Act Write Direct
*Are you a keen drama writer, who would love to see your work performed?
*Are you a committed actor, ‘resting’ between main productions and wanting to exercise your skills?
*Maybe you’ve thought about directing, but it’s all a bit daunting?
* Perhaps you enjoyed acting at school, and would like to try it again without too much commitment?
Whatever your reasons
Then Act Write Direct could be for YOU.
It’s Creative and Inclusive. It’s by the members for members and new people interested in trying out Studio drama. It's fun. AWD is for practising and developing skills, and for trying new ones. A key principle is including everyone who wants to be involved and supporting each other. We write, we act, we direct, we rehearse and finally we perform in a studio-type production before our families and members. We are fortunate to be supported by Players’ experts in stage management and design. AWD1 was first trialled in 2018 by a small group of pioneers and in 2019 it was decided to offer the idea to the full membership.
All photography for ACT WRITE DIRECT is
by courtesy of Steve Pearce
HISTORY
At the 2019 AGM all members were encouraged to get involved in the AWD project by this video presentation. From this presentation to the final production was eight months.
As a consequence by March 2020, just before the lockdown, we were able to perform AWD2 Studio 9 in front of an audience of family and friends.
During the next year there were many opportunities for the writers in the group to practise their art by writing short plays for Zoom Cafe evenings, Christmas Zoom and Burns Night. Writing was also encouraged by a Relay Play Writing event involving 13 writers. See
In June 2021, it was decided to embark on another AWD(3) on the theme of Blind Date.
The time scale was short but by the end of August eleven plays had been written, nine selected by anonymous assessment, and directors and actors had started rehearsing.
AWD3 BLIND DATE STUDIO
16th October 2021
In April 2022 we embarked on AWD4 and by July had Directors and Actors for 7 new plays selected by anonymous assessment. This time the theme was CATCH. Again we are fortunate to have Rona Musker as Stage Manager with her Production team to see us through to the production on October 8th at West Ashling Village Hall for family and friends.
AWD4
The Ensemble
Carrie Allen: Aaron Baker:Nigel Brown: Clare Burt: Jason Burt: Jenny Dean: David Hayes: Ellen Hayes: Tiffin Jones: Scilla Jutton-Holland: Gill Lambourn: Lisa Page-Berelian: Paul Pridmore: Richard Sanderson: Louisa Stodd: Yvette Walters: Sue Wilkins
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The Village Hall
West Ashling
PO18 8DL
2023 ACT WRITE DIRECT (AWD5)
13th and 14th October
A STUDIO PRODUCTION
THE PITCH
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The 2023 Ensemble
Deborah Addicott: Aaron Baker: Nigel Brown: Jenny Dean: Tiffin Jones: Scilla Jutton-Holland: Gill Lambourn: Lisa Page-Berelian: Paul Pridmore: Richard Sanderson: Louisa Stodd: Andy Marshall: Sue Wilkins: Joe Hepworth: Trish Dack: Solomon Brown
Clare Burt: Barbara MacWhirter
DIRECTORS: Barbara MacWhirter: Margaret Edwards: Andy Marshall: Grace McClure: Louisa Tait: Jenny Dean: Scilla Jutton-Holland: Joan Horton
STAGE MANAGER : RONA MUSKER
SM TEAM: David & Ellen Hayes
The Right Pitch
our first venture into MASK
In 2024 AWD6 was postponed as our writers were invoved in the 75th Anniversary production of the Funtington Fringe.
AWD6 - 10 Minutes
on 17th & 18th October 2025.
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AWD6
The Ensemble
Deborah Addicott: Jason Burt: Clare Burt : Tony Clark: Helga Crowley: Jenny Dean: Ellen Hayes: Steve Jupp: Scilla Jutton-Holland: Gill Lambourn: Barbara MacWhirter: Andy Marshall: Abigail Ockwell: Clare Ockwell: Lisa Page-Berelian: Paul Pridmore: Yvette Walters: Kia Wilson: Sue Wilkins
Writers and Directors
Andy Marshall: Margaret Edwards: Jason Burt: Kia Wilson: Jenny Dean: Joan Horton: Paul Pridmore: Pat Grindey: Rebecca Porter: Barbara MacWhirter: Steve Jupp
STAGE MANAGER : RONA MUSKER/SUE WILKINS/ ELLEN HAYES