FIVE of the 12 short plays presented at this year's Newcastle Micro Theatre Festival shared the awards, showing the quality of the shows. And the three intimate staging venues - the Press Book House, Bolton Street Pantry and Birdy's Refreshments and Espresso - all had winning works and booked-out sessions.
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What is About to Happen on the Dance Floor, one of the shows staged at Birdy's, won four prizes. The play, written by James Chapman, looks through narration and dance at how a man and woman attending a high-school reunion are attracted to each other while dancing. Chapman, who was the narrator, won the male Achievement in Acting Award, and the director, Amy Morris, the Best Direction trophy.
The show also triumphed in a new category, the Bravery Award, which is aimed at encouraging writers and directors to create new and innovative ways to present theatre in small spaces.
And the fourth award, the Birdy's venue People's Choice, was determined by the number of "best show" votes audience members gave to each play at the venue.
Three of the four plays at Bolton Street Pantry won six awards.
Just the Ticket, which has a woman who has just been given a parking fine ticket arguing with the officious female inspector, collected three trophies: Jan Hunt, as the inspector, received the female Achievement in Acting Award; playwright Sally Davies the Best Previously Performed Script Award; and the show shared the venue's People's Choice Award with More World, an amusing look at how people become addicted to playing online games.
More World's director, Danielle Asquith, won the Achievement Award in direction for her skills in making it funny.
Phil McGrath, who played one of two brothers in Not Just for Christmas who can't stop arguing on the rare occasions they get together, collected the overall Best Actor Award.
A show at the Press Book House, Sting, a darkly funny monologue that has a woman reflecting on her troubled relationships, was a Best New Script winner for writer Carrolline Rhodes, and was also that venue's People's Choice.
