Sadly it’s all over till next year!

Our Saturday Matinee featured two Youth plays: Mother’s Pride by Manx writer Chris Maybury, a play spotlighting the definition of ‘normal’ performed by St. Ninians High School and Eclipse by Youth Arts Centre, Douglas, a Simon Armitage play full of rhythm & poetry with a touch of mysticism.

The evening session opened with Arbory Players presenting James Franklin’s World Premiere The Coming of the Saints who chose to sit in a boat in the Irish Sea till washed ashore on Man. Our second play by Rushen Players I Dream Before I Take the Stand, a very powerful two hander with minimal set and strong characterisation, injected a serious note to the proceedings. Hog the Limelight’s Henna Night, rounding off an excellent evening’s entertainment, had both humour and pathos along with wet hair and ‘tea which cures all ills’.

Robert Meadows proved his weight in gold. He was constructive, illuminating, entertaining and positive at all times. He reinforced our belief that the talent on the Island is second to none and with a turnout of 14 plays he must be right.

You can see all the results here.

A big Thank You to John Bethel for the availability of such a wonderful venue for our Festival.

And Special mention to Mike Lean, without whose expertise, dedication and helpfulness our Festival could not happen. Mike was suffering throughout the Festival with a bad cough but Strepsils and a hot toddy (after each night) kept him going.

• Susie Beswick, MADF One Act Play Festival Coordinator