The Games Compendium

Wednesday 5th March 1998
The Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames

The Games Compendium, an original play written and directed by David Rowan, is a series of comic vignettes exploring the games people play with each other in a variety of situations. An innocent teenage party turns into a deadly game of Russian roulette, a boxer prepares for his big fight and a fed up housewife tells her husband that she's leaving him using sign language. This hugely popular comedy went on to round two of the All England Theatre Festival at Woking.

Awards:
Best Play by an Under 21 Team
Best Director
Original Work
Best Supporting Youth Actor (shared by Catherine Ellis and Emily Howes)

Kiss and Tell

Wednesday 3rd March 1999
The Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames

Written and directed by EYT member, Chris Jennings, this short play focuses on the career of pop sensation Lance Beaumont whose blossoming chart success is threatened by a court case involving his ex-manager and accusations of corruption. Feeling the heat, Lance's girlfriend - society girl Angela Hudson-Smythe - bales out on him and dumps him publicly. But Lance is someone who doesn't take rejection very well. A black comedy set in a media world of ambition, murder and revenge.

Awards:
Adjudicator's Award (Chris Jennings)

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One Finger

Wednesday 8th March 2000
The Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames

Written by Chris Jennings and directed by Jon Miseldine, 'One Finger' is a comic exploration of the fairy tale. The traditional ingredients of the genre are incorporated into a script where all the characters give their own version of events, justifying their actions. A princess is born with an extra finger, her father, the King, who already blames her for his wife's death in childbirth, banishes her from the kingdom when he discovers this. Fleeing from her father and vindictive governess, the princess stumbles upon an old lady who begs her to end the spell cast on her own sleeping son…
The play was 'Highly Commended' in the 2000 Geoffrey Whitworth Competition.

Awards:
Technical Award

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The Hottest Property in Town

Wednesday 7th March 2001
The Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames

An original play written by Michael Richens and Chris Jennings and directed by Michael Richens, this hugely successful production went on to the second round of the All England Festival at the Epsom Playhouse. Following the seedy antics of a run down Estate Agents; bumbling crooks, dippy secretaries and nymphomaniac Lady Mayoresses, all combine to produce this well paced farce.
The play was published alongside 'Sauce With That', by Jasper Publishing in March 2003. Copies of the script, priced £4.50 (ISBN 1902837991), are available from all good bookstores or direct from the publisher on 01604 497703.

Press Reviews:

"Seedy Antics at the estate agents"

Elmbridge Drama Festival was a showcase for new writing talent last week when two of the companies taking part performed original plays.
Elmbridge Youth Theatre staged The Hottest Property in Town, a highly enjoyable, fast moving comedy penned by Chris Jennings and Michael Richens, who also directed.
Set in a struggling estate agents office, the action was narrated by Owen Dabney as Martin, the bright young office junior.
Owen gave his character a wry, knowing view of the whirlwind of events going on around him, especially the seedy antics of his boss Richard Goodsir, played with gusto by Tim O'shea.
With only a small number taking part, several of the performers played more than one role.
Keith Brown doubled up as gay estate agent Lawrence, played with delightful relish, and slow-witted burglar Dave.
Another actor who took multiple roles was Jon Miseldine who gave excellent turns as Dave's wily partner in crime, Sid, senile house buyer Old Jim and an affable postman.

Comments from the judges of the 2001 George Taylor Memorial Award:

"Commended"

"This lively, inventive and entertaining farce depicts the chicanery, the one-upmanship, the highs-and-lows of Estate Agents, the play itself echoing the unpredictability of such a business. The tongue-in-cheek dialogue and plotting deliberately verges on the frenetic, yet never gets out-of-hand. The large cast of two-dimensional carton stereotypes is extremely well drawn and contrasted, and the slick comic dialogue and business well-sustained throughout. The 'comings-and-goings' are very slick and in true farcical fashion. I suppose this could well be the first time there's been a play based on Estate Agents!"

"It is an amusing and effective idea with some very well calculated comedy moments, both visually and verbally and the characters provide an interesting blend of the ordinary and the lunatic"

"Comedy set around an Estate Agents where the owner is having an affair with the Mayoress. We also encounter a couple of hapless criminals. Interesting variety of characters of varying ages, and plenty of potentially comic situations. The different locations offer a challenge to companies and it is good to see a large cast play"

Awards:
Festival Runners Up
Outstanding Festival Spirit
Best Stage Team
Best Supporting Youth Actor - Katy Ashcroft
Best Youth Actor - Keith Brown

Runners Up - Southern Division Finals (Epsom Playhouse)

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Sauce With That?

Wednesday 6th March 2002
The Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames

A semi-sequel to 'The Hottest Property in Town', again written by Michael Richens and Chris Jennings and directed by Michael, 'Sauce With That?' is a fast moving comedy set in a run down kebab shop threatened with closure by an unscrupulous bank manager. Sam and Dennis, the owners, are frantically searching for a way to keep their shop open. Faced with a barrage of nagging wives, policeman, local psychopaths and loopy customers, they hit upon an idea that may prove to be their salvation, a kebab sauce with some very special properties...
The script of 'Sauce With That?' is available alongside 'The Hottest Property in Town' published by Jasper Publishing (ISBN 1902837991) in bookstores or by ringing 01604 497703

Awards:
Best Supporting Actor - David Rowan
Best Supporting Youth Actor - Tim O'Shea

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Gosforths Fete

Monday 3rd March 2003
The Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames

Directed by Matthew Bunn, this version of Alan Ayckbourn's comedy was very well received at the festival on opening night. Set at a village fete, Gosforth and the scoutmaster's fiancée have a very indiscreet conversation, which is unwittingly broadcast over the personal address system, invoking the scoutmaster's drunken wrath and setting in motion a chain of hilarious events ending with a crazed vicar and an unruly tea urn.

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Concrete Bastard

Wednesday 5th March 2003
The Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames

Tuesday 7th October 2003
Rhoda McGaw Theatre, Woking

Written by David Rowan and directed by Michael Richens, this black comedy is set in a disused warehouse, where a disreputable concrete salesman finds himself - feet in concrete - facing up to certain death at the hands of a ruthless Mafia boss, who has taken offence when the salesman insulted his mother. This was a very popular choice when it was recalled on the Saturday evening of the Elmbridge Drama Festival along with the winner and runner up, for a second performance.

Awards:
Adjudicators Trophy

Best Supporting Actor - Michael Richens as 'Harry'

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Truth Be Damned

Set in the back alleys of the Bronx, this was a powerful religious thriller written, directed and starring EYT member Sam Fry. Through highly charged choreography and energetic fight scenes it told the story of the Priest and Extrio, locked in mortal combat under the watchful eye of the mysterious Michael. Theology, violence and moral absolutes were amongst the issues explored in this atmospheric production. With a cast of twelve highly disciplined actors (including the director and author Sam Fry), this original play demanded a high level of teamwork that was amply demonstrated in performance, drawing much comment and praise.