Lithgow Theatre Group members Sandra James and Greer Ashworth were both given trophies after the performance of two plays at the 2017 Festival of One Act Plays at the Players Theatre in Port Macquarie. 

The troupe performed ‘Lucy in the Sky’ by Tony Layton and the original ‘Siblings’, among fourteen other short plays presented by Port Macquarie, Seymour, Ipswich and Kempsey theatre groups. 

‘Siblings’ is the first play written by Lithgow Theatre Group member, Sandra James, analysing the experiences that come with having brothers and sisters.

The script was awarded the Terry Gould Memorial Fund award for Best Unpublished Play by adjudicator Lesly Stevenson . 

“I was gobsmacked,” Ms James said.

“I was really not expecting it as their were other plays we saw that were pretty good.”

Ms James said encouragement from other Lithgow Theatre Group members pushed her to complete the play.

“I had been writing it on and off for a long time, and it wasn’t until the group read the play and said ‘we could perform this’, that I really got around to finding the right ending,” Ms James said.

“I have got some other ideas floating around my head, again it’s just a matter of finding an ending!”

Greer Ashworth, who played a social worker in ‘Lucy in the Sky’ and multiple characters in James’ ‘Siblings’, was awarded runner up for Best Female Actor.

“I love the camaraderie of the theatre group,” she said. 

“I just enjoy being up on stage, taking on different characters.

“I thought that all the plays were of a very high standard. It was a very entertaining weekend.”

Both plays received scores above 80 (out of 100) from the adjudicator, as well as positive feedback from other participating theatre groups. 

Lithgow Theatre Group will perform ‘Lucy in the Sky’ and ‘Siblings’ at 8pm on June 16 and 17 at Club Lithgow. 

The group meets on the last Thursday of every month at 7pm at Club Lithgow, new members are welcome to attend.