An FA Cup for Acting

The Harold Jolliffe One Act Play Festival is hosted by the Swindon and District Theatre Guild (a registered charity) and exists simply to celebrate local drama. As such it is a not-for-profit event.

Simply put, the Festival is like an FA Cup for acting. Theatre groups rehearse a play, and perform it in front of an adjudicator and audience.

Each evening's plays are performed to strict criteria; in timekeeping of performance, setting and striking; if anyone runs over the time allowed then points are deducted. Far more subjective are the points awarded for direction; acting and technical achievement. Altogether, each company is vying for a total of 100 points.

Although the actual points awarded by the adjudicator are never made public, except to the company concerned, the adjudicator does give public appraisals at the end of each evening.

Also, the audience is encouraged to mark these criteria, using the same points system as the adjudicator. This makes the evening a much less passive experience!

The Arts Centre - the venue for the Festival How to Find the Arts Centre

The Festival, which takes place at the Arts Centre in Swindon's Old Town, culminates in an award ceremony – much like the Oscars! Trophies are given out for Best Actor and Actress, whilst the BBC Radio Swindon and BBC Radio Wiltshire Audience Award is the Festival's newest award. Simply put: the play which most people vote their favourite during the Festival.

The big prize though is that awarded for Best Play. That's the one which determines the play being selected to go on to the next round of the All England Theatre Festival (see: AETF). It follows then, that the Swindon winner might go on to win the English and British Finals. It's never happened so far but you never know!

The Harold Jolliffe One Act Play Festival is great entertainment and great value; two or three plays a night for around £2.50 each!

We hope you agree!