Tryst has swept the boards at two English drama festivals in the last fortnight, becoming the first club in the country to win both festivals back-to-back.

Tryst’s new play Art by Yasmina Reza took first place plus three other trophies at the prestigious Felixstowe Drama Festival – for Best Acting, Best Stage Presentation and a special Adjudicator’s Award for one of the cast, Craig Murray.

Then they made it a double cause for celebration when they were awarded first place at the Welwyn Festival plus an award for Director Alan Clark and the Audience Appreciation award.

Tryst Chairman Frank Murray said: “It’s the first time any UK club has won both festivals back to back, so it’s a superb achievement by the cast and crew and a marvellous way to bring our summer season to an end.

“Art is a very popular comedy in which the three actors – Craig Murray, Brian Paterson and Alan Clark - perform somewhere between the elegance of The Three Tenors and the slapstick of The Three Stooges.”

Frank explained that the play is a comedy of crisis. Serge has bought a modern abstract painting for a huge sum of money. Marc is disgusted and cannot believe that a friend of his could possibly want such a ghastly work. Yvan attempts, unsuccessfully, to placate both sides while struggling with the plans for his wedding.

“Everyone at Tryst is thrilled, particularly for Craig who was singled out by adjudicator Tony Rushforth at Felixstowe to receive a special trophy for a huge and difficult speech he has in act one. Mr Rushforth said it was the best monologue he had ever witnessed.”

Alan Clark added: “It was a real team effort on both nights. The cast were brilliantly supported by Jim Allan on lights, David Allan on sound, Carol Allan on continuity, Brian Tripney on props, Jimmy Cairns who took care of stage management, refreshments and transport, and Carol Clark who took care of me.”

FALKIRK'S Tryst Theatre swept the boards at a major English drama festival at the weekend.

The club’s new play Art by Yasmina Reza took first place plus three other trophies at the prestigious event in Felixstowe – for Best Acting, Best Stage Presentation and a special Adjudicator’s Award for one of the cast, Craig Murray.

The win has delighted the club who this weekend are on the road again with the play, this time heading for another top drama festival at Welwyn Garden City north of London.

Tryst Chairman Frank Murray explained: “Art is a very popular comedy in which the three actors – Craig Murray, Brian Paterson and Alan Clark - perform somewhere between the elegance of The Three Tenors and the slapstick of The Three Stooges.

“It’s a comedy of crisis. Serge has bought a modern abstract painting for a huge sum of money. Marc is disgusted and cannot believe that a friend of his could possibly want such a ghastly work. Yvan attempts, unsuccessfully, to placate both sides while struggling with the plans for his wedding.

“We were delighted to be placed first at Felixstowe. And everyone at Tryst is thrilled for Craig who was singled out by adjudicator Tony Rushforth to receive a special trophy for a huge speech he has in act one. Mr Rushforth said it was the best monologue he had ever witnessed.”

Frank added: “It was a real team effort on the night. The cast were brilliantly supported by Jim Allan on lights, David Allan on sound, Carol Allan on continuity, Brian Tripney on props and Jimmy Cairns who took care of stage management and transport.”

Tryst are now hoping for more success at the Welwyn Festival when they perform Art on Saturday night.

Our picture shows the three Tryst “artisans” – from left Brian Paterson, Craig Murray and Alan Clark.

Two down, one to go. Tryst’s production of Art leaps boundlessly from strength to strength.

The ball started rolling with an exhilarating performance at Falkirk Town Hall. The local audience were treated to an absorbing study of friendship played against a colourful palette of comedy – and of course, the magnificent white painting.

Adjudicator Ron Nicol praised an outstanding production showcasing brilliant teamwork. It is rumoured he also detected a “hint of the balletic” at times.

One week later, the set was packed into a van and our very own dynamic duo set off on a 900 mile round trip to Felixstowe. There were many highlights of this journey: watching a caravan part company with its wheel on the M74, the uplifting sound of Leonard Cohen, and some expert van-based horticulture from Jimmy Titchmarsh. Sales of Yorkie bars soared as a result.

Meanwhile, our remaining team members jumped on a flight to Stanstead and hired a luxury team bus to make it to the Spa Pavilion. National consumption of Yorkies was unaffected.

Thanks to theatre staff and festival organisers (especially those who went without their sofa for a day) the technical setup went without a hitch. The performance that followed was no different and adjudicator Tony Rushforth was very complimentary about the delightful ensemble playing, effortless scene changes and highly effective sound and light.

