The All-England Theatre Festival progresses through a series of rounds to culminate in the English Final.
These rounds are run by four organising Areas and the structure within each Area may vary. Each Area has a number of Divisions within which the starting point if our Festival, the Independent Preliminary Round Festivals take part. The winners, and sometimes runners-up, then progress into our rounds. Information on this site is updated as soon as possible but is, of course, dependent on local contacts keeping us advised of, firstly dates, venues and adjudicators, and then later, of the results. I am happy to receive information from any interested individual with access to the relevant detail. I normally try to update the same day !
Central Area - Preliminary Rounds
Leicester & Rutland Festival : 23rd - 28th March
Countesthorpe Community College
LEICESTER
Adjudicator : Bob Wildgust
Contact : Mrs Jackie Sellwood - 01572 72347
Winner : Ratae Cooperative Players
"Out in the Morning Dew" by Arthur Aldrich
******************
Tamworth (Hastilow) Festival : 9th - 14th March
Winner : Total Arts Community Theatre
"Moll Flanders" by Peter Machen
Runner - Up (also progresses to Quarter Final.) :
Fusion Performance Arts
"Triage" by Jon Bott
******************
Stoke-on-Trent Annual One Act Festival: 4th - 9th April
The Sixth Form College, FENTON
Adjudicator : Michael Kaiser G.O.D.A.
Contact : Alan Hill 01782 317151
******************
Warwickshire Play Festival : 27th & 28th March
This Festival was cancelled due to low entries but the teams competed at Tamworth to achieve a result.
Winner: The Abbey Players
"Vision Impaired" by Richard James
Western Division
Hereford County Festival : 26th - 28th February
The Courtyard, HEREFORD
Adjudicator : Paul Fowler G.O.D.A.
Contact : Lucy Zammit 01568 616150
Winner : Hereford Players
"Melody" by Deidre Kinahan
Runner - Up (also progresses to Quarter Final.) :
Eardisley Little Theatre Club
"Mum's Army" by David Croft & Jimmy Perry
******************
Birmingham's Festival of Acting and Musical Entertainment : 23rd - 28th February
Winner : Tomorrow Productions
"Will the Real Jonathon Davies Please Stand Up?" by Peter Bridges
******************
The Worcester Theatre Festival : 4th - 5th April
Winner : Wordsley Amateur Dramatic Society
"Habagat" by Peter Langdon
******************
The Shropshire One Act Festival : 1st - 4th April
Winner : Wem ADOS Stagedoor Youth
"Laundry Girls" by Bill Owen
Runner-Up ( which also goes forward to the next round) :
Wellington Theatre Company
"Trip of a lifetime" by Bill Cashmore and Andy powrie.
Eastern Area - Preliminary Rounds
Bedford Drama Festival: Week commencing 20th April
Haynes Village Hall, Haynes, BEDFORD
Adjudicator : Arthur Rochester G.O.D.A.
Contact : Debbie Bosher - 01234 381295
******************
Cambridge Festival : 20th - 25th April
The Mumford Theatre, CAMBRIDGE
Adjudicator : Andrew Rawlinson Assoc. G.O.D.A.
Contact : Wendy Walford - 01223 323519
email : raw1000@cam.ac.uk
Winner : Clavering Players
"Tissue" by Louise Page
******************
South Division -
Southern Counties Drama Festival : 23rd - 28th February
The Barn Theatre, OXTED
Adjudicator : Jill O'Hare G.O.D.A.
Contact : Bruce Read - 01959 561811 or 07802 302025
email : sc.df@btinternet.com
Winner : Tonbridge Theatre and Arts Club
"Semblance of Madness" by John H. Newmeir
******************
Elmbridge Festival : 2nd - 7th March
The Playhouse,
WALTON-ON-THAMES
Adjudicator : Paul Fowler G.O.D.A.
