Theatre society receives top award for popular production

They received an Accolade of Excellence from NODA SE – National Operatic & Dramatic Association South East Region – at their AGM at Eastbourne.

Barbara Guy, from Ifield Barn Theatre Society, explained: “NODA gives professional support for amateur theatre and holds an annual awards ceremony to celebrate plays and musicals, which they consider to be outstanding in some way.

“Miniskirts & Revelations by Margaret Graham performed to full houses every night of its run last October. An afternoon DVD show had to be put on for those who couldn’t be fitted in, and this was sold out too.”

The play was set in a family-run guest house in the 1960s.

Phillip Hall, the NODA SE representative who came to see the show, said: “It had everything. It was an altogether pleasing performance of a most entertaining play.”

Barbara added: “Mr Hall was impressed that the Barn had this ‘talented author’ as a member and went on to congratulate the director, Janine Robins on a most successful production. In his show report Mr Hall had warm praise for the cast members and declared the kitchen setting ‘splendid’, the lighting ‘excellent’ and said that the props department had ‘covered themselves in glory’!

“The changing fashions and background music as the three generations of the Greenfield family progressed through the 1960s would have been familiar to baby boomers in the audience and was sometimes an eye-opener for younger members.

“Margaret and Janine accepted the framed certificate on behalf of all those involved at Ifield Barn Theatre, a 14th-century barn converted 40 years ago into what is described as a ‘gem’ of a theatre set in the original Ifield village behind St Margaret’s Church and the Plough Inn.

“Margaret Graham’s script is already published in book form as other theatres are considering producing Miniskirts & Revelations. She has also responded to requests for a sequel.”