A trip to the local Chinese restaurant after the show introduced bemused staff to Scottish national dress. Many handshakes and photos ensued. Sgian dhu!

Tryst now pack the van for a trip to Welwyn Garden City on the 12th of June. Yorkies at the ready!

Tryst Theatre are staging the popular comedy Art as part of the Falkirk Tryst Springtime Festival next month.

Award-winning Art, by Yasmina Reza, premiered in Paris in 1995. Since then it has been produced worldwide and translated and performed in over thirty languages. A large number of top actors have queued up to perform in it – Albert Finney, Tom Courtenay, Ken Stott, Alan Alda, Alfred Molina, Brian Cox, Warren Mitchell, John Fortune and most recently Jack Dee, Frank Skinner and Colin Mochrie. It was co-produced by Sean Connery.

It’s a comedy of crisis. Serge has bought a modern abstract painting for a huge sum of money. Marc is disgusted and cannot believe that a friend of his could possibly want such a ghastly work. Yvan attempts, unsuccessfully, to placate both sides while struggling with the plans for his wedding.

Playing somewhere between Moliere and Woody Allen, the comedy is less about art and more about friendship tested to its absolute limit.

Serge is played by Brian Paterson, Marc by Alan Clark and Yvan by Craig Murray.

Tryst President Frank Murray said: “This is a spectacularly popular play in which the three actors perform somewhere between the elegance of The Three Tenors and the slapstick of The Three Stooges. Brilliantly witty and thought-provoking, it bubbles over with sharp and rapid-fire dialogue. One critic summed up its appeal beautifully. “"If you haven't seen it yet, I envy you the discovery. And if you have seen it before, I envy you the re-discovery!"”

Art is on in Falkirk Town Hall for one night only on Saturday May 22 at 7.30pm. Tickets, £7 and £5 (concessions) are available from the Steeple Box Office on 01324 506850 or from Tryst Theatre’s Box Office on 01324 715886.

Picture shows, left to right, Brian Paterson, Craig Murray and Alan Clark.

After three nights of competition at the Eastern Division Final, the results are in.

Tryst Theatre lifted the Outlook Tower Trophy with their production of George MacEwan Green's One Season's King and now proceed to the Scottish Finals at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre.

Adjudicator Walker Ewart praised director Jim Allan's stylistic and inventive interpretation of the text, along with the effective characterisations given by the players.

Tryst will perform first on the Friday night of the festival which runs from April 22nd - 24th.

Tryst Theatre presents

ART

by Yasmina Reza (translated by Christopher Hampton)

Saturday 22 May 2010 at 7.30pm

Falkirk Town Hall

Three actors. One painting. One big argument brewing! One hell of a comedy!

“The three guys play someplace between the elegance of The Three Tenors and the slapstick of The Three Stooges.”

"If you haven't seen it yet, I envy you the discovery. And if you have seen it before...I envy you the re-discovery!"

Award-winning Art premiered in Paris in 1995. Since then it has been produced worldwide and translated and performed in over 30 languages.

Serge has bought a modern painting for a huge sum of money. Marc hates it and cannot believe that a friend of his could possibly want such a ghastly work. Yvan attempts, unsuccessfully, to placate both sides while struggling with the plans for his wedding. The comedy is less about art; more about friendship tested to its absolute limit.

Serge is played by Brian Paterson, Marc by Alan Clark and Yvan by Craig Murray.

Tickets £7 and £5 (concession) available from the Steeple Box Office, Falkirk.

By Telephone: 01324 506850

By Email: venue@falkirk.gov.uk

Tryst Theatre have taken first and second place at the Falkirk District round of the SCDA One-Act Play Festival.

Tryst's production of One Season's King by George MacEwan Green lifted the East Stirlingshire District Trophy along with the John Barker Quaich for production and the Rose Bowl Award for stage presentation.

Frank McGuinness' Someone Who'll Watch Over Me earned Tryst 'C' the Porteous Salver for runner-up.

Under SCDA rules only one team from a club may proceed to the next round, so One Season's King will be joined by a team from the Young Portonian Theatre Company at the Eastern Divisional Final to be held in Bowouse Community Centre, Grangemouth, on the 25th-27th March.

Tryst will enter two plays in the festival.

