Prizes in Playwriting Contest

Radio Record, Volume IX, Issue 14, 11 October 1935, Page 6

Prizes in Playwriting Contest

_ "Radio Record" Trophy goes. to Masterton

. At the. foot cof. this. page is giver ¢ a a list ‘of the: placings in the playwriting contest’ ‘for trophies donated each year by the "New Zealand Radio Record" and "Tui’s Annual." The following comment was written by Victor Sy ‘Lloyd, who has, just returned from- @aranaki, where he acted as judge at the British Drama League Festival.

A®TER judging the gemi-final of. the British Drama League Festival at. Stratford dn-Septémber 30, I was very much impressed: ‘with the play which Won, théré,"‘Sordid: Story," which I was delighted to ‘find secured: first. place at the, final -af- Hastings .as the best -play. produced, out. of entries which came. ftom ‘all’ parts’ of New Zealand. The | play was produced by! Professor Sewell, « who madé an’ exceptionally good job:of it, The: ‘play. is an-.extremély |diffieuit | one,‘ as, it. is:éet-in thé inside of ia’ man’s brain. , It tis: essentially: a producer’s play;.- its. whole success depends. upon the: producer, and .the actots being: subordinate to his will,- . oven ‘The: British: Drama. ison Look oitt for new’ forins And’ new ‘ideas in* déamatic: art, ‘and the problems pre-sented’-in' the prodtction ' of "Sordid. Story" were: enough ‘to test ‘the .. ingenuity and intelligence ° of any: producer:and any. cast. :I learned after the festival, that the, play. was written by Mr, J. S.. Goppard, of Auckland, who had sent, the play,,,home to England some time ago, "where, it had been select-

ed by a-group of Glasgow amateurs, who had:produced the play at a British Drama. League Festival held there and _ where it wag not only awarded first ‘ place but ‘eréated something ‘of a furore. Double column headings: describing and.eulogising the play appeared in the Glasgow, papers next day. It is very~-gratifying to think that with: the enormous number of exceptionally good one-act plays which are available "to-day to amateur groups a Blay by a New Zealander should be outstanding: among all those produced by the various teams from Auckland to "Invereargill.. The plays entered for the British: Drama League thig year were. on the whole below the average. ‘although the winners of the two competitions were far above those of last . year -in -technique and in literary quality. > The "Radio Record" trophy, which is ‘awarded to’the -best play by a New Zealand author whose work has not previously been -published, was won by L. G. Donald, of Masterton, with a : play called "Voyagers." This is an ex: 1

tremely tragic and Hebridean play written with great sincerity. The author displays a fine poetical sense and a strong feeling for the theatre. Characterisation dialogue, construction, climax and pace are all good. The open competition was won by Hric Bradwell, of Wellington, with a play called "Clay." This is described by Mr. Bradwell.as an experimental

one-act play for the theatre. It is an ‘experiment which succeeds .admirably. It combines most successfully -moderu expressionism, with the use of the clas‘gie Greek chorus. I feel inclined to say ‘that, after judging New Zealand written plays ever since the inception of the play-writing competitions in New Zealand, this play by Mr. Bradwell’s is the best one which has beer entered, and it is my intention to pro duce it this year for the Wellington Thespians. . In past. years the publication .of the best New Zealand plays entered for the British Drama League play-writing competition has been arranged for and the various volumes published each year receive warm welcome from dramatic societies’ and groups throughout the Dominion.:’ This year I should like to see included Mr. Coppard’s .: play "Sordid Story." Considering her isolation from the great centres of art in the world and her small population New Zealand has every reason to be proud of the high standard of plays turned out by her playwrights. "Mr, Coppard’s play "Sordid Story" and Mr. Bradwell's play. "Olay" are worthy of inclusion in any volume of plays. :