Members of Riverside Players and The Newts scoop six trophies and five nominations at Exmouth Festival

MEMBERS of Riverside Players and its Junior Players, The Newts, have scooped six trophies and five nominations at the 32nd Exmouth Festival of One Act Plays.

The Newton Poppleford-based drama groups were delighted with their wins.

Their adult entry A Dying Breed, written by Cecil Hardy and directed by Pia Payne, was awarded Best Original Script and the Brixington Shield for runner-up Best Play.

As winners of the Best Play (runner-up) the Riverside Players will now go forward to compete in the Western Division Divisional Final at St Austell on Saturday, April 16. If they are successful they will then proceed to the Western Area Final in Verwood, Hampshire.

Christine Hardy, in the role of Edna the “not so thick” local yokel, took the Doris Heard Trophy for Best Actress, and Karen MacGarvie and Julie Salmon received the Jim Vardy Memorial Award for That Magic Moment for their background antics and sound effects as the “rare breed” sheep!

Continuing with the animal theme, the Junior Players’ entry, A Dog’s Life by Pam Valentine, directed by Tricia Barclay, was the story of four very different dogs at an animal shelter hoping to be re-homed.

Both Leonie Motler and and Alastair Papworth were nominated for best Runner-Up, under 21, with the trophy going to Leonie for her portrayal of Fifi, the overweight French poodle.

The Juniors were also awarded the runner-up trophy for the Best Youth Production.