Birmingham & District Theatre Guild
Birmingham’s Festival of Acting & Musical
Entertainment
To see the 2020 programme go to ‘When, where and How?
What is it?
The BFAME Festival is a one-act drama festival that takes place every year in February/March in
which amateur drama groups from around the area compete head-to-head.
Adult one-act entry form
Youth one-act entry form
It also includes an individual youth competition for singing, poetry, solo and duo acting. Click here
for more information about individual entries.
Entry forms for Individual entries: Click here
2019 Choice of Set poems Aged under 14 years of age
2019 Choice of Set poems Aged 14 - 18 years
It has been going for over 90 years, run by volunteers of the Birmingham & District Theatre Guild,
a registered charity.
The
aim
of
the
festival
is
to
enjoy
live
theatre,
benefit
and
perhaps
learn
from
the
experiences
of
a
qualified adjudicator and other, like-minded people and a means of progressing in the
All-England Theatre Festival, if you wish.
Recognized
as
a
first
round
of
the
All-England
Theatre
Festival,
at
least
one
winning
team
from
B.F.A.M.E.
becomes
eligible
to
go
forward
to
the
Western
Divisional
Quarter
Final
and
subsequent
rounds of the Competition with the prospect of ultimate progression to the
British Final.
The
Guild
is
also
a
member
of
the
National
Drama
Festivals
Association
who
normally
stage
an
annual
All-Winners
Festival
in
England
in
July,
the
winners
of
B.F.A.M.E.
can
be
considered
for
this Festival too.
Where, when and how?
Birmingham’s Festival of Acting & Musical Entