CAMBRIDGE DRAMA FESTIVAL 2012

17th to 21st  April – the Mumford Theatre, East Road, Cambridge

in association with the All-England Theatre Festival

 RULES AND GENERAL INFORMATION

AWARDS

* First Trophy

* Second Trophy

* Third Trophy

* Best Actor Cup

* Best Actress Miriam Rundle Memorial Cup

* Best Cameo Performance Marjorie Ticehurst Memorial Salver

* Best Junior Group Trophy (Age limit - 18 years or under on

day of performance.)

* Best actor 18 or under Angela Lewsey Award

* Best actress 18 or under Stagefright Award

* Adjudicator’s Award Trophy

* Backstage Award Cadbury Schweppes Trophy

(Awarded by the Festival’s technical team)

* Best Stage Presentation Pye & Philips Trophy

* Best Original Play Cup (See notes below)

* Lighting Roland Carter Award

* Costume Mary Penson Memorial Trophy

* Sound Radio Cambridgeshire Cup

* Audience Appreciation Award Rodney Salver

Please read the following information carefully, paying particular attention to your

obligations regarding COPYRIGHT.

PRIZES

1. All trophies won at the 2011 festival must be returned to Rosemary Eason, 22, Trinity

Close, Balsham, Cambridge, CB21 6DW (01223 893859) – rosemary.eason@talktalk.net or

Tricia Peroni, 38, Hicks Lane, Girton, Cambridge CB3 OJS (01223 697988) –

trishperoni@hotmail.com by Monday 2nd April

2. The cups and trophies awarded in the various categories shown above will be presented at

a ceremony following the final adjudication on Saturday night, 21st April.

All competing teams must arrange for one of their number to attend this ceremony or to

nominate a representative who will be present at that time.

ENTRIES

1. Each company taking part must consist of members of a bona fide amateur group and all

performers must be amateurs i.e. must act (without payment) only in their leisure time.

2. Cambridge Drama Festival is a Preliminary Festival of the All-England Theatre Festival.

Copies of the AETF rules are available on the AETF website: www.aetf.org.uk

3. Technical and Programme details should be sent to the appropriate committee member by

Monday, 12th March. - more details later. However, if you are entering Cambridge for the first

time, and would like to see the theatre before this date, our technical team can arrange this for

you.

THE PERFORMANCE

1. The work offered by a competing company must be either (a) a one-act play,

(b) an extract from a longer play, or (c) some other form of theatrical performance.

It must also have a minimum of two speaking parts; monologues are not acceptable

2. Companies offering a new play should note that the New Play Award will be given to the

author of the best play performed at the festival that, on the closing date of entry, (a) is

unpublished, (b) has not been performed professionally and (c) has not won a New Play Award in

any competition.

3. Each entry must be at least 20 minutes in length but must not exceed the time limit of 55

minutes. It is important that companies should accurately describe the length of their play when

submitting their entries so that we can organise the programme appropriately.

4. 10 minutes will be allowed for setting and 5 minutes for striking the setting for each

entry. The Festival Stage Manager will check that teams are ready to begin.

5. The penalties for not keeping within the allotted times are:

Up to 1 minute over or under time 1 mark

Up to 2 minutes over or under time 3 marks

Up to 3 minutes over or under time 6 marks

Up to 4 minutes over or under time 10 marks

Up to 5 minutes over or under time 15 marks

5 minutes over or under time Disqualification

6. Companies should note that RULE 5 will be strictly enforced by an official time-keeper.

The Festival Stage Manager’s decision on this and all other backstage matters will be final.

7. COPYRIGHT: If an entry is copyright, it is the responsibility of the company to see

that the author’s permission is obtained for the performance and that any royalty fees have

been paid in advance. It is also the responsibility of the company to obtain appropriate

permission for the use of music and effects in the performance. Documentary evidence of

the payment of the appropriate permission, royalties or fees MUST be presented to the

Festival Stage Manager prior to the performance.

8. The play performed must be as submitted. Any significant changes to the script must be

received by the Festival secretary no later than 3 weeks prior to the opening of the Festival,

accompanied by the written permission of the author where relevant.

9. SEATING IN THE AUDITORIUM: Cast, and named members of the back-stage crew

up to a maximum of 6 will be given passes for seats in the auditorium (subject to availability).

For general supporters, tickets are available from the Festival Box Office.

PRESENTATION

1. The Mumford Theatre’s Technical Director will be in control of the switchboard and

lighting equipment under the direction of each competing company.

2. The Technical Director must be informed of the music and sound effects to be used, and

any sound reproduction equipment which a competing company may wish to use must have the

Technical Director’s approval.

3. Stage effects which present a fire hazard will not be allowed. Effects such as smoking or

the firing of guns may, in certain circumstances be allowed, provided permission has been sought

and obtained from the Fire Officer. The Technical Director, will be happy to discuss effects with

teams at the time of submitting technical details.

4. The Technical Director must be informed if live animals are to be used as the theatre is

required to obtain a licence.

5. Neither the Festival performance nor the adjudication may be recorded on sound or video

tape, filmed or photographed.

FINANCE

1. An Entrance Fee of £30.00 must be forwarded with each entry, non-returnable after the

entry has been accepted.

2. An additional fee of £30.00 is payable by all companies wishing to receive a written

adjudication. This is the fee requested by the Adjudicator.

3. An additional fee of £5.00 is payable by all entrants wishing to be considered for selection

to the next round of the All England Theatre Festival.

ADJUDICATION

1. The Adjudicator will deliver a public adjudication of each entry at the end of each

evening and will decide on the winners of the trophies at the end of the festival.

2. The adjudicator will use the following system of marking: Acting 40 marks, Production

35 marks, Stage Presentation 15 marks, Endeavour, Originality and Attainment 10 marks.

3. The adjudicator’s decision is final.

4. The adjudicator will identify one company to proceed to the next round of the All-

England competition by selecting the highest-marked eligible entry receiving 75 marks or more.

GENERAL

1. INSURANCE: Neither the Festival Committee nor Anglia Ruskin University (The

Mumford Theatre) hold themselves responsible for any liability for injury to persons or for loss

or damage to property. Companies are advised to take out their own Third Party cover.

2. On all matters relating to the Festival, the committee’s decision is final.

CLOSING DATE

Entry forms, together with fees and a copy of the play, must be forwarded to:

Jeannie Green (Secretary for the 2012 Cambridge Drama Festival)

265, Hinton Way

Gt. Shelford

Cambs

CB22 5AN

jeannie@madasafish.com

to arrive no later than Saturday 31st December 2011

Successful entrants will be notified in mid- February.

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