The Southern
Counties Drama Festival - 2020 Adjudicator - Keith Phillips G.o.D.A
The adjudicator
for the 2020 festival will be Keith Phillips G.o.D.A. Keith's involvement
and interest in the theatre began in the 1960's when, as a nine year
old, he played a tree in an infant school production. From little acorns
his interest continued through junior and senior schools where he contributed
to productions either behind the scenes or on stage. Memorably for him,
playing in drag (for the first and only time) at 16 in Ionesco's 'The
Bald Prima Donna'.
After his school
years he joined a local amateur group in Barnet, and continued to learn
and gain valuable experience in every aspect of theatre; from acting
to stage managing, scenery design and building, lighting and sound and
eventually producing and directing. Marriage and house prices motivated
a move a moderate distance north. He joined a club in Huntingdon, contributing
to every production, even if that was serving tea in the interval. After
becoming a Trustee of the local 'Shakespeare at the George Trust' he
played in a number of productions as well as directing. In the 1980's
Keith was asked to start a Huntingdon Drama Festival which ran for a
few years before local council funding ended.
Keith then became
very active in the Cambridge amateur theatre community and also co-founded
two Theatre Companies, to take new and classic plays further afield;
including a number of shows at the Edinburgh Fringe. Occasionally, when
inspired, he will pound a keyboard and turn out pantos or one-act plays
but is too modest to mention his three new play awards.
Keith's 45 years'
experience and expertise in amateur theatre, led to his joining GoDA
in 2014 as an Associate Member and now as a Full Member he is enjoying
adjudicating at Festivals the length and breadth of the UK..