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The Review - THEATRE by SIMON WROE
Published: 7 May 2009

Baptism of fire for stage’s young guns

PREVIEW: ONE ACT FESTIVAL
New End Theatre

THE next generation of British theatrical talent gets a baptism by fire as the One Act Festival comes to Hampstead this week and next.
In its 25 years, the festival of 30 plays in 10 days has put future stars such as Ralph Fiennes and Mackenzie Crook of The Office and Pirates of the Caribbean fame through their paces.
The set-up is simple but demanding: actors and directors get just one run-through on the New End Theatre stage before they perform in front of a live audience and an eagle-eyed adjudicator.
This year Jeremy Kingston, a theatre critic for The Times, is the man to impress. Mr Kingston will give a live critique – “not a Simon Cowell drubbing but good constructive criticism”, according to the organisers – after each night’s show of three plays.
The three awards up for grabs are best new writing, best directing and best overall production.
Festival producers Mark McGill and Dominic Lindesay-Bethune of the Lost Theatre Company insist the annual event is not exclusively for new writing but is a broader platform for talent.
“We give many different young companies the opportunity every year. It came out of supply and demand from the young companies that wanted to try their hands at the different elements of making theatre.
“Really it’s giving anyone whose work we like a leg up and an opportunity to exhibit their work in a professional capacity,” says Mr Lindesay-Bethune.
Entrants to watch this year include up-and-coming director Kate McGregor, only 22 but tipped for great things, and Pulitzer Prize-winner Marsha Norman.
Each show runs for 20-45 minutes.

• The One Act Festival is at the New End Theatre, New End, Hampstead, from May 5-16.
0870 033 2733
www.losttheatre.co.uk

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