Amateur Drama in the UK

Last modified: 3 February, 1996

Introduction

There is a lot of local and national amateur drama (`Am Dram') in the UK. Amateur means un-paid, it doesn't mean `bad'. Having said that, the quality can vary between embarrassing and sublime (a bit like professional theatre really!). Often, amateur drama is able to be more adventurous than professional as there are fewer profit and loss considerations, there again, there are one or two old chestnuts that get put on time and time again!

Club Listings are held elsewhere, this file contains details of associations and festivals.

Quite a bit of the amateur drama is also aimed at festivals, often competitive. These are usually for one act plays but full length festivals can also be found.

Some acronyms to know:

• AETF: All England Theatre Festivals.
  The All-England Theatre Festival is an annual knock out for amateur one-act plays. There are festivals for England (finals 8 June 96), Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The winners go through to the British Final (29th and 30th June 1996).
• NDFA: The National Drama Festival Association.
  NDFA (National Drama Festivals Association) is an association of local drama festivals, each year these festivals provide an opportunity for amateur clubs to present their works, in a competitive environment, to festival audiences. From the winners at each of the various local festivals NDFA put together a `festival of winners'. The 23rd All Winners Festival will be held in 1996.
• CCAT: The Central Council for Amateur Theatre. Represents amateur theatre on the Theatres Advisory Council.
• LTGGB: The Little Theatre Guild of Great Britain
• NODA: The National Operatic and Dramatic Association. 0171 837 5655
• GODA: Guild of Drama Adjudicators.

Drama Festivals

Major festivals at professional theatres are also included in the regional listings and the All Festival listings

• The Manx Amateur Drama Festival will take place between 5th and 12th April 1996. Adjudicator Tony Rushforth.
• Southport International Playwriting Festival. SIPFest is to be held in the main auditorium of the Southport Arts Centre from the 22nd to the 27th April 1996 and any amateur or semi-professional group may apply to perform.
  
• The Watford Festival 6th to 11th May, The Pump House, Watford.
• The 52nd Youth Drama Festival will be held at the Campus West Theatre 13th to 18th May 1996.
• The 62nd Welwyn Drama Festival will be held at the Campus West Theatre between 3rd June 1996 and 8th June 1996. Details from Jenny Armstrong, 01767 316 771
• Oxford Drama Network Annual Drama Festival Unicorn Theatre, Abingdon, 3-8 June 1996.
• The 10th Amateur Drama Festival, Corn Exchange Theatre, Wallingford. June 1996.

Drama Associations

Drama Association of Wales

1st Floor, Chapter Arts Centre, Market Road, Canton, Cardiff. 01222 43794.

Scottish Community Drama Association

Saltire House, 13 Atholl Crescent, Edinburgh, EH3 8A. 0131 557 5552.

Association of Ulster Drama Festivals

Flat 5, 1 Belmont Church Road, Belfast, BT4 3FF. (Secretary on 01574 72840)

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