Anglesea’s one act wonders

ANGLESEA’S One Act Play Festival saw 60 actors take to the stage from 12 different theatre companies to perform 19 one act plays.

The festival in its 27th year drew a packed house over the August 18-19 weekend, with performers battling it out for various awards judged by Melbourne playwriter Dan Giovannoni.

Nikki Watson from Anglesea Performing Arts (APA) said Mr Giovannoni had the difficult task of deciding winners with a play directed by Ms Watson herself, bestowed the main award.

“Dan Giovannoni had the difficult task deciding awards for the festival, Surf Coast company Anglesea Performing Arts took out the main prize of Best Production with Love Loss and What I Wore,” Ms Watson said.

Anglesea also won Best Design with Iris Walshe-Howling and Best Male Actor in the other Anglesea offering of I Am a Refugee, directed by Iris Walshe-Howling.

“Torquay Theatre Troupe were successful with Sudan, winning Best Original Play (written by Christine Davey), Best Actress with Mary Steuten, and third prize for Best Production.”

Christine Walker said festival co-ordinators were delighted with the packed houses for all of the sessions.

“Arts and culture are alive and well on the Surf Coast, it is wonderful to see so many locals supporting the festival this year,” Ms Walker said.

“For local theatre companies to win many of the awards was the icing on the cake to an amazing weekend.”

The festival has been running in Anglesea for almost 30 years and continues to provide a platform for metro and regional theatre companies across Victoria to showcase their theatre making.