National Drama Festivals Association

The National Drama Festivals Association (NDFA) was formed in 1964 to encourage and support amateur theatre, in particular through the organisation of drama festivals in the United Kingdom.

National Drama Festivals Association
National Drama Festivals Association Logo
LocationLocation of British All Winners Festival varies
Founded1964
Founded byNational Drama Festivals Association
Type of play(s)Full length and One Act Festivals
Festival date
  • British All Winners Festival - July
  • Participating festivals - year-round
WebsiteOfficial website

Since 1974 the NDFA has organised the British All Winners Drama Festival (BAWF) where the best of British amateur theatre take part in a week-long celebration of theatre.[1] The winners of all NDFA member festivals in the previous year, including full-length or one-act member festivals, are eligible for invitation to take part.

The NDFA sponsors two playwriting competitions - the George Taylor Memorial Award and the Nan Nuttall Memorial Awards.[2] The objective of this competition is to promote new writing for the theatre. Adjudication is carried out by a panel of judges, and the winners receive a certificate and a cash prize.

Membership of the NDFA is open to all drama festival organisations, theatre groups and individuals who are interested in supporting drama festivals in the UK.[3]

British All Winners Drama Festival

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Awards

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There are a number of awards presented at the British All Winners Drama Festival which include:[4]

  • FULL LENGTH PLAYS
    • OVERALL WINNER - The Mary Blakeman Trophy[1]
    • RUNNER UP - The Amateur Stage Trophy
    • ADJUDICATOR'S AWARD - The Felixstowe Festival Trophy
    • BACKSTAGE AWARD - The Sydney Fisher Trophy
  • ONE ACT PLAYS
    • OVERALL WINNER - The Irving Trophy
    • RUNNER UP - The NDFA Council Trophy
    • ADJUDICATOR'S AWARD - The Amateur Theatre Trophy
    • BACKSTAGE AWARD - The Sydney Fisher Trophy
    • AUDIENCE APPRECIATION - Halifax Evening Courier Award
  • YOUTH ENTRY
    • WINNER OF YOUTH SECTION - The NDFA Trophy
    • YOUTH PARTICIPATION AWARD - The Buxton Trophy
    • YOUTH AUDIENCE APPRECIATION - The GADOC Joyce Cook Memorial Trophy

