There was a lot in store for you at this year's festival: our 50th!
For 2025, our 50th festival, we built upon what worked in previous years and we also listened and acted upon feedback from our NDFA-affiliated festivals, and comments fed back to us here at the NDFA by you.
So you could see what was on offer, we put everything into the Running Order page.
ARTRIX Bromsgrove
For the first time the National Drama Festival was held at ARTRIX Bromsgrove – a wonderful theatre in Worcestershire, England.
The auditorium seats 300 people, so there was plenty of room to relax, excellent back-stage facilities, and a purpose-built Studio.
ARTRIX Bromsgrove
This year the National Drama Festival was at ARTRIX Bromsgrove – a wonderful theatre in Worcestershire, England.
The auditorium seats 300 people, there was plenty of room to relax, excellent back-stage facilities, and a purpose-built Studio.
The Play Sessions
There were 13 plays performing over six sessions: 12 one-act plays and one full-length play. They came from The Netherlands, Guernsey, The Isle of Man, England and Scotland and were all competing for various awards. Yes, we re-instated traditional awards this year. The feedback from last year was mixed, but went in favour of the traditional format. Some of the awards weren’t applicable for the one full-length play for obvious reasons.
The Play Sessions
There were 13 plays performing over six sessions: 12 one-act plays and one full-length play. They came from The Netherlands, Guernsey, The Isle of Man, England and Scotland and were all competing for various awards. Yes, we re-instated traditional awards this year. The feedback from last year was mixed, but went in favour of the traditional format. Some of the awards weren’t applicable for the one full-length play for obvious reasons.
The Studio Spotlights
These are always popular so we added more. Take a look at them here.
They ran in the mornings and afternoons and offered insights into script writing, puppetry, rehearsal techniques, community drama and you had the opportunity to see a performance of ‘Shelter’ by Jenny Derbyshire, the winner of the Derek Jacobi Playwriting Competition who has received a publishing deal with Stagescripts and £250.
The Studio Spotlights
These are always popular so we added more. Take a look at them here.
They ran in the mornings and afternoons and offered insights into scriptwriting, puppetry, rehearsal techniques, community drama and the opportunity to see a performance of ‘Shelter’ by Jenny Derbyshire, the winner of the Derek Jacobi Playwriting Competition who received a publishing deal with Stagescripts and £250.
The Feedback Forums
We trialed these last year and they were very well-received. They were moderated sessions led by our GoDA Adjudicator – Tristan Marshall – which took place the morning after, where we all discussed the plays the day before and got to quiz the various directors on how they did what they did.
It’s a natural way of digging deeper and learning from each other.
The Feedback Forums
These were moderated sessions led by our GoDA Adjudicator – Tristan Marshall – which took place the morning after, where we all discussed the plays the day before and got to quiz the various directors on how they did what they did.
It’s a natural way of digging deeper and learning from each other.
Eat and Chill
On top of all that there was food to buy during the breaks for you to eat inside or outside depending on the weather, and lounge in the wonderful ARTRIX foyer to re-charge. Plus we teamed up with Casa Med Tapas in Bromsgrove High Street to give you 20% off. (Ts and Cs apply)
Eat and Chill
On top of all that there was food during the breaks so you could tuck into a variety of food in between sessions, and lounge in the wonderful ARTRIX foyer to re-charge. Plus we teamed up with Casa Med Tapas in Bromsgrove High Street to give you 20% off. (Ts and Cs apply)
Thank you
Thank you NODA and Concord Theatricals for being such wonderful partners, without whom this festival would not have be possible.
Their sponsorship has enabled us to offer travel grants to participating groups and keep our ticket prices very low. Thank you.
We look forward to seeing you there.
The National Drama Festivals Association team
Thank you
Thank you NODA and Concord Theatricals for having being such wonderful partners, without whom this festival would not have been possible.
Their sponsorship enabled us to offer travel grants to participating groups and keep our ticket prices very low. Thank you.
We look forward to seeing you there.
The National Drama Festivals Association team
