The County Drama Festival is organised by the Somerset Fellowship of Drama (SFD) and is recognised as a Preliminary Round of the All-England Theatre Festival (AETF). It is for one act plays of between 20 to 55 minutes in length and involve at least two speaking roles. Every play is adjudicated publicly by a member of the Guild of Drama Adjudicators (GODA) and there are 11 trophies and shields to be won.
The winner of this preliminary round can opt to go forward and represent Somerset in the Semi-final of the AETF and in successive rounds to the English Final and eventually British Final. The Warehouse Theatre has been the host for this event for several years and this year we would like to welcome 9 different drama groups: Taunton Thespians, The @2K Theatre Company, IES, Clevedon School, MADS Youth Group, CUDOS - Adult and Youth Group, Weymouth Drama Group and Echoes. They are bringing a wide variety of plays to the festival from classic to modern, comedy to hard-hitting drama.
Our adjudicator is Chris Jaeger MBE, FRSA, B.Ed (Hons), GoDA. He is a highly experienced writer, musician, actor and director. For sixteen years he was the director of the Swan Theatre, Worcester and the Worcester Repertory Theatre Company based there. He runs a professional touring company called ‘On a Role’ and he has written and directed many successful plays. He is a senior member of the Guild of Drama Adjudicators (GoDA) and has twice been its chair. He adjudicates drama festivals all over Britain and has adjudicated many national finals. Last year he adjudicated the British Final in Litchfield. He is also the Chair of the National Drama Festival and Chair of Deaf Dance. He is a Fellow of the University of Worcester and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. In 2013 he was awarded the MBE for services to the Arts. It is a pleasure and honour to welcome him to this year’s County Drama Festival at the Warehouse Theatre in Ilminster.
The County Drama Festival 2026 promises to be the best one yet and a real celebration of local drama. Come and support friends, family and your local drama group. Don’t miss it!
Irene Glynn
County Drama Co-Ordinator for SFD
