The GMDF Amateur One Act Play Festival

The GMDF one act play festival is the leading North West amateur one act play festival. It is now in it’s 63rd year – quite an achievement.The festival is held each year at various member theatres and GMDF are very grateful for their hospitality. The festival is not just for GMDF members, it is an open festival and we welcome all applications.

It’s also a well organised, fun and friendly festival to enter, we have a Junior section for cast members up to 14 years (Section A), a Youth section for cast members up to 15 – 18 years (Section B), an Adult section (Section C) and an Original play section (Section D). So as you can see something for everyone.There are awards for best actress, best actor and certificates of merit in sections A, B and C and across all sections there are awards for outstanding actor / actress, meritorious director, best comedy performance, best presentation and an adjudicator’s award.

Once you have taken the plunge and entered our lovely festival, you will be sent details of the stage managers’ meeting and a running order for the week. This meeting is at the hosting theatre and you will get to meet the GMDF team and be able to discuss the technical requirements etc for your production. You will also be shown round the theatre so that you are familiar with the backstage layout and where the dressing rooms are etc. This meeting is appromimately two to three weeks prior to the beginning of the festival. You will need to have the licence to perform your production with you at this meeting.

The running order is what you would expect a running order to be, you will know exactly which evening and at what time you will be performing. The running order is issued very shortly after the closing date for entries.

Each evening after the plays have been presented the adjudicator (2025- Carmel Bird) gives an “on the fly” adjudication of each play. This is an important part of the festival and whilst, by definition, they have to be concise on the evening they are nonetheless thorough and constructive. If requested on the entry form, a full written adjudication will be produced within a fortnight of the end of the festival. A modest fee applies for this service.

On the Saturday night there is usually one play and this is performed by the hosting Society. After this play there is a break whilst the adjudicator makes his / her final decisions about the winners. Certificates are printed and framed and then the final presentation takes place. All very exciting. The winners are presented with a lovely glass trophy and certificate in recognition of their achievement and after that it’s a mass gathering at the bar!

If your society doesn’t usually enter the GMDF One Act Play Festival, why not consider giving it a go? You will be made very welcome and at the end of the day it’s good experience all round. It’s an excellent arena in which budding directors can cut their teeth and brilliant experience for actors who have never taken part in a competetive one-act play festival before.