The Isle of Man has a vibrant and varied entertainment scene. As part of this, the Manx Amateur Drama Federation (MADF) curates the Festivals of Full Length and One Act plays and the Young Actor of Mann competition.

As a local charity, our objectives are to bring these festivals to the stage and to promote the artistic talent of young people.

This would not be possible without the backing we receive from the Arts Council

We are also grateful for the publicity we get from Manx Radio through being part of their In Association progamme which aims to help local organisations promote their events.

The Easter Festival of Plays presents seven evenings of plays during Easter. The style and content of each is wide and varied.

Most of the entrants are from the UK, attracted by the island, the wonderful atmosphere in the Gaiety theatre and the camaraderie that has grown over many years.

The reputation of the festival has spread even wider with entries from Germany, Switzerland and Sweden.

The Young Actor of Mann competition has been supported by MADF for over 20 years. It attracts up to 25 aspiring performers, ranging in age from 13-19, who are required to perform two pieces of theatre, of which one can be a song. Finalists compete during the Easter Festival week for a valuable prize of £500, to help fund the winner with a summer theatre school of their choice. If you’re a young Manx resident and fancy having a go, or know someone who might like to, register for an entry form at [email protected].

The One Act Play Festival occurs in February with up to 12 plays performed over 4 evenings, with entries for both Adult and Youth sections.

This Festival provides an ideal opportunity for playwrights to produce their own plays in front of an audience.

These events are judged by a GoDA adjudicator, who gives both public and private feedback to the performers, which is an entertainment in itself!

Each festival is planned for in a variety of ways, which is where MADF comes in, run by volunteers who all have a keen interest in theatre. We cover front of house duties, meet and greet, back stage assistance, sourcing of props, PR, advertising and fund raising, to name but a few areas.

Drop us a line if you’d like to become involved with any of these events, or indeed our 70th celebration in the year 2020. Our email address is [email protected] or [email protected].

by Clare Austin

Chairman of the

Manx Amateur Dramatic Association