Palace Players take top spot

March 3, 2017 at 11:29 pm

Winners of the SCDA Orkney final. Palace Players (Bishops). Back row, from the left: Jane Harcus, Graham MacDonald, Dennis Gowland and Louise Tait. Seated: Cathy Lyner, Liam Tait and Kathleen Irving Lewis.

A Palace Players’ production has triumphed at this year’s Scottish Community Drama Association (SCDA) Orkney District Festival.

At tonight’s final, in the Orkney Theatre, Silent Night, directed by Jane Harcus and Louise Tait, claimed the top prize and will progress to the Northern Divisional round of the competition – which is due to take place in Orkney from March 16-18.

Over the past three nights, nine teams from six local drama groups have taken centre stage, performing a range of one-act plays.

Faced with rigid time restrictions, and under the scrutiny of SCDA adjudicator, Robert Meadows, each team was awarded points for acting, production, staging — including costume and set design — and general achievement.

Also going forward to the next round of the competition are Stromness Drama Club with The Widows of Clyth, directed by Graham Garson, which came in second place.

Third place went to Eggs, by Palace Players, directed by Shaun Tulloch. However, because no club is permitted to bring more than one play forward to the next round, fourth-placed Birsay Drama Group, with Nelle’s Belles (Excerpts), directed by Margaret Irvine, will be going through.

The winners of the The Orcadian Youth Cup were Palace Players with School Night, directed by Erika Miller.