Contact : Margaret Watford - 01932 228525
email : Margaret.watford@btinternet.com
Winner : Runnymede Drama Group
"The King" by Stewart Conn
******************
Southend Festival : 23rd - 28th March******************
Waltham Forest Festival of Theatre : 23rd - 28th MarchWest Division -
Maidenhead Drama Festival : 28th April - 2nd May
Winner : Marist Senior School
"A Memory of Lizzie" by David Foxton
******************
Western Area - Preliminary Rounds
Avon Festival : 26th - 28th February
Parish Hall,
IRON ACTON
Adjudicator : John Scowen Assoc. G.O.D.A.
Contact : Janet Adams - 01179 638347
aad.oneact@virgin.net
Winner : St. Paul's Players
"Beata Beatrix" by Gillian Plowman
******************
Bristol Festival: 12th - 14th February
The Olympus Theatre, FILTON COLLEGE
Adjudicator : Chris Jaeger G.O.D.A.
Contact : Jill Gill - 01179 247266
e-mail : jillgill47@yahoo.com
Winner : St. Alban's Players
Runner - Up ( also going to the Quarter Final) :
"Cecily" by Gillian Plowman
Weston-in-Gordano Players
"The New Quixote" by Michael Frayn
******************
Somerset County Drama Festival : 28th & 29th March
King's College, TAUNTON
Adjudicator : Barbara Smith
Winner : Taunton Thespians
"Two Gentlemen of Soho" by A. P. Herbert
******************
Cheltenham One Act Play Festival : 2nd - 7th March
The Playhouse, CHELTENHAM
Adjudicator : Chris Jaeger G.O.D.A.
Contact : Carol Magill, 01452 714461
Winner : Tewkesbury Arts and Drama Club
"Once this was a poet" by Brenda Read-Brown
******************
Harold Joliffe One Act Play Festival: 12th - 14th February
The Arts Centre, SWINDON
Adjudicator : Michael Kaiser G.O.D.A.
Winner : Whole Hog Productions
"Directions" by Chris Scott
Southern Division
Dorset Drama League : Week commencing March 2nd
The Arts Centre, SHAFTESBURY
Adjudicator : Colin Dolley G.O.D.A.
Contact : Simon Hunt - 01747 830242
simon.hunt3@btinternet.com
Winner : Jack Snell Productions
"After Midnight, before Dawn" by David Campton
******************
The Totton Drama Festival : Week commencing March 23rd
Winner : Maskers Theatre Company
Runner - Up ( also progresses to Quarter Final) :
"In by the half" by Jimmy Chinn
Chameleon Theatre Company
"The Window Cleaner" by Gillian Plowman
Also going through to the Quarter Final are :-
Oasis Youth Theatre
"Sticks 'n' Stones and Mobile Phones" by Danny Sturrock and Johnny Carrington
Bench Theatre Company
"Father for Justice" by Mark Wakeman
Western Division
The Teignmouth Festival : 9th - 14th March
Carlton Theatre, TEIGNMOUTH
Adjudicator : Sonia Woolley G.O.D.A.
Contact : Freda Welton - 01626 775140
Winner : Teignmouth Players
"The Allotment" by Gillian Plowman
******************
Cornwall Festival : 27th & 28th March
Arts Theatre, ST AUSTELL
Adjudicator : Jane Levan G.O.D.A.
Contact : Freddie Rowe - 0781 7639389
******************
Exmouth Festival : 30th March - 4th April
Blackmore Theatre, EXMOUTH
Adjudicator : Jill O'Hare G.O.D.A.
Contact : Norman Warne - 01395 266069
Winner : Campion players
"Last Tango in Little Grimley" by David Tristram
Quarter Finals
North West Division : 9th May
Heswall Hall, HESWALL
Adjudicator : Derek Slater
Contact :Keith Thomas 0151 924 6740
e.mail : keith_sybil.littlecrosby@btinternet.com
Winner : Hand-in-Hand Theatre Productions
"Remembrance Day" by Bev Clark
******************
North Central Division : 25th April
Winner : Harrogate Dramatic Society
"The Cagebirds" by David Campton
******************
North East Division : 9th May
Spotlight Theatre,
BRIDLINGTON
Adjudicator : Carolyn Drury G.O.D.A.
