audience Choice Award.

Other winners were Dan Poulson from Boston Playgoers (Best Supporting Actor), Maureen Hutter, Wilburton Theatre Group (Best Supporting Actress), Rylee, Wilburton Youth (Best Male Actor Youth) , Kira, Smithdon High School (Best Female Actor Youth), Laura Griffin, Boston Playgoers (Best Original Script) and Wilburton Youth directed by Barry Starr (Best Youth Production) . The Adjudicators Award went to Mia for outstanding potential in a youth performer (Shakespeare’s Dead Dames).

Festival director Stephen Hayter said: “We thank West Norfolk Council for their continued funding and Brian Hallard and the staff of the Princess Theatre for their invaluable financial, technical and emotional support.

“We are indebted to all the various media outlets who have given us so much publicity and after record breaking numbers last year we managed to double the audience this year. We want to thank everyone who came to see one or all of our entries and if ever there was any question of the relevance of this Festival, there isn’t now.”