The Association of Ulster Drama
Festivals (AUDF) is made up of three representatives from each member Festival -
Ballymoney, Bangor, City of Derry, Theatre Upstairs (Downpatrick),
Castlereagh,Enniskillen, Larne, Mid-Ulster (Carrickmore), Moneyglass, Newry, Newtownabbey,
Portadown, Strabane and Newtownstewart.The Churches Drama League enjoys full membership,
while the Young Farmer Clubs of Ulster are Associate Members.
Apart from agreeing matters of general policy (although member Festivals are encouraged to
develop their own unique "personalities"), a leading role of the Association is
to organise this annual Ulster Drama Festival which brings together winners from
provincial festivals and companies from both North and South of Ireland in friendly
rivalry.
After a number of year at the Grand Opera House, Bangor's Little Theatre (now closed), and
Ballymena County Hall,
we are delighted to be made
welcome at Belfast's Lyric Theatre. AUDF also organises the NI One Act play Festival.
The AUDF Constitution, drawn up in 1949, includes the following aims: "to foster and
encourage amateur drama through the holding of Festivals of Drama, the fostering of
relations and co-operation between Ulster Drama Festivals, and the fostering of relations
with similar organisations in Northern Ireland and other regions…" The
Association owes much to the guidance of such great Presidents as Angela, late Countess of
Antrim, the inimitable Brum Henderson, and the late Rowel Friers. This year it is our
pleasure to welcome Rosemary Kelly as the Association's latest President, continuing a
fine tradition.With Chairmen of the calibre of James Henry Cathcart, John M Knipe, Billy
Burns, Paddy Ormonde, Sean Hollywood, Beth Duffin and now Walker Ewart the Association is
still satisfying the aims of our founder members after 50 years.