Tryst “A” will perform One Season’s King by George MacEwan Green. Three men compete for Eveline’s favours. The tension in the play exists on two levels - in the sense of class that permeates the play and in the rivalry amongst the three suitors. Jim Allan directs Joanne Davidson, Ross Melville, Stuart Reid and Brian Tripney.

Tryst “C” will stage an abridged Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me by Frank McGuinness. Three men – an American doctor, an Irish journalist and an English academic - are taken hostage and chained up in a Beirut cellar. How do they survive and keep their sanity? The actors are Jim Allan, Alan Clark and Brian Paterson.

The Falkirk District Round is in Grangemouth’s Bowhouse Community Centre on February 20 and 21 at 7pm. Brian Marjoribanks adjudicates.

The panel has conferred, the votes are in and now we can exclusively reveal the winners of the Fawlty Oscars:

Brian Paterson – The "Best worst hotelier in the world" award, sponsored by the Racing Post.

Carol Clark – The “Let’s use scaffolding to create this crazy hairdo” award, sponsored by Rita Rusk.

Craig Murray – The "Most hopeless waiter in the world" award, sponsored by Lawsons Shaushages.

Rhona Law– The "Best wig in Bowhouse" award, sponsored by the Duke of Kent.

Jim Allan – The "Care in the Community for deranged ex-servicemen" award, sponsored Ladbrokes.

Brian Tripney – The "Greasiest earpiece in Grangemouth" award sponsored by Squawking Bird.

Ross Melville – The "Best wine buff in Bowhouse" award sponsored by Aloxe Corton 65.

Richard Macintosh – The "Angriest hotel guest in Grangemouth" award sponsored by Gordons gin.

Lorna Herd – The Director’s Award for Quiet Acting, sponsored by Beechams Flu remedy.

Frank Murray – The Lifetime Achievement Award for services to raffling, sponsored by the Claremont Hotel.

Chris Law – The "Best Photographer in Bowhouse" award sponsored by Kodak.

Lillias Scougall – The "I’ll sit here quietly in my silly hat and get slowly pissed with my hip flask” award, sponsored by the Willow Tea Rooms.

Sandra Moar – The “I have a secret passion for Mr Fawlty” award, sponsored by Madame Arcati.

Myra Hamilton – The “Who talked me into sitting here listening to this nonsense?” award sponsored by Linlithgow Players.

Joanne Davidson – The "Ready Steady Cook Best Lamb Casserole in Bowhouse" award, sponsored by Nigella Lawson.

Peter Tripney – The “It’ll do till the joiner comes” award, sponsored by Snap on Tools.

Fred Lowe – The “This is the biggest list of bloody props I’ve ever been handed” award, sponsored by Custard Pie Entertainments.

Stuart Reid – The Director’s Mr Versatile award, sponsored by Dixon of Dock Green.

Jimmy Cairns – The "Most Impressive suit in Bowhouse" award sponsored by Slaters Menswear.

Kareen Cairns – The "Stuck up snob" award sponsored by Piles of Pus R Us.

Carol Allan – The "Rafflemeister’s Gorgeous Assistante" award sponsored by Frank T Murray.

Jim Herd – The “Oh Fuck I’ve got the mute on” award sponsored by Pantfiller.

David Allan – The "Mr Dependable" Award for Lighting, sponsored by Black Light.

Amanda Gourlay – The “I’ll step in and save the show” award sponsored by Co-op Funeral Services.

Alan Clark – The “Whose stupid idea was it to do these plays?” award sponsored by BenRiach.

Jennifer Marjoribanks - The "Congratulations on your baby boy" award sponsored by all at Tryst.

The egregious Basil Fawlty is standing by next week to welcome you to Fawlty Towers – which has temporarily relocated from Torquay to Grangemouth’s Bowhouse Community Centre.

Tryst is putting the finishing touches to its production of the BBC TV comedy classic which audiences still find hilarious after thirty-five years.

All the characters are featured – the manic Basil, the domineering Sybil, the hopeless but lovable Manuel, Polly the sensible maid and the doddery old Major.

Tryst are staging two of the episodes - "A Touch of Class" and "The Hotel Inspectors". Both are the TV episodes word for word and deal with Basil trying - and failing - to raise the tone of his dreadful hotel.

Basil is played by Brian Paterson, Sybil by Carol Clark, Manuel by Craig Murray, Polly by Rhona Law and The Major by Jim Allan plus a large cast who portray the many guests in both episodes.

