Swavesey Village College Theatre Company

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Swavesey Village College Theatre Company is an English student group who produce a one-act production each year. The production is auditioned in September and rehearsals begin in November, continuing right up until the first performance. Performances take place between March and June as the production is toured around local theatres competing in drama festivals. The company is based in the village of Swavesey, Cambridgeshire at the village college.

The company is managed by Lisa 'Beddy' Bedford and Judith Pawson.

1 Company History
2 Recent productions
3 'Totally Over You' Tour Dates
4 Past Productions
5 Awards
6 Nominations
7 Drama Festivals
8 External links

[edit] Company History

The company was formed in 1995, primarily to provide an opportunity for students to improve their performance skills. Since its beginning, the company has been run by students with support from the company managers, who oversee the running of the group. All productions have been entirely directed and performed by the students.

[edit] Recent productions

In 2005 the company presented Missing: Dan Nolan by Mark Wheeler as its first ever entry into the drama festival circuit. In 2006, the company produced Maria Marten or Murder in the Red Barn by John Latimer which proved highly acclaimed by drama adjudicators, winning awards at several festivals and beating off competition from 20 other productions to be named first place at one.

The company is currently touring its 2007 production, Totally Over You by Mark Ravenhill.

[edit] 'Totally Over You' Tour Dates

The company's latest production of Totally Over You by Mark Ravenhill has the following tour dates confirmed.

24th March 2007: The Youth Centre, Sawston
28th April 2007: Mumford Theatre, Cambridge
4th May 2007: Village College, Swavesey (presented as a double bill with the Swavesey RADSOC festival production of 'But Yesterday' by Jimmie Chinn)
17th May 2007: Barn Theatre, Welwyn Garden City

There is also the possibility of competing at the 2007 NDFA All Winners Festival at the Albert Hall Theatre in Llandrindod Wells, following the win at Sawston.

[edit] Past Productions

1995: Our Day Out by Willy Russell, presented in the company's studio
1996: Find Me by Olwyn Wymark, presented in the company's studio
1997: A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare, presented open air in the grounds
1998: Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare, presented open air in the grounds
1999: Blood Brothers by Willy Russell, presented in the company's studio
2000: Murder in the Red Barn by John Latimer, presented in the company's studio
2001: Hard to Swallow by Mark Wheeler, presented in the company's studio
2002: Dash Through the Decades, self-devised and presented in the company's studio
2003: Sylvia Plath: A Dramatic Portrait, self-devised and presented in the company's studio
2004: Teechers by John Godber, presented in the company's studio
2005: Missing: Dan Nolan by Mark Wheeler, presented in the company's studio and toured to theatres
2006: Murder in the Red Barn by John Latimer, presented in the company's main hall and toured to theatres
2007: Totally Over You by Mark Ravenhill, to be presented in the company's main hall and toured to theatres

[edit] Awards

The company has won several awards for its work, most notably:

Winners (1st place) for Totally Over You at the Sawston Drama Festival 2007
Senior Winners (1st place) for Murder in the Red Barn at the Welwyn Garden City Youth Drama Festival 2006
Best Sound for Murder in the Red Barn at the Cambridge Drama Festival 2006
Best Youth Production for Missing: Dan Nolan at the Cambridge Drama Festival 2005
Best Youth Performer for Bryn Thomas as Dan Nolan at the Bedford Drama Festival 2005
Best Cameo for Kate Summers as Sarah at the Cambridge Drama Festival 2005

[edit] Nominations

Best Junior Performance at the Sawston Drama Festival 2007
Adjudicator's Award for the moment in Totally Over You when Kitty (Steph Taylor) and Jake (Bryn Thomas) kiss Victor (Sean Abbs) at Sawston Drama Festival 2007
Best Youth Performer for Kate Summers as Maria Marten at the Cambridge Drama Festival 2006
Best Youth Performer for Sean Abbs as William Corder at the Cambridge Drama Festival 2006
Best Cameo for Elena Siriani as Ishmael at the Cambridge Drama Festival 2006
Adjudicator's Award for the Murder in the Red Barn opening sequence at Haverhill Drama Festival 2006

[edit] Drama Festivals

The company usually performs each production 4 or 5 times; in drama festivals at local theatres and in Swavesey Village College itself, either in the main auditorium or the more intimate setting of the drama studio. It is a regular competitor at: