Making Drama out of Lockdown
Local drama group CADS have been anything but idle during lockdown, despite the restrictions on public performances.
And to mark this, they have recently presented one of their annual drama awards to a member who has helped to keep the group going during the pandemic.
CADS Chair, Emma Daintrey explains, “It’s been a difficult year for all amateur drama companies. However, CADS has striven to find ways to keep drama alive in spite of this, and one member has done perhaps more than anyone to keep things going.” The Fred Sillence Award, named after a former CADS member and editor of The Royston Crow, has been awarded this year to Michael Young. Emma says, “Thanks to Michael’s enthusiasm, CADS had a one-act play ready for entry into the Sawston Drama Festival back in March 2020 and potentially into other local festivals later in the year. The Covid pandemic meant that none of these took place – indeed the lockdown took effect only two days before the play was due to have its world premiere – though the show remains in ‘cold storage’ to be revived as soon as conditions permit.”
She also adds, “Sadly, we have been unable to present the other of our two awards – the Lizzie Houghton Youth Award – and we also had to take the difficult decision not to stage a pantomime this year, but we all hope that 2021 will start to see a return to something like normality and we look forward to entertaining Royston audiences once again before too long.”
