Winners from Dramafest 2010

1:I'd like to offer my sincere thanks to those unsung heroes, the Dramafest organisers and volunteers, who give, and gave so much of their time (not to mention effort) in making this event possible for we, the theatre people's. Thanks guys. 2: My thanks and appreciation to Val Riches at Melville for seeing potential in the script. 3: To Felicity and the cast of 'Checkout' for realising that potential.I say with sincerity, that you nailed the script to a tee. 4: To my long time friend Adrian O'Neill who in only his second production, was awarded a certificate of merit for his efforts as Mr Wedgecock. BRILLIANT! I'm delighted for you. PS: It will be at least a week or more before the smile leaves his face. 5: Having been fortunate enough to be awarded best new writer for the second year running, suggest the ITA may need to rename this award (how about an addiitonal award - 'best script by an aging hippy, who once upon a time had long hair?' 6: I feel most humble to win this award knowing that there are some wonderful writers amongst our OWN theatre community. For an old bugger like me it doesn't get any better. 7: To close, I make a request to our local theatre community. Please check what we have in our own backyard before looking further afield, and if possible find room to give our YOUNG writers an opportunity as part of your season. You may not be rewarded with full houses, but you will defintely gain some satisfaction in knowing that you've provided an opportunity to a young writer, who one day may become a household name in this country, if not further afield. I'd pick that over doing 'The Importance Of Being Ernest' any day (sorry, I wasn't going to mention Ernest, but my fingers got the better of me). cheers Johnny Grim