One act drama festivals for amateur groups run across the country throughout the year. Some of them are part of the All England Theatre Festival which is a national competition for one act plays.

Others are purely local affairs, but all involve amateur groups putting on productions and being 'judged' by a professional adjudicator who will allocate marks for all the different aspects of the production.

The festivals usually run over 3 to 5 nights and at the end of the festival the adjudicator awards prizes - for example Best Production, Best Actress, Best Actor etc. There is usually an Adjudicators' Award as well which can be awarded for absolutely anything which the adjudicator thinks merits it!

Throughout the year we aim to compete in at least three local drama festivals at Sedgefield, Saltburn and Richmond. These festivals give us an opportunity to experiment with different drama styles and playwrights.

All England Theatre Festival

The All England Theatre Festival (AETF) organises the only country-wide eliminating contest for one-act plays in performance.

The Festival progresses through a series of rounds to culminate in the English and then the British Final.

There are 4 rounds in total, based on four Areas – North, South, East and West. Each Area has a number of Divisions which vary in size according to the number of First Round Festivals taking part.

We are in the Northern Central area. There are usually 3 festivals which take part, although only 2 have done so in 2006 – the Nidderdale Festival and Richmond Festival.

The Allerton Players’ production of ‘Henna Night’ by Amy Rosenthal won the Richmond Festival this year, and therefore went through to the Second Round ie. The Northern Central Division final, against Bishop Monkton on April 29th.

Unfortunately, we did not progress any further on this occasion.

The third round in the Northern region this year is at Port Sunlight on 27th May. The winner of the Northern Area final progresses to the All England Final in Hereford on 10th June, and the winner of this contest goes to the All Britain Final in Perth on 30th June / 1st July!

Past Festivals
Through the years the Allerton Players have participated in local drama festivals with many awards and cups being won! Here is just a flavour of some of the productions with which we have triumphed (or not).

Saltburn 1994

'Last Tango in Little Grimley' by David Tristram and 'Visiting Hour' by Richard Harris were both entered for the Saltburn Festival in 1994. Ida Hurst won an award for Best Cameo as the mother in the hospital bed, who said not a word!

Sedgefield 1994

Our entry for Sedgefield in this year was set on a window ledge high above a busy street with a girl determined to jump.....

Saltburn 1995

We entered two of the 'Confusions' one act plays to Saltburn in 1995 - 'Mother Figure' and 'Between Mouthfuls'. No cups this time!

Sedgefield 1995

Set behind the scenes at a dancing competition this one act play detailed an act of artistic sabotage as the other dancers plotted to bring one arrogant competitor down a peg or two.

Saltburn 1996

'Easy Stages' by Nick Warburton details the traumas of the stage manager working with his band of amateur enthusiasts. Andy Stokes was nominated for Best Actor in this role.

Sedgefield 1996

What happens when your wife unexpectedly tells you she's pregnant? Our entry to Sedgefield, 'Joining the Club', won a cup for Most Effective Thirty Seconds for a no holds barred slap in the face!

Sedgefield 1997

'The Extraordinary Revelations of Orca the Goldfish' by David Tristram was one of our most successful festival plays, reaping many awards. It was entered at Sedgefield in 1997.......

Saltburn 1998

...And then again at Saltburn in 1998 where it won a total of 4 cups - Best Actor, Best Production, Audience Award and Technical Award.

Sedgefield 1998

An interfering mother and her rather dim daughter cause havoc in an airport departure lounge....

Richmond 1998

'And go to Innisfree' by Jean Lennox Toddie was a play in which an old woman tries to make a decision about her future life, aided by her younger selves - played in this instance by her daughter and grand-daughter! This production featuring three generations of actresses gained two cups at Richmond, 'Best Actress' and 'Best Production'

Saltburn 1999

'And go to Innisfree' received a best actress award at Saltburn.

Sedgefield 2002

'Tell me another story, sing me a song' charts the changing relationship between mother and daughter as the latter grows up. It won a Best Actress award and the 'Bob the Builder' Gordon Award (Sedgefield's answer to the Oscars) for its marvellous set which consisted of 4 very large blocks!

Sedgefield 2005

'Henna Night' by Amy Rosenthal won the Adjudicator's Award at Sedgefield

Richmond 2006

'Henna Night' by Amy Rosenthal won the Richmond Drama Festival at the Georgian Theatre, Richmond. The production was also awarded the cup for the best set and both actresses were shortlisted for Best Actress. Richmond festival is a preliminary round for the All England Theatre Festival and the Players proceeded to the second round in April where they were unceremoniously knocked out!