As new National Chairman, and in common with most of you, my passion is theatre - not committees - they are just a means to an end. The ’end’ of the AETF is , in my view, to encourage and facilitate good drama of all kinds, both traditional and innovative and to provide a way to enjoy and share in some of the best work that community theatre can produce.

Competition is an unfashionable word, though I can’t think why with the Olympics in full flow, but like committees it is a means to an end not an end in itself. We are now calling our second and third rounds Quarter and Semi Finals as part of our aim to be straight forward about our aims and if competition helps push up standards competition there will be!

I personally enjoy many aspects of the theatre - watching professional work, directing, occasionally acting, set designing - and I certainly enjoy festivals. I enjoy helping to run an event where there is a buzz of friendliness and excitement, where there is the anticipation of exciting new writing and performing and an opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with others with the same enthusiasm. It is this enjoyment that makes me look forward to my time in office and this enjoyment which I hope you will share with me.

Ann Aplin August 2008

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