Contact : Barbara Prince
01482 650952
Winner : Dewsbury Arts Group
"A Dog's Life" by Pam Valentine
Central Area
Central Division : 25th April
Brewhouse Arts Centre, BURTON ON TRENT
Adjudicator : Paul Fowler G.O.D.A.
Contact : Harry Bladon
0116 277 5499
e.mail : theatre@hbladon.wanadoo.co.uk
Winner : Total Arts Community Theatre
"Moll Flanders" by Peter Machen
Runner - Up ( also going to the Semi-Final) :
Caversmill Drama Society
"Green" by Les Clarke
******************
Western Division :25th April
Evesham Arts Centre, EVESHAM
Adjudicator : Jane Levan G.O.D.A.
Contact : Jean Cunnington 0121 707 6684
cunnington@talk21.com
Winner : Hereford Players
"Melody" by Deidre Kinahan
Also progressing to Semi Final :-
Wem ADOS Stagedoor Youth
"The laundry Girls" by Bill Owen
and
Wellington Theatre Company
"Trip of a lifetime" by Bill Cashmore & Andy Powrie
Eastern Area
North Division : 17th May******************
East Division : 25th April******************
South Division : 8th March
Winner : Runnymede Drama Group
"The King" by Stewart Conn
******************
West Division : No Festival as only one Preliminary RoundWestern Area
Wessex Division : 18th April
Blakehay Theatre, WESTON-SUPER-MARE
Adjudicator : Colin Dolley G.O.D.A.
Contact : Joan Pickthall - 01179 622947
Winner : St. Paul's Players
"Beata Beatrix" by Gillian Plowman
******************
Mercia Division : 18th April
Bouverie Hall, PEWSEY
Adjudicator : Jill O'Hare G.O.D.A.
Contact : Martin Clifton 01672 810436
e.mail : martin.clifton@lineone.net
Winner : Whole Hog Productions
"Directions" by Chris Scott
******************
Southern Division : 18th April
Winner : Bench Theatre Company
"Father for Justice" by Mark Wakeman
******************
Western Division : 2nd May
Box Office : 01626 778991
www.carltontheatre.co.uk
Winner : Teignmouth Players
"The Allotment" by Gillian Plowman
Semi Finals
Northern : 23rd May
Saltburn Community Theatre,
SALTBURN
Adjudicator : Russell Whitley G.O.D.A.
Contact : Wilbert Zijlmans 01287 626804
e.mail : docwilbert@yahoo.com
Winner : Dewsbury Arts Group
"A Dog's Life" by Pam Valentine
******************
Eastern : 23rd May
Eastwood Studio Theatre,
LEIGH-ON-SEA
Adjudicator : David Vince G.O.D.A.
Contact : Kay Banning : 01268 752239
Winner : Marist Senior School
"A Memory of Lizzie" by David Foxton
******************
Central : 23rd May
Brewhouse Arts Centre,
BURTON-ON-TRENT
Adjudicator : Jeannie Russell G.O.D.A.
Contact : Sue Fortune
01827 69082
sue.fortune@tact.web.co.uk
Winner : Total Arts Community Theatre
"Moll Flanders" by Peter Machen
******************
Western : 16th May
Carlton Theatre, TEIGHMOUTH
Adjudicator : Michael Kaiser G.O.D.A.
Box Office : 01626 778991
www.carltontheatre.co.uk
Winner : Whole Hog Productions
"Directions" by Chris Scott
ENGLISH FINAL
STRODE THEATRE, STREET, SOMERSET
Sessions start at 2.30pm and 7.00 pm
Box Office : 01458 442846
www.strodetheatre.co.uk
Adjudicator : Tony Rushforth G.O.D.A.
Winner : Total Arts Community Theatre
"Moll Flanders" by Peter Machen
BRITISH FINAL
Ardhowen Theatre, ENNISKILLEN
Northern Ireland
Adjudicator : Walker Ewart
Box Office : 028 6632 5440
Contact : Alan Marshall
e.mail : agc_marshall@hotmail.com