Results

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NumberYearOne Act PlaysFull Length PlaysVenueLocationAdjudicator
Winners (Irving Trophy)NationalityRunners Up (NDFA Council Trophy)NationalityWinners (Mary Blakeman Trophy)NationalityRunners Up (Amateur Stage Trophy)Nationality
39th2012Runnymede Drama Group
(A Kind of Alaska by Harold Pinter )
 ENGEntity Theatre Company
("Three Nights with Madox" by Matei Visniec)
 ENGHalifax Thespians
(Someone Who'll Watch Over Me by Frank McGuinness)
 ENGLegion Players
("April in Paris" by John Godber)
 ENGThwaites Empire TheatreBlackburnRussell Whiteley GoDA
38th2011Prometheus Theatre Company
("Tape" by Stephen Belber)
 ENGGADOC
("Effie's Burning" by Valerie Windsor)
 ENGFissiParous Theatre
("Stones in His Pockets" by Marie Jones)
 ENGWhole Hog Productions
("Metamorphosis" by Steven Berkoff)
 ENGBeau Sejour Theatre and the Princess Royal Performing Arts CentreSt Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel IslandsTony Rushforth GoDA
37th2010GADOC
(“Life Lines” by Amy Rosenthal)
 ENGSt Ursula Players
(“The Invisible Man” by Jennifer Johnson)
 ENGThe Heath Players
(“The Sociable Plover" by Tim Whitnall)
 ENGStafford Players
(“Humble Boy” by Charlotte Jones)
 ENGThe Thameside TheatreGrays, EssexPaul Fowler GoDA
36th2009Karvid Productions - Hemel Hempstead
(Alas Poor Fred by James Saunders)
 ENGThe Lighted Fools Theatre Company
(The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter)
 ENGBejou Productions
(Someone Who'll Watch Over Me by Frank McGuinness)
 ENGHorncastle Theatre Company
(The Accrington Pals by Peter Whelan)
 ENGRhoda McGaw TheatreWokingMike Kaiser GoDA
35th2008Send ADS - Surrey
(The Island by Athol Fugard)
 ENGSt.Pauls Drama Group - Surrey
(Happy Jack by John Godber)
 ENGEveryman Productions - Co Sligo
(Juno and the Paycock by Seán O'Casey)
 IREWakefield Little Theatre - Yorks
(Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller)
 ENGThe Gaiety TheatreDouglas, Isle of ManColin Dolley GoDA
34th2007Woking College Theatre Company
(Home Free by Landford Wilson)
 ENGLightnin' Drama Group
(Circus of Life by Sue Ospreay)
 ENGBejou Productions
(Art by Yasmina Reza (translated by Christopher Hampton))
 ENGThe Lamproom Theatre, Barnsley
(Turns by John Kelly)
 ENGAlbert Hall TheatreLlandrindod WellsScott Marshall GODA
33rd2006Barn Theatre Club
(Marry Me a Little by Stephen Sondheim)
 ENGRunnymede Drama Group
(And Go To Innisfree by Jean Lenox Toddie)
 ENGBelvoir players
(Someone Who'll Watch Over Me by Frank McGuinness)
NIRCytringan Players
('night, Mother by Marsha Norman)
 ENGRhoda McGaw TheatreWokingMike Tilbury GODA
32nd2005Pump House Theatre
(April in Paris by John Godber)
 ENG
( )
TBC
( )
TBC
( )
TBCThe Halifax PlayhouseHalifax, West YorkshireRussell Whiteley GODA
31st2004Leonic Players
(A Conversation of Sorts by Les Littlewood)
 ENGNew World Theatre Club, Luxembourg
(Footprints in the Sand by Colin Crowther)
 LUXIn Yer Space
(The Woman Who Cooked Her Husband by Debbie Isitt)
 ENGHalifax Thespians
(The Salvage Shop by Jim Nolan)
 ENGAlbert Hall TheatreLlandrindod WellsScott Marshall GODA
30th2003Bovingdon Players (Hertfordshire)
(“Me and My Friend” (act ii) by Gillian Plowman)
 ENGBAWDS (Cambridge)
(North of Boston by Robert Frost)
 ENGThe Lamproom Theatre Company (Barnsley, S Yorks)
(Up 'n' Under by John Godber)
 ENGIn yer space (Preston, Lancs)
(A Night in November by Marie Jones)
 ENGForest Arts CentreNew Milton, HantsTony Rushforth GODA
29th2002Runnymede Drama Group
(Five Kinds of Silence by Shelagh Stephenson)
 ENGThe Bradford Players Theatre Co.
(Jam by Graham Fife)
 ENGEveryman Productions
(The Mai by Marina Carr)[1]
 IREChelmsford Theatre Workshop
(Nunsense by Dan Goggin)
 ENGCastle Hall, The WashHertfordScott Marshall GODA
28th2001Pump House Theatre Company
(Home Free by Lanford Wilson)
 ENGStorrington Theatre Workshop
(The Room by Harold Pinter)
 ENGSudbury Dramatic Society
(Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose)
 ENGCardiff Players
(Communicating Doors by Alan Ayckbourn)
 WALRhoda McGaw TheatreWokingMike Tilbury GODA
27th2000Runnymede Drama Group
(Scarecrow by Don Nigro)
 ENGWilstead Players
(Porch by Jack Heifner)
 ENGBrigstowe Theatre Company
(Entertaining Mr Sloane by Joe Orton)
 ENGThurrock Courts Players
(Neville's Island by Tim Firth)
 ENGSpa Pavilion TheatreFelixstoweJeannie Russell GODA
26th1999East Essex Players
(Laughter In the Shadow of the Trees by John Prideaux)
 ENGBovingdon Players
(A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking by John Ford Noonan)
 ENGEnniscorthy Theatre Group
(The Cripple of Inishmaan by Martin McDonagh)
 IREDeben Players
(Key for Two by John Chapman and Dave Freeman)
 ENGThameside TheatreGraysRex Walford GODA
20th1993
Porthcawl
4th1977
Buxton

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Everyman scoop major award at British festival". Independent.ie. 2002-07-31. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  2. ^ Meth, Jonathan. "Commissioning new work - A good practice guide for amateur theatre companies and playwrights" (PDF). Culture Hive.
  3. ^ "British All-Winners Drama Festival :: Hertford Dramatic and Operatic Society". www.hdos.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  4. ^ Staff Reporter (2010-08-02). "Heath and Lightnin' Sweep Drama Awards". Your Thurrock. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
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