Tryst's Fawlty Towers double bill will run in Bowhouse Community Centre, Grangemouth, at 7.45pm on November 14, 15 and 16. Tickets - £7 and £5 (concessions) - are available from the Tryst Box Office on 01324 715886, at the door on the night or from club members.

In our picture, Basil is outraged - either by Sybil's unexpected flatulence or Polly's Hammerite hair-do.

Tryst is to stage the comedy classic Fawlty Towers in November.

Fawlty Towers is of course the famous British sitcom written by John Cleese and Connie Booth, produced by BBC Television and first broadcast on BBC2 in 1975. Although only twelve episodes were ever produced, over thirty years on it's still incredibly popular.

It features the exploits and misadventures of snobbish, manic hotelier Basil Fawlty, his domineering wife Sybil, the hopeless but lovable Spanish waiter Manuel, the calm and capable maid Polly and the steady stream of eccentric and abused guests who wander through the hotel's front door.

Tryst President Frank Murray said: "Fawlty Towers is the best-loved bad hotel in the world and its fans insist it's the best TV sitcom of all time.

"We have decided to do two of the episodes with an interval in the middle - the very first one which is "A Touch of Class" and a later one entitled "The Hotel Inspectors". Both are hilarious and deal with Basil trying - and failing - to raise the tone of his hotel."

Basil is played by Brian Paterson, Sybil by Carol Clark, Manuel by Craig Murray, Polly by Rhona Law and Major Gowen by Jim Allan plus a large cast who portray the guests in both episodes. It's directed by Alan Clark.

Tryst's Fawlty Towers double bill will run in Bowhouse Community Centre, Grangemouth, at 7.45pm on November 14, 15 and 16.

Tickets - £7 and £5 (concessions) - are available from the Tryst Box Office on 01324 715886 or from club members.

AN EDINBURGH FRINGE musical conceived in a Mexican internet café, performed in a portacabin off George Square and starring a young professional actor who started out with Tryst is transferring next month to London’s West End.

Over the Threshold was conceived by writer/composer Christopher Hamilton and has captured five-star reviews since it opened on August 6.

It stars Kieran Brown (we know him as Barry Brown) who performed with Tryst in the 1990s in such shows as The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole and Under Milk Wood.

After its run ends at George 2 Musical Theatre on August 31, Over the Threshold opens in London’s Jermyn Street Theatre – famed for showcasing new musical theatre - on September 21 and will run through to October 4.

The London shows could mean a big career breakthrough for Kieran (30) who plays Tom, an out-of-work actor.

He said: I’m proud to be part of Over the Threshold and thrilled that we’re moving to London.

“I love doing new musical theatre. It’s important to support new writing and I also love the challenge of creating a new part from get-go.”

Kieran is a former member of Falkirk Children’s Theatre, Falkirk Youth Theatre and Tryst. Since graduating from Glasgow's Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, he has taken part in a number of European musical tours and now spends much of his time in Vienna.

Added Kieran: "There's only a piano accompanying us and it's a very simple but effective set. I know I can't really be objective since I'm involved in the show but the music is to die for."

Tristan Fabriani is unwell.

Report by Arts Editor Rudolph Hucker.

Tryst’s Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me UK Tour reached the end of the line at the Welwyn Festival with a second place (earning the Roy Brewer Cup) and another Best Actor award (the Welwyn Award) for Brian Pattreson. He has now bought a special display cabinet from IKEA for all the silverware he has deservedly picked up this year.

President Frank T. Murray said: "The tour has been terrific. The cast and crew have been incredible, as always. Humour and sense of purpose, those old Tryst standbys, have prevailed all the way from East Kilbride to Welwyn via Falkirk and Felixstowe.

"The performance at Welwyn showed everyone at the top of their game. It was an exceptional dramatic achievement."

On the tour there were many highlights: Essex Girls, 'geezerbirds', a modest team bus, Romanian waitresses, and late-night kebab shops featured prominently on the Felixstowe leg, while Welwyn was dominated by Elen Clerk's backward-facing taxis, John Lewis hats, kilts, chinese food and a canal boat ride to the airport.

Tryst newcomer, Stage Manager Brian A. Allan added: "There is no truth in the scurrilous rumour that a Felixstowe hotel balcony was trashed one night by our tired and emotional cast. The wood was rotten in any case."

Tryst now slope off for the summer break but will return in August.

Report by Tryst ASM Hugh Jarse

Additional Reporting by Lou Swires

Tryst’s Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me 2009 UK tour took it from East Kilbride to Falkirk where Jim, Brian and Alan performed in the town’s Springtime Festival.

The large Town Hall space does not really lend itself to the intimate setting the play requires but with some skilful lighting and reducing the width and depth of the stage, the audience willingly suspended its disbelief and understood we were indeed in a cramped Beirut cellar. The club entered the play in the Eastern Division full-length festival and was delighted to welcome adjudicator Ron Nicol accompanied by the dapper Stephen Lambert.

Audience reaction afterwards was very encouraging and at the private adjudication, Ron was complimentary. At least we think he was: what else could "Good wasn't the word", "I'm speechless" and "You've done it again" mean?

Heartened by the response, cast and crew got up the following morning at 0330 to head for the airport for the following night’s performance in Felixstowe. There are so many highlights of this flying visit, and so little space to report them, but the list, bizarrely, would have to include transvestites, Essex Girls, top of the range Jaguars, Romanian waitresses and boosting the profits of Bells whisky.

Adjudicator Mike Kaiser was even-handed, praising some outstanding work but critical of other things in our pared-down, travelling production. Come the final night, he awarded Brian Paterson the FADOS Cup for Best Actor, highlighting BP’s wonderful graveyard monologue which was a “coup de theatre”, and he also gave the Ray Jacobs Memorial Trophy for Highest Marks for Team Acting to Tryst for their, well, acting.

It was our first time at the Felixstowe Festival and already we’re thinking about next year...and what will work out of two suitcases. Maybe not The Steamie, then.

Next stop on the Tour – Welwyn Garden City....which means Luton Airport, backward-facing taxis and retail therapy at John Lewis. Tristan Fabriani will report on this debacle.

When injury forced the club to withdraw After Liverpool from the EK Rep One-Act Festival, it could have meant a rather short final night of theatre in East Kilbride.

Fortunately the club had a backup plan and, at half past nine on the Saturday morning, the cast and crew of Someone Who'll Watch Over Me were roped (or should that be "chained") in to fill the void.

And a good thing too, for not only were all three actors nominated in the best actor category, but the team captured the East Kilbride Arts Council Trophy for second place and plan to hold it hostage until next year.

Tryst President Frank T. Murray added, "It's always marvellous to see an audience react to a new production - but there's more to come.

"We stage the full length version in Falkirk later this month, and I for one can't wait to see if they get out alive. The hostages I mean - not the audience."

Tryst Theatre presents
Someone Who'll Watch Over Me
by Frank McGuinness

Saturday 23rd May, 7.30pm
Falkirk Town Hall

Tickets £7 (£5 concessions)
from Tryst Box Office
on 01324 715886

Tryst Theatre will be sponsored by Mitchells Roberton, Glasgow's oldest firm of solicitors, for its 2009 season.

Announcing the sponsorship, Tryst President Frank Murray said: "Tryst is very grateful for Mitchell Roberton’s wonderful support in these financially-challenging times.

"Sponsorship of the arts is vital for a club such as Tryst. As a result of their generous backing, we have decided to enter two English drama festivals, in Felixstowe and Welwyn Garden City, and the sponsorship will help us with our travel costs."

Frank added: "It's a busy time for the club. Our play, After Liverpool, was runner-up in the finals of the Scottish Community Drama Association one-act play festival in Edinburgh while our other production, Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, will open in Falkirk Town Hall on May 23 and then go on tour."

Someone Who'll Watch Over Me concerns three men who find themselves taken hostage and chained up together in a Beirut cell in 1989. It's based on the real-life ordeals of Brian Keenan, Terry Waite and John McCarthy.

They are simultaneously terrified, powerless, angry and bored. The riveting play explores how they survive and how they deal with the very real prospect of going insane.

Heartrendingly compassionate, tenderly tragic but also uproariously funny, it also presents their daily crisis and man's inhumanity to man, and how in the midst of the horror they find strength from communication, humour and faith.

The three actors are Brian Paterson, Jim Allan and Alan Clark, who also directs, and the crew is Brian Tripney, David Allan, Carol Allan, Carol Clark, Karen Paterson and Brian A. Allan.

Mitchells Roberton Chairman Donald Reid said: "Tryst are one of Scotland's leading amateur clubs and we're delighted to support them. Their versatile actors tackle a varied repertoire with skill and style and we wish them well in 2009."

Our picture shows Donald Reid joining the cast of Someone Who'll Watch Over Me in their Beirut cellar.