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Tewkesbury Arts & Drama Society |
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Cuffed
by Brenda Read-Brown
| Directed by: | Brenda Read-Brown |
| Production Dates: | Saturday 6 March 2010 Saturday 17 April 2010 Friday 11 June 2010 |
Description
When Robbie, a contract electrician, mistakenly enters the room of a resident in a care home, he doesn't know what he's letting himself in for. Somehow he develops a relationship with Phyllis, a stroke victim who can hardly speak and who has very limited movement. She teaches him to look at things properly, and helps him in his attempts to come to terms with the death of his wife; he gives her the incentive to struggle to speak again. Not everyone sees their friendship for what it is, though, and when Phyllis' grandson Duncan appears, Robbie is banned from visiting Phyllis again. But perhaps it doesn't end there...
Cuffed won the 2010
Geoffery
Whitworth trophy
for the best original play presented
at any of the first rounds of the 2010 United Kingdom One Act Play
Festivals. This trophy is judged by reading the scripts.The judges (the chief judge is Ron Nicol) made the following comments:
"Deceptively simple and straightforward, this play is a gem, full of sensitivity and feeling. The writer treats the relationship between Phyllis and Robbie with tenderness and delicacy, but there's a great deal of humour in their exchanges. At no time does the dialogue become over-sentimental or maudlin, and the interaction between Phyllis and Robbie is natural and spontaneous, to the extent that one can almost forget that Phyllis is limited to using sounds and gestures. Robbie grows steadily in his understanding of the difficulties of a stroke victim, and perhaps also finds help in coming to terms with his own loss. The arrival of Duncan creates a sense of helplessness as the excellent relationship between Robbie and Phyllis seems about to be dashed to pieces. Duncan's attitude towards his Gran and his suspicious dismissal of Robbie could perhaps make a number of people in audiences feel uncomfortable about their relationship with an ageing relative. The four lines that ensure that the play ends on a note of hope are simple but very effective.Beautifully written, this is a lovely play and a splendid achievement. A notable winner."
All England Theatre Festival
- Preliminary Round
Western Area preliminary round - Mercia division - 6 March 2010
This performance at The Playhouse Theatre, Cheltenham| Phylis | Penelope Tubbs | |
| Robbie | Ian Bishop | |
| Duncan | Jon Wagstaffe | |
| Care Assistant | Vicki Wagstaffe | |
| Stage Manager | Hannah Moore | |
| Lighting | Martin Oakes |
The performance won the Best Play award and thus went through to the next round of the competition. The awards won were:
| Best Play | |
Cuffed |
| Best Original Play | |
Cuffed |
| Best Gloucestershire Play | |
Cuffed |
| Best Actress | |
Penelope Tubbs |
All England Theatre Festival
- Quarter Final
Western Area Quarter Final - Mercia division - 17 April 2010
This performance was at The Theatre-on-the-Hill Marlborough.| Phylis | Penelope Tubbs | |
| Robbie | Ian Bishop | |
| Duncan | Jon Wagstaffe | |
| Care Assistant | Vicki Wagstaffe |
The awards won were:
| Best Acting |  |
Penelope Tubbs |
Gloucestershire Drama Association One Act Play Festival
11 June 2010
This performance was at The Kings Theatre, Gloucester| Phylis | Penelope Tubbs | |
| Robbie | Ian Bishop | |
| Duncan | Jon Wagstaffe | |
| Care Assistant | Vicki Wagstaffe | |
| Stage Manager | Hannah Moore | |
| Lighting | Martin Oakes |
The awards won were:
| Best Actor | |
Ian Bishop |
| Best Original Play |
Runner
up |
Cuffed |
| Best Supporting Actress | Runner up |
Vicki Wagstaffe |
In addition it was nominated for the following awards:
| Best Actress | Penny Tubbs |
Adjudication
Here is the adjudication by Mike Kaiser GoDA the festival adjudicator