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.
This year’s adjudicator is the award-winning TV, film and theatre director, Bob Tomson GODA. Many of his productions have toured the UK or run in the West End, in fact all over the world and you have probably seen one of them. His production of Willy Russell’s ‘Blood Brothers’ has won every major British theatre award, recently completed a record 25-year run in London, and was nominated for three Olivier Awards. His other long running musical successes are ‘Scrooge’ and ‘Evita’. He is currently director for Ghost the Musical which is touring the UK this year! It is an honour to welcome him to this year’s County Drama Festival.
The winner of the 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 Taunton Thespians, The @2K Theatre Company, IES, Clevedon School, Mendip Players, MADS Youth Group, CUDOS Adult and Youth Group and D&M productions who are bringing a wide variety of plays to the festival.
The County Drama Festival 2025 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!
