Drama Triumph for Late Haverhill Director
By Liam Plumridge on Sunday, 1st July 2007.
Frances MacGechan, a talented, special and unique person, was both admired and renowned for investing so much energy and passion into her productions. A winning director at the Haverhill Drama Festival three times and successful in many other dramatic fields, Frances was a well known face on the local amateur dramatic circuit.
It is no surprise then that now, after her sad death last February when she finally lost her battle with cancer, Frances’s own drama group 'Run At It Shouting' have won at the Felixstowe Drama Festival with their full length production of 'Find Me' by Owen Wymark.
Frances first directed an abridged version of the play in 2005 when the group won at the Haverhill Drama Festival and were invited to the All England Winners Festival, but were unable to go due to other commitments.
After being diagnosed with stomach cancer and only being given six months to live, Frances wanted to put on the full version of the play. She achieved this last December at Haverhill Arts Centre as her final play, raising £1000 for Cancer Research. She did this whilst seriously ill, directing this production which has now gone on to win further awards.
One of the cast of 'Find Me', Tina Cronin, said: "It was at our final committee meeting that she made us fill in the form there and then – and then promptly fell asleep!
"We found out we had been accepted a few days before she died, so we were able to tell her and she made us promise to go ahead with it. We feel as a whole group this is a fitting tribute to her and that her work continues to be recognized as being of the highest creative standard even after her death.
"We are really thrilled to have won and know she would have been so proud."
The play won the 57th National Felixstowe Drama Competition, against entries from as far away as Cardiff.
'Find Me' is a moving dramatization of the true story of Verity Taylor, a psychotic girl who at 20 was sent to Broadmoor for setting fire to a chair in a mental hospital and can only be moved or discharged with the permission of the home secretary. It uses the technique of multiple characterizations to investigate her personality in depth and also reflects on the effect her behaviour has on family, friends and the various officials in whose care she is placed.
The cast, who play all the various parts and share roles, is made up of Kevin Skilton, Catherine Keeble, Tina Cronin, Charlie MacGechan, Sian Mansfield, Rebecca Neal and Camilla Snell. The judge at Felixstowe Russell Whitely, one of the country's leading adjudicators, nominated Run At It Shouting in every category. He also included two moments from the play for his adjudicator's award.
This win was a tribute to one of Haverhill’s great characters who will be sorely missed.
It is no surprise then that now, after her sad death last February when she finally lost her battle with cancer, Frances’s own drama group 'Run At It Shouting' have won at the Felixstowe Drama Festival with their full length production of 'Find Me' by Owen Wymark.
Frances first directed an abridged version of the play in 2005 when the group won at the Haverhill Drama Festival and were invited to the All England Winners Festival, but were unable to go due to other commitments.
After being diagnosed with stomach cancer and only being given six months to live, Frances wanted to put on the full version of the play. She achieved this last December at Haverhill Arts Centre as her final play, raising £1000 for Cancer Research. She did this whilst seriously ill, directing this production which has now gone on to win further awards.
One of the cast of 'Find Me', Tina Cronin, said: "It was at our final committee meeting that she made us fill in the form there and then – and then promptly fell asleep!
"We found out we had been accepted a few days before she died, so we were able to tell her and she made us promise to go ahead with it. We feel as a whole group this is a fitting tribute to her and that her work continues to be recognized as being of the highest creative standard even after her death.
"We are really thrilled to have won and know she would have been so proud."
The play won the 57th National Felixstowe Drama Competition, against entries from as far away as Cardiff.
'Find Me' is a moving dramatization of the true story of Verity Taylor, a psychotic girl who at 20 was sent to Broadmoor for setting fire to a chair in a mental hospital and can only be moved or discharged with the permission of the home secretary. It uses the technique of multiple characterizations to investigate her personality in depth and also reflects on the effect her behaviour has on family, friends and the various officials in whose care she is placed.
The cast, who play all the various parts and share roles, is made up of Kevin Skilton, Catherine Keeble, Tina Cronin, Charlie MacGechan, Sian Mansfield, Rebecca Neal and Camilla Snell. The judge at Felixstowe Russell Whitely, one of the country's leading adjudicators, nominated Run At It Shouting in every category. He also included two moments from the play for his adjudicator's award.
This win was a tribute to one of Haverhill’s great characters who will be sorely missed.
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