Kate Spencer
NEWS RELEASE
23rd September 2020
Chesil Theatre Winchester’s new writing competition TakeTen has attracted over 400 scripts and judging is now underway to find the top ten winners. Budding playwrights were invited to submit a play lasting 10-minutes embodying this year’s theme – The Road Not Taken.
The new writing festival won encouragement from Sir Kenneth Branagh who said:
“Three cheers for Winchester’s Chesil Theatre! At a time of challenge for all, they have bravely looked to creativity and imagination. Their new writing competition can lead the way to new ideas and new and entertaining ways to look at our changed and changing world.
“I hope these exciting writers will help herald the return of live amateur theatre, a vital part of Britain’s creative ecosystem.”
Previous writing festivals run by Chesil Theatre have enjoyed the support of Sir Ian McKellen, who attended a performance in 2014. An exciting challenge now faces the panel of five judges to find the ten winning entries. All drawn from the world of drama and theatre, the judges are:
- Kate Spencer, stage and television actor, currently playing Grace Vickers in Coronation Street.
- George Richmond-Scott, West End director and voice coach, presently teaching at ALRA and RADA Business.
- Rosanne Collinson, Head of Drama at Peter Symonds College, Winchester
- Simon Plumridge, core member of Winchester’s professional touring company Platform 4
- Cecily O’Neill, author of a number of books on Drama in Education, Artistic Director of 2Time Theatre and a judge for previous Chesil Theatre writing festivals.
Chesil Theatre Chairman, David Small, said: “We are delighted to welcome the panel of judges to our festival, all working in the theatre and drama profession. They bring a wealth of experience and expertise from directing to performing, teaching to publishing. We look forward to hearing their choice of the best 20 plays at the end of October, with the winning 10 announced a month later.”
Chesil Theatre plans to perform the ten winning plays in February 2021.
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For further information please contact:
Flavia Bateson
Chesil Theatre Marketing Team
07855 253452
flavia.bateson@starspray.org
Editor’s Notes
The attached image (Kate Spencer) is provided repro-free for editorial use.
About Chesil Theatre
Chesil Theatre (Winchester Dramatic Society) is based in the heart of Winchester, presenting six main productions a year, ranging from comedy to classics. Chesil Theatre also runs drama workshops and readings, plus two lively youth theatre groups as well as offering stagecraft and technical training. The company has been performing for over 150 years.
Since 1966 the Chesil Theatre has been our permanent home - a former 12th century church in Chesil Street. Its medieval building provides an intimate 75-seat studio-style theatre and versatile performance space. It has around 250 members. Auditions are open to everyone; newcomers are welcome.
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