HJ1act is affiliated to two national drama competitions; The All England Theatre Festival and The National Drama Festivals Association. This means that companies who win at our festival have the chance to progress in two competitions.

All England Theatre Festival (AETF)

By means of an introduction, the following information has been taken from the AETF website...

The All England Theatre Festival (AETF) organises the only country-wide eliminating contest for one-act plays in performance.

It exists to provide an opportunity for amateurs to compete throughout the country, and contact is maintained with other leading bodies involved in amateur drama across the UK.

The Festival is co-ordinated by the English Committee, which comprises three members from each of the four area committees.

The AETF organises an eliminating series of festivals which leads ultimately to the English Finals.

The winner of the English Final goes on to compete against the winners of similar festivals in Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

England is divided into four areas for the purposes of this Festival, viz: Northern, Central, Eastern and Western.

Each area is also divided into a number of divisions according to the size and/or history of the individual areas.

The Harold Jolliffe One Act Play Festival currently [as of 2009] falls into the Central Division of the Western Area.

Further Information

For more details, please see the All-England Festival website (www.aetf.org.uk).

The National Drama Festivals Association (NDFA)

Each year, NDFA organise the British All Winners Festival where the very best of British amateur theatre take part in a week-long celebration of theatre. The winners of all NDFA member festivals are eligible to be invited.

NDFA also sponsor a playwriting competition - the George Taylor Memorial Award. 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 NDFA is open to all Drama Festival Organisations and also to theatre groups and individuals who are interested in taking part and supporting drama festivals throughout UK. Members receive an annual directory giving details of all member festivals and also a quarterly newsletter providing the latest information about festivals and other relevant news.

Further Information

For more details, please see the National Drama Festivals Association website (www.ndfa.org.uk).