The Hamburg Players take home award for best production at FEATS 2024
Belgian waffles, breakfasts that turned into brunches, sightseeing in the beautiful city of Antwerp – and the award for best production. The Whitsun weekend 2024 proved to be a real success for a group of 14 Hamburg Players who went on a trip.
What, you may ask? An award for best production? In Antwerp?
FEATS location: the Zuiderpershuis
Why, yes, the local theatre group BATS (British American Theatrical Society - uge shout-out to them for the brilliant organisation, by the way!) hosted this year’s 4-day theatre festival FEATS in the beautiful Belgian port city. As one of twelve participating groups from mainland Europe, the Hamburg Players took a reimagination of John Cariani’s Love/Sick to the stage.
Our Entry: Love/Sick
You may remember the episodic tragicomedy – or dramedy, however you prefer – from when we produced in Hamburg in February 2023. This time under the direction of Jessica Albiston and Valerie Doyle, some of the cast reprised their roles from back then, others took on different parts, and some even joined the fun (and the tragedy) of Love/Sick for the first time. A new light and sound concept was thought up and executed by our dedicated tech team, all of which was supported by our truly reliable backstage crew.
Sometimes, all things align in a lightning-in-a-bottle kind of moment, and that is what happened in Antwerp – because at the end of the four days of theatre fun, we were presented with the John Kearey Award for best production by adjudicator Chris Baglin.
Four scenes packed into one photo
Competetive, Yet Very Supportive
FEATS is a celebration of live theatre as well as a competitive festival. Every year, theatre groups from all over Europe meet up and celebrate their love for it in a very supportive atmosphere. In Antwerp, we saw, amongst other things, an impressive original script about inept small-time criminals with big aspirations being brought to life, a moving and poignant performance about aging and memory loss, a feminist whodunnit, amazing production design breathing new life into a Greek tragedy, as well as wild and rousing Fringe performances.
Adjudicator Chris Baglin on Satuday night.
The Adjudication
Inviting an official adjudicator from the UK-based Guild of Drama Adjudicators, who assesses each of the performances and gives out points according to a rating system, is a staple of the festival. His or her critical eye has proven to be a very helpful motivator for both actors and directors, and the Hamburg Players have always returned from FEATS inspired and more appreciative of the artform itself.
FEATS 2025 in Hamburg
Which brings us to next year. In 2025, the Hamburg Players will host FEATS at Altonaer Theater from 6 to 9 June – and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome international theatre lovers and performers in our hometown.
Love/Sick by John Cariani
Directors
Jessica Albiston and Valerie Doyle
Cast
Man: Forest Feltner
Woman: Birte Oldenburg
Louise: Madeleine Lange
Singing Telegram Man: Harald Djürken
Sarah: Margaret Metzler
Bill: Ethan Duffy
Kelly: Amy Lee
Mark: Dave Duke
Crew
Stage Manager: Lexi von Hoffmann
Lighting: Dennis Debeye
Sound: Luka Tikvicki
Music/Sound: Trevor Ferdy
Stagehand/Props: Julie Spanswick
Stagehand: Nele Giese