All England Theatre Festival Heats Up in Staffordshire

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The nationwide All England Theatre Festival reaches the Central Region Quarter Finals taking place at Burton upon Trent Brewhouse Arts Centre in April.

The Quarter Finals will feature six one act plays across two sessions, performed by local amateur dramatic groups, battling it out to move on to the Staffordshire semi-final round taking place at The Mitchell Arts Centre in Stoke-on-Trent in May

The Burton-On-Trent heat will be adjudicated over by Jennifer Scott Reid, who will pass judgment on and crtique Jungle Book, When He Fell, and Poe Poe Poe in the afternoon session, and then Cut It Out, Comedy of Errors and Angel in the evening session

 

Odds on favourites to sweep the boards in Burton are Tamworth based TACT Drama group, (pictured above, and below right), with their Comedy of Errors.  TACT are re previous All England Theatre Festival champions and the 2007 British Final winners.

ABOUT THE ALL ENGLAND THEATRE FESTIVAL

The nationwide eliminating contest of ‘one-act plays in performance’ has been running annually in the UK for some 80 years, and is England’s only country wide festival of its kind.

The local festivals, which are split into regional heats, give amateur dramatic groups the opportunity to take part in a progression of competing festivals starting in their own local area and possibly ending at the English Final, which takes place in the summer.  The English winner also proceeds onto the British Final, competing against winning representatives from Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

Typically something like 5,000 people will participate. There will be something like 50 preliminary heats, each one being an individual festival in its own right. Nearly 500 amateur groups will meet in this series of festivals and each and every one of them will be hoping to get to the All England Final.

AIMS OF THE FESTIVAL

The organisation hopes that the competitive nature of the festivals raisies standards in drama performance and allows groups to compare the standard of their work and to learn how to improve it.

They also believe that groups benefit from seeing the work of other companies and having supportive but constructive criticism, as well as playing in a variety of conditions.

The overarching aim is to encourage originality and adventure in the choice of plays and to provide friendly, entertaining events for audiences as well as those taking part.

 

The audiences attending the heats can also enjoy comparing their views with those of the adjudicator in assessing and appreciating the work they see on the stage.

NEW THEATRE WRITING AWARD

Run in conunction with the main festival, there is also annual UK new writing competition, open to plays making their debut performance.  Full details about how you could particpate in this can be found here

More about the festival in general and its aims at www.aetf.org.uk.

STAFFORDSHIRE QUARTER FINALS

You can see the six winning one-act plays from Staffordshire, Stoke and Shropshire at The Burton Brewhouse Arts Centre on Saturday, April 16, 2016

This quarter final round will be adjudicated on by Jennifer Scott-Reid

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WHERE

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BOX OFFICE

[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”BOOK ONLINE NOW” style=”flat” shape=”square” color=”juicy-pink” size=”lg” i_type=”openiconic” i_icon_openiconic=”vc-oi vc-oi-star” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fbrewhouse.gigantic.com%2Fvenue%2Fburton-upon-trent%2Fbrewhouse-arts-centre||target:%20_blank” add_icon=”true” css=”.vc_custom_1460409500978{margin-top: -15px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1458956690507{padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]Note that this online booking button will take you to the theatres own secure online booking centre. 

If you need help please contact the venue box office on the number provided above.  Enjoy the show.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1460414669520{padding-top: 15px !important;padding-right: 15px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;padding-left: 15px !important;background-color: #ededed !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Staffordshire Theatre Community

If you’re interested in these kind of discussions about theatre production and theatre making, then the Staffordshire Theatre Community Facebook Group is the perfect place to connect and chat with other actors, directors, writers and theatre makers in Staffordshire.

Check it out at www.facebook.com/groups/staffordshiretheatrecommunity[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]