FEATS 2024

InPlayers is proud of its participation in FEATS 2024, with a performance of Anxiety and Broken Love, by Linda Sjöström. This piece was previously performed at InPlayers’ Fresh Directions in 2023.

The festival ran from Friday May 17th until Monday May 20th, 2024 in Antwerp, Belgium, hosted by: BATS Antwerp.

CAST

• Philippe, by Ente Breed

• The Date, by Sean Olson-Roy

• Waiter, by Jeremy Keighley

CREW

• Rae Gerritsen

• Evonne Dunne

• Martin Koster

• Willem Gerritsen

• Matthew Olson-Roy

Audio-visuals:

• Katarzyna Siewarga

• Alexandros Theodorakis

• Linda Sjöström

Report

Written by Pat Butler

The few minutes before the opening play at FEATS are always full of excitement and expectation, especially – as in this case – in a new (for FEATS) venue, with a non-traditional layout (no wings, no curtain). We are all, I suppose, hoping for something memorable to kick off the weekend.

The InPlayers did not let us down, as they opened with ... a video. This showed the main character in this play, Philippe, leaving – or trying to leave – his house, but each time realizing he had forgotten something – his wallet, his keys, etc. – and having to turn back.

The actual stage action starts with Philippe (finally) arriving at a restaurant to meet his blind date. He is shown to his table by the waiter, and from this point what we hear are Philippe’s thoughts, mostly revealing his doubts, insecurities and emotions. “The Date” eventually arrives, but while we see them interacting, we do not hear any of their conversation, as Philippe’s internal monologue continues.

The meal comes to an end and the couple leave the restaurant, with Philippe still wondering what his date really thinks of him, and what the next step will/should be (his place? my place? a kiss on the cheek? ...). We now switch back to video, to see the couple walking through the park (to his place), encountering along the way Trixie (a dog, who managed to steal the scene – and received the Don Luscombe Discretionary Award for it).

The last scene takes place at “his place”, as the evening draws to a close. Suffice to say that the play ends on an optimistic note, although I had the feeling that Philippe will wake up in the morning with the same insecurities and doubts.

Ente Breed, playing the part of Philippe, was nominated for the Blackie Award for Best Actor.

Anxiety and Broken Love, by Linda Sjöström, was nominated for The William Valk Award for Best Original Script.

The Don Luscombe Discretionary Award was awarded to Trixie the Wonderdog in Anxiety and Broken Love.

RESULTS

12 European theatre groups participated at FEATS 2024 and were judged by adjudicator Chris Baglin. Every one of the groups scored higher than 65%, which is well above an average achievement for theatre festivals. InPlayers was one of 5 participants that scored above 80%. The following awards were handed out:

• The John Kearey Trophy for Best Production: Hamburg Players - Love/Sick

  • ECC Centennial Cup for Second Place: ITG, Brussels - Salad Day

  • BATS Trophy for Third Place: GEDS, Geneva - Friends Help You Move

• The Don Luscombe Discretionary Award: Trixie, the dog, InPlayers - Anxiety and Broken Love

• The William Valk for Best Original Script: Friends Help You Move, by John Ward

  • Nominated for Best Original Script: Anxiety and Broken Love, by Linda Sjöström, InPlayers, Amsterdam

• Grand Duchy Trophy for Best Stage Presentation: Eurydice, Hamburg University Players

  • Nominated for Best Stage Presentation: Old Saybrook, FEST, Frankfurt

  • Nominated for Best Stage Presentation: Salad Day, ITG, Brussels

• Blackie for Best Actress: Hannah Davis & Megan Nerlich, Trifles, Entity Theatre, Munich

  • Nominated for Best Actress: Róisín Dore, Salad Day, ITG, Brussels

• Blackie for Best Actor: Brian Hartnett, Salad Day, ITG, Brussels

  • Nominated for Best Actor: John Ward & Daire O’Doherty, Friends Help You Move, GEDS, Geneva

  • Nominated for Best Actor: Ente Breed, Anxiety and Broken Love, InPlayers, Amsterdam

• Marcel Huhn / Bruno Boeye Memorial Award for Stage Management: Trifles, Entity Theatre, Munich

  • Nominated for Best Stage Management: Love/Sick, Hamburg Players

  • Nominated for Best Stage Management: Old Saybrook, FEST, Frankfurt