Amateur actors triumph at Kintyre’s annual drama festival

Finally on Thursday came Campbeltown Grammar School Drama Club with ‘Same Difference’ by Louise Roche, the tale of a girl who is dared to enter a mysterious old house.

The adjudicator particularly enjoyed the lively opening, when the group of friends were gathered in the park. He said the cast told a very interesting story with many good performances, and he gave great credit to the director.

First on stage after curtain up on Friday was Castlehill Primary Drama Club, presenting ‘Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Your Teachers’ by Jason Pizzarello, another crazy comedy with non-stop fun for both the cast and the audience.

Mr Bennet was very impressed with the way the children rose to the challenge of multi-role playing. He said the direction was very skilful and there was excellent teamwork and remarkable enthusiasm, describing it as “a very entertaining piece”.

Castlehill won the youth trophy and third place over all, and cast member Findlay Wright was judged to have given the ‘best comedy performance’ of the festival.

Last but not least, Campbeltown’s own Accent Players closed the event with ‘The Spy Who Came in for the Phone’ by Alan Richardson, a madcap comedy where the phone was an extra character. 

The challenge of this farce was to keep up the pace and Mr Bennet said the cast rose to it admirably, with many good performances. 

The director brought out the comedy, and Accent Players won the award for ‘most entertaining play’, and gained second overall. 

Finally, in a break from tradition, the award for ‘doing their bit’ went to lighting engineer Ian Atherton.

Prizes were presented this year by Fiona Sweeney and the following sponsors were thanked for supporting the event: Campbeltown Community Windfarm Fund; Kintyre Cultural Forum; and Helen Gilchrist’s Jolly Monday Show fundraisers.

List of prizewinners at the 2025 SCDA Kintyre District Festival: 1st place (Rex Trophy): Benderloch and North Connel; 2nd place (Charteris Rose Bowl): Accent Players, Campbeltown; 3rd place (Dunaverty Trophy): Castlehill Primary School Drama Club; youth winners (Galbraith Cup): Castlehill Primary School Drama Club; best production (Enniskillen Quaich): Benderloch and North Connel; best stage presentation (Campbeltown Drama Club Trophy): Benderloch and North Connel; best moment of theatre (The Visitors’ Quaich): Dalintober Primary School Drama Club; best comedy performance (John Bryce Salver): Findlay Wright, Castlehill Primary School Drama Club; team gaining the highest marks for acting (Jenny Black Memorial Trophy): Benderloch and North Connel; most entertaining play (Hilda McSporran Memorial Trophy): Accent Players, Campbeltown; an individual or group who has added something special to the festival (The Robert Black Memorial Prize): Ian Atherton, lighting.

Benderloch and North Connel will now go on to perform at the western divisional final at Beacon Studio Theatre in Greenock on April 4, with Castlehill Primary Drama Club in action at the divisional youth final at Dunlop Village Hall in East Ayrshire on March 30.