THE AVON ASSOCIATION OF DRAMA    -    ONE-ACT PLAY FESTIVAL

Preliminary Festival of the All – England Theatre Festival

RULES [ Revised: September 2008 ]

1.

(a)     The Avon Association of Drama is recognised as a Preliminary of the All-England Theatre Festival and as such is subject to the National Rules

(b)     The Festival is open to any amateur group who gather together to present a performance - with members of A.A.D. receiving priority if the festival is over subscribed.

(c)     Any Society may make more than one entry.

(d)     All players must be amateur. ie: Those whose main income is not earned by acting.

Youth Awards – Eligibility

(e)     Company Awards.  A group of young people (18 years of age or under on the opening day of the Festival).

(f)      Individual Awards.  Any young person, in a competing Group, fulfilling the above age requirement.

(g)     The winning Youth Company will represent Avon at the Five Counties Youth Festival.

2.  There are two types of entries:-

(a) Opting. Teams entering (including youth teams), if selected, will go forward to the Quarter Final of the All-England Theatre Festival. 

(b) Non-Opting.  For Teams wishing to enter this Festival on a competitive basis, but not wishing to go forward.

3.  What can we enter?

(a)     No play in copyright may be performed without production of its performance licence and written permission for any cuts or alterations. This to be presented to the Festival Stage Director.

(b)     Any copyright recorded speech or projection of film or TV material can be used as long as proof of permission is produced.

(c)     Scripts or written synopses in the case of improvisations must be submitted by the date requested to the organisers in advance of the festival.

(d)     There must be a minimum of two speaking parts on stage.

4. Timing and Penalties.

(a)     Each entry must be at least twenty minutes in length and not exceed fifty-five minutes. This includes any time spent changing scenes or used to set mood by cast or music. Curtain calls are not permitted.

(b)     No production may take more than 10 minutes to set and 5 minutes to strike. These times are additional to the time allowed for performance.

(c)     Penalties for not keeping within the allotted time for setting, striking and performance, shall be as follows:

      Up to 1 minute over time = Deduction of   1 mark.           Up to 2 minute over time = Deduction of   3 marks.

      Up to 3 minute over time = Deduction of   6 marks.         Up to 4 minute over time = Deduction of 10 marks.

      Up to 5 minute over time = Deduction of 15 marks.         MORE THAN 5 MINUTES = Disqualification

5.  Setting. 

(a)     The scenery must be freestanding within the supplied ‘black box’. Individual theatres may provide additional facilities.

(b)     Scenery, all properties and any special technical equipment required for their production must be provided by the companies and fireproofing of all materials and sets is their responsibility.

(c)     Companies must give advance notice to the relevant organisers of special equipment or effects such as naked lights, pistol shots etc which must comply with the theatre’s requirements. Local regulations may differ especially with regard to items such as smoking on stage.

6. Script.    Each Society is required to forward a hard-copy of its script to the Festival Secretary by the date requested. This copy is for the use of the Adjudicator and will be returned. NOTE: - Photocopies are only permitted where the Publisher’s consent has been obtained and this fact endorsed on the front of the script along with the signature of an official of the Society/ Group/Club.

7. Technical Meeting.     A Technical Meeting will be arranged by the Festival Committee to enable competing teams to view the Stage and Facilities. A Stage Plan and Lighting Plot should be sent to the Stage Director prior to this meeting.

8. There will be present at the venue a: - Resident Stage Director, Resident Lighting Director and Resident Sound Engineer. These three will be in total charge of their respective departments.

9. No player in costume or theatrical make-up is permitted in the auditorium before or after their individual performance. Photo-calls or Curtain calls are not allowed.

10. Trophies should be returned to the Festival Secretary in clean condition one month prior to the next festival. For insurance purposes they are the responsibility of the winning Society/ Individual.

11. A public adjudication will be given of each play. The Adjudicator will use the following marking system:-

Acting = 40 points, Production = 35 points, Stage Presentation = 15 points, Dramatic Achievement = 10 points. Total = 100 points per play.

The Adjudicator’s decision is final.

12. Written adjudications may be requested at the time of entry and the current fee should be paid.

13. A.A.D. (Through the Festival Organiser) reserves the right to disqualify any team infringing the above rules, and its decision in these, and all other matters relating to the festival, is final.

14. Entrants are reminded that, by entering the festival, they have undertaken to give a public performance. In accordance with the tradition of the Theatre they are expected to appear even though, for example the principal part may have to be read.