Moving stories about old age and a soldier's life saw Napier Repertory Players scoop many of the top prizes at the New Zealand Theatre Federation Festival of Community Theatre national finals in Wellington last weekend.
The 75th Day, a one-act play by Kiwi playwright Philip Bentley and directed by Players veteran
Sharon Kerr, won the overall Book of Honour award, Best Production for a New Zealand play, and Best Adult Production awards.
One of the actresses, Margaret Dempsey, was also awarded Best Actor (Female).
Soldier's Song won the Selecon Technical Award and production team member Ben Black received a Distinctive Emerging Talent Award.
The win is a major achievement for the Players as only six plays from throughout the country were selected to go through to the finals, held at Te Whaea National Dance and Drama Centre and adjudicated by Pam Logan.
Players secretary Diana Ryan said everyone involved was rapt with the results.
"So much time, effort and travelling had gone into the festival but with results like this it makes it all worthwhile and now we know why we do it," she said.
Both plays were earlier selected for the North Island Festival held in Pahiatua last month.
In July Dempsey also received the best actor award at the Hawke's Bay District Festival of Community Theatre, and Soldier's Song director Anne Corney best director award.
