Welcome to Spelthorne and Runnymede Drama Festival

We set up an independent theatre company specifically to perform at drama festivals so we could do the type of plays we really wanted to tackle.

One act drama festivals provide a great opportunity to push the boundaries of theatre and try out different things that maybe you wouldn't otherwise be able to do.

It’s always interesting to hear the adjudicator’s comments about your own play and listen to their suggestions of ways to improve it – you may not agree but it’s always worth considering what’s been said. I also find it useful listening to the adjudicator’s comments about other plays and see if they match my own thoughts.

I have learnt so much about the technical side of theatre from doing drama festivals.

The local drama festivals provided our youth drama group with performance platforms in some terrific venues that they wouldn't otherwise have had.

Watching festival productions inspired me to become a director. Since then having the independent opinion of an experienced adjudicator has been so helpful, providing me with feedback, ideas and really making me think about all aspects of my productions.

Drama Festivals are such a great place to make new contacts and pick up ideas. In conversation at a recent Drama Festival I was offered contact details for a company that could offer loan of props for another play that I’m directing, not a contact that I would have found by any other means.

The Spelthorne and Runnymede Drama Festival

The Spelthorne & Runnymede Drama Festival is one of the oldest one-act drama festivals in the country and has been going for over 60 years. Originally called the ‘Spelthorne Drama Festival’ we operated as an independent drama festival, but in more recent years we have become affiliated to the National Drama Festivals Association (NDFA) and our winning entries are eligible for selection to the British All Winners Festival. Additionally the winner of our new play category is eligible to be put forward to the NDFA one act playwriting competition.

Entrants have the opportunity to perform in the theatre at the Riverside Arts Centre, Sunbury on Thames which is a really lovely venue and has the benefit and support of our experienced festival team to support their technical needs. They also receive a professional adjudication from an independent GoDA adjudicator.

Take a look at our new Festival Guide to see how you can become involved.

Tuesday 22^nd to Saturday 26^th October 2019

Adjudicator Jan Palmer Sayer B.Ed MA GoDA

Programme

Tuesday 22^nd October 2019 at 7.30pm
	Horsell Amateur Dramatic Society - A Cream Cracker Under the Settee by Alan Bennett Addlestone Community Theatre - Verity by Paul Bungard (New Play/PG)
Wednesday 23^rd October 2019 at 7.30pm
	Bishopstoke Players - Asking For It by Peter Yates (New Play/PG) The Thursday Night Project - Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan Macmillian with Jonny Donahoe
Thursday 24^th October 2019 at 7.30pm
	Shepperton Players - Elegy For A Lady by Arthur Miller Pyrford Little Theatre - Contractions by Mike Bartlett
Friday 25^th October 2019 at 7.30pm
	Tiger Theatrical Productions - Jesus My Boy by John Dowie Runnymede Drama Group - Triptych by Edwin Preece
Saturday 26^th October 2019 at 7.00pm
	Manor Players of Sunbury – On the Rocks by Geoff Buckingham (New Play) Back to Front Theatre – Dolores by Edward Allan Baker (PG) Presentation of awards

Riverside Arts Centre 59 Thames Street Sunbury on Thames Middlesex TW16 5QF w: www.riversidearts.co.uk	Tickets £7 Available on the door, online or contact the box office on boxoffice@ spelthornerunnymededramafestival.co.uk