The final two shows – and then the winners are announced

The Preston 20th One Act Theatre Festival
Final night and awards
By The Newsroom
Published 4th Jul 2013, 11:11 BST
FAMILIES FRONT One act festival Preston Playhouse, Preston. Annaka Lee, Kym Ratcliffe, Maggie Armitt and Tom Armitt of Hall Players in I.E.DFAMILIES FRONT One act festival Preston Playhouse, Preston. Annaka Lee, Kym Ratcliffe, Maggie Armitt and Tom Armitt of Hall Players in I.E.D
FAMILIES FRONT One act festival Preston Playhouse, Preston. Annaka Lee, Kym Ratcliffe, Maggie Armitt and Tom Armitt of Hall Players in I.E.D

The Saturday evening saw the culmination of four nights of drama celebrating the Preston 20th One Act Theatre Festival – the biggest of its kind in NW England. Two plays were presented during this final evening. 
I.E.D. by Vic Mills was directed by Nigel Parsons for the Hall Players. It was a powerful, thought-provoking story about the futility of war and difficulties of life which flitted back to the childhood of the two main characters.   Hannah (Kym Ratcliffe) narrates and is girlfriend to soldier Davey (Tom Armitt).  His sister is Ellie (Annaka Lee) and Mum is Maggie Armitt. 
Mother Figure by Alan Ayckbourn, directed by Stella Judson for Preston Drama Club was the second play of the evening. Harassed young mum Lucy (Angela Kilpatrick) is so tired she cannot even answer the telephone. 

The fun begins when concerned neighbours Rosemary (Debra Taylor) and Terry (Alan Freeman) call around. The Festival Adjudicator Susan Mackay announced the winners at the end of the evening.  
Dave Armitage presented the Line-a-Tone Trophy for Best Director to the Grimsargh Players’ Mary Jones for Last Tango in Little Grimsargh.
Gwen Weiss awarded the Preston Arts Association Trophy for Best Performance to Janet Dawson for her part in Preston Gilbert & Sullivan Society’s production of Maureen. 
Festival Chairman Adrienne Hurley received the Hardman Trophy for Best Individual Achievement from Joan Hardman (in memory of her husband John). 
The Kennedy Trophy was a Special Award from the Adjudicators to Tom Armitt for his part in I.E.D. – presented by Christine Wilson in memory of her father Peter Kennedy. The Smithies Trophy for Best Overall Performance was presented by the Mayor of Preston, Coun Veronica Afrin to the Grimsargh Players for Last Tango in Little Grimsargh.

Jenny Robson