THE ULSTER DRAMA FESTIVAL

The Ulster Drama Festival of Full Length Plays is organised by the Association of Ulster Drama Festivals (AUDF). The Festival runs for six nights.

  

ENTRY

1.        Entry to the Festival is through the Regional Open Drama Festivals affiliated to AUDF, viz Ballymoney DR; Bangor DF; City of Derry DF; Enniskillen DF; Larne DF; Mid Ulster DF; Newry DF; Newtownabbey DF; Newtownstewart DF; Portadown DF; and Strabane DF. Nominating Festivals must have three plays in competition. 

Productions must be

- presented by bona fide adult amateur Societies, although specific child parts may be played by children still at school. The services of a professional director may be used.

- of such length as to provide a recognised evening’s entertainment in a professional theare

  

SELECTION

To be eligible a society must enter at least two Regional Open Festivals, although not necessarily be accepted at two Festivals. There is no upper limit to the number of Festivals entered. Selection for the Ulster Drama Festival will be primarily through the Association’s Points system, detailed as follows;

 

1^st Place   12 points

2^nd Place    6 points

3^rd place     3 points

4^th Place    1 point

 

In the event of a tie for a place, the aggregate points for that place plus any subsequent place(s) involved will be divided equally between the societies that tie e.g. TWO TEAMS tying for second place each receive four and a half points (half of 6 plus 3). In this case there would be no third place and the fourth team would be awarded 1 point.

Three teams tying for second place would each obtain three and one third points (one third of 6 and 3 and 1). In this case there would be no third or fourth place.

Festivals may have plays in their programmes which are not eligible for the Ulster Drama Festival. These plays will be included in the allocation of points but will not be eligible for the Final. Thus every team will receive points according to its actual result in the Regional Festivals.

INITIALLY SOCIETIES WILL QUALIFY ACCORDING TO THE HIGHEST TOTAL POINTS IN NOT MORE THAN TWO FESTIVALS.

IF THIS FAILS TO DETERMINE THE FULL PROGRAMME FOR THE FINAL, MARKS OBTAINED IN A THIRD FESTIVAL WILL THEN BE CONSIDERED.

 

IF PLACES STILL REMAIN TO BE FILLED, THE ELIGIBLE TEAMS WILL BE ENTERED IN A DRAW TO BE HELD AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING OF AUDF.

 

Special Circumstances

If a team enters for two or more festivals, is only accepted at one Festival and wins that competition, the company will be awarded 12 points and be considered for the Final.

If that team is subsequently in competition for a place with another team who have come second in two festivals, thus obtaining 12 points also, the team with the winning place will always take precedence over the other. In this case a third result will not be considered.

 

GENERAL

1. No Society will be allowed to enter the same play in the Festival more than once within a period of three years.

 

2. If the entry is copyright, it is the Society’s responsibility to see that the author’s permission is obtained for performance, and that any royalty is paid in advance. If the text has been altered in any way, written proof of the author’s permission to do so must be available.

 

3. A copy of the script must be sent to the Hon Secretary on receipt of notification to appear at the Final.

 

4. The Adjudicator will use the following marking scheme;

Acting 40   Production 35   Presentation 15  Dramatic Achievement  10  = 100

Marks will not be announced. Each play will receive a public adjudication

 

5.. Only the names of winners will be announced.

 

The following awards are available at the Ulster Drama Festival

 

THE PREMIER AWARD

to the Society presenting the Best Overall Presentation

THE AUSTIN STEWART AWARD

To the Society which is runner up to the Premier Award

THE BELFAST NEWSLETTER CUP

For Best Director

THE JAMES YOUNG GOLD AWARD

For the best performance by an actor

THE UTV HUBERT WILMOT AWARD

For the best performance by an actress

THE RICHARD COCHRANE AWARDS

For the best performance by an Actor and Actress in supporting roles

THE COLIN BLAKELY AWARD

For the most promising Young Player

THE FRIERS AWARD

For the society or individual responsible for the Best Decor

THE TERENCE KIRKWOOD AWARD

For best moment of theatre

THE ESSO CUP

For the society presenting the most ambitious play

SPECIAL AWARDS

To each society whose production reached the Ulster Drama Festival

 

6. The Adjudicator’s decision will be final

 

7. AUDF will endeavour to make a grant towards necessary expenses incurred by Societies competing in the Ulster Drama Festival.

 

Claims should be made on the form provided, with necessary receipts, and should show;

-           Royalty Paid

-           Travel expenses for cast and a maximum of ten persons on the stage team. Payment is based on the number of cars, four persons per car, and the return mileage between the Society’s headquarters and the Final venue, at the current rate.

-           Transport of set expenses.

 

8. A competing society must have personal accident insurance on all team members and evidence of such cover must be forthcoming.

 

9. In case of doubt or dispute as to the interpretation of these rules, or in matters not covered therein, the decision of the Association of Ulster Drama Festivals will be final.

 

Hon Secretary

Mr A G C Marshall

31 Shorelands

Greenisland

Carrickfergus

BT38 8FB

 

Tel (028) 9086 1234