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Review of Waterford Festival

Count of Luxembourg (1978)

visits Ireland.....

Over 80 members of the Group embarked on Thursday and Friday, 28th and 29th September, for the Wateford Festival of Light Opera in which the Group were competing on the last two nights of this two week competition, 30th September and 1st October; 25 travelled by boat from Holyhead and about 60 by air. Both trips were uneventful and fairly rough, but everyone successfully survived the rigours of the crossings.

Even the most sanguine hardly dared to think that on the following Monday they would return with 5 awards for their performance, a record never before achieved by a society new to the festival in its 20 years existence. They were:-

1. The major award for the Best Comedian to Tony Siddons, who was taking his first leading role in the Group as Grand Duke Basil.
2. The major award of the N.O.D.A Trophy for the Society with the "Best Make Up."
3. A Special Certificate for Choreography
4. A Special Award for the Best Set.
5. A Special Certificate for the Best Costumes.

The adjudicator praised the work of all departments and added her special appreciation of the dancers and the fact that all the dresses and scenery had been designed and made by members of the Group.

These records are a tribute to a society of only 7 yhears existence, who, during that whole period have been led, inspired and marshalled by John H. Palin as Director and Producer, to whom all our thanks are due in large measure. Under him a team has evolved, each department effective in its own sphere, which has brought musical plays to Macclesfield after a lapse of 20 years, to weld together the multiple interests of members in our productions.

Many of us hope to go again, until we achieve the ultimate accolad of the first place, "The Waterford International Trophy"!