In an ideal world, this weekend would have seen many teams of actors travel to the island to take part in the Easter Festival of Plays.

Organised by the Manx Amateur Drama Federation, the festival regularly features amateur dramatic groups from around the UK and Ireland who perform full-length plays at the Gaiety Theatre over seven nights.

On top of the Easter Festival, the island was also set to host the nation-wide All Winners ’ Festival later in the summer.

Various winning teams from regional competitions were set to gather together in July to take part in the competition, held in the island this year to help the Manx Amateur Drama Federation celebrate its 70th anniversary.

Federation president Michael Lees said that he and his fellow organisers were left with no choice but to cancel the Easter Festival, but he hoped that next year would see the teams return to the island.

’It became very apparent early on that we’d have no choice but to cancel the Easter Festival,’ said Michael.

’There was so much time given up to the festival by volunteers who had helped to plan and organise the event.

’But obviously the main thing is that everybody, from the actors to our audiences and everybody else here is safe.

’If nothing else, this year has made us more determined to comeback next year.

’I think, by then, that the audiences will have been starved of entertainment and people will be very keen to help and support festival like this.’

There was one drama festival organised by the Federation that managed to go ahead, in the weekend before the restrictions were announced.

The One Act Play took place at the beginning of March and saw five local groups perform 10 plays at the Erin Arts CEntre.

The Service Players were the festival’s main winners, taking home eight of the 16 awards on offer, including best play, actor and director for the play ’Melody’.