At the Unicorn Theatre this week there is a festival of one act plays. The plays are introduced by, Dierdre, the Chairman of the Oxford Drama Network committee, who organise this annual event.

Each evening there are two plays.

After each play an adjudicator gives some background to the plays and then assesses the plays. He then suggests some directional changes and tries them about before the audience.

The first play this evening called Deckchairs showed two pairs of women on the seafront passing the time of day.

During the interval we had a drink in the Long Gallery of the Old Abbey Buildings where the Oxfordshire Drama Wardrobe, based in Steventon, had a display of their costumes. They are there for drama groups, and people who need to dress up for other reasons, to hire.

In the second half we saw a play called California Suite by the Bartholomew Players. It was very well directed and performed.

Three of the plays get called back tomorrow night for the Gala Evening. I was surprised that California Suite was not among them. The others must be excellent.

The Gala Night includes:

• Still Life by Noel Coward performed by Breakaleg Productions
• Too Long an Autumn by Jimmy Chinn performed by Sinodun Players
• Dynamo Flo by Wayne T. Brown performed by Oxford Theatre Guild.

Abingdon Passion Play 2016 will be two big outdoor performances in Abingdon on Sunday 13th March next year. It is an exciting fast-paced re-telling of the Easter story, and this is your chance to be part of it! If you’d like to be on stage there are plenty of opportunities for actors and singers. This is real community theatre and you are welcome whatever your age, background or beliefs. Experience welcome but certainly not necessary!

Call for Actors

Choose from the following informal auditions at Peachcroft Christian Centre in North Abingdon:
Sunday 8th November 2pm (men) 4pm (women)
Monday 9th November 8pm (men)
Tuesday 10th November 8pm (women)

Call for Singers

Come to the choir taster session on Wed 18th November 8pm at Peachcroft Christian Centre, North Abingdon and find out more.

There are also lots of other roles to help with this production. To register your interest contact Julie Kemp-Harper on 01235 521049 kempharpers@pobox.com or feel free to just turn up.

This evening at the Unicorn Theatre in Abingdon we were lucky enough to have tickets to see the final performance of The Elephant Man, directed by Terry Atkinson. Terry remembers the film version from an early age, and has been so captivated by the story that he directed it at the Unicorn Theatre in Abingdon.

The portrayal of the Elephant Man, John Merrick, by Duncan Blagrove, was excellent – both moving, and a feat a strength.

The play begins with Merrick, as an exploited act in a Victorian ‘freak show’ who comes under the protection of Dr Frederick Treves. Treves introduces him to Mrs. Kendal, an actress, in whom he finds a soul mate.

The first half ended movingly with Merrick remembering his hard life in the workhouse, banging out the punishments he had received on the soap shelf of his bathtub.

Lighting and special effects transformed the dream sequences in the second half of the play. Merrick always had to sleep sitting up, but the final dream sequence ended with Merrick laying down on his bed like normal people do, and dying as a result.

It was a play that made us have to rethink how we treat people who are very different from us.

Pictures were taken from the Abingdon Drama Club. Many more pictures are on the Abingdon Drama Club Facebook Page.