A Message from our President

Joan Cheshire has been involved with the Festival since the 1940s and is President of the Swindon and District Theatre Guild

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the website of the Harold Jolliffe One Act Play Festival.

Hosted by the Swindon and District Theatre Guild, the Festival has proved to be one of our longest running arts events.

When I'm asked why I love the Festival, I have so many answers to hand!

Most of all, I suppose, it's because to me the Festival allows our young talent to flourish in a supportive environment. These young actors, actresses, directors and stage crew are, after all, the future of drama here!

The Festival also gives so many youngsters the chance to perform on a stage in a proper theatre under Festival conditions – it's a wonderful opportunity to grow!

For me, it's this environment which also fosters another special quality; comradeship. Coming together, as we do every year in this way; we do all we can to help one another. Props, costumes and advice are all aspects of our performance about which we can ask for help – in fact that's a primary reason for the existence of the Guild anyway.

Over the years, I've noticed many changes. Most of all, I suppose, when I remember one act plays entered back in the 40s and 50s, it's the freedom of speech we enjoy now. I don't mean the political meaning of the phrase at all; more the freedom to express thoughts and emotions, in ways and words which all those years ago would have been frowned upon at best – or perhaps not allowed at all!

The Harold Jolliffe One Act Play Festival is a wonderful thing; we deserve it, and it deserves our support. Thank you for visiting our website and we look forward to seeing you at the Arts Centre soon.

Joan Cheshire
President, Swindon and District Theatre Guild

About the Guild

The Swindon and District Theatre Guild was founded in 1945 and is affiliated to the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA). The Guild is a registered charity; Number 272571.

Mission Statement

Aims

• To organise and promote the annual Harold Jolliffe One Act Play Festival
• To foster and promote Drama in all its forms and to encourage the study of dramatic art
• To proved a forum for the effective interchange of views between affiliated members
• To provide a network, for props, sets, costumes, actors and production personnel
• To establish and maintain association with similar groups in other parts of the country

• Make grants to individuals, including loans
• Make grants to organizations, including schools and other charities
• Provide advocacy, advice and information
• Act as an umbrella or resource body

Membership

• Any groups in Swindon and district who have paid an annual subscription
• Individuals who have paid an annual subscription

Obligations

• The keeping of accounting records for the charity
• The preparation of annual statements for the charity
• The auditing or independent examination of the statements of accounts of the charity
• The transmission of the statements of account of the charity to the Commissioners