There was a real buzz in the Perth Theatre foyer on Friday 12 July as friends reunited and the 89th British Final Festival finally began. SCDA Chair Carolyn Harrison welcomed everyone, promising four very different plays from the competing nations.
Scotland opened the festival with Largs Players performing It’s Behind You by Alan McHugh. Set backstage at the end of a pantomime season, the play follows Norrie and Nicky as shifting fortunes test their relationship. The duo’s comic timing, pathos and slick dialogue had the audience captivated from the start.
Next came Total Arts Community Theatre with The Real & Imagined History of the Elephant Man by Tom Wright. Imagining an alternative life for Joseph Merrick, the production combined inventive staging, period costumes and creative use of lighting and music to tell a moving story of belonging.
Adjudicator Dave Bennet praised Largs Players’ detailed set and strong character timing, noting particularly Nicky’s energy and use of pause. Of TACT’s production, he commended the imagination and ensemble work, singling out Joseph’s subtle physicality and describing the evening as a strong start to the festival.
A lively ceilidh in the Joan Knight Studio followed, with performers and supporters dancing long into the night.
Saturday morning brought a civic reception hosted by Provost Xander McDade, with the traditional exchange of gifts between teams. This was followed by a rehearsed reading of the Geoffrey Whitworth Award-winning play These Four Walls by Louis Wharton.
Saturday evening opened with Players Theatre from Wales presenting Albert by Richard Harris, a fast-paced comedy driven by physicality and mime as three characters struggle to understand each other.
The festival concluded with Theatre 3 Newtownabbey performing Even Numbers by Tony Domaille, a thoughtful and challenging piece exploring the mind of a serial killer.
Dave praised Albert for its energy, pace and physical comedy, while noting strong work across the cast. Of Even Numbers, he highlighted Mary-Ann’s powerful delivery, particularly in the final speech, while suggesting greater conversational realism from the remaining characters.
As tension rose at the awards ceremony, the Friendship Quaich was presented to Susan Pierce, inviting everyone to the Garrick Theatre, Lichfield in 2025. Dave thanked the hosts for their warm welcome and described it as an honour to adjudicate such high-quality productions, before announcing Total Arts Community Theatre as winners of the Howard de Walden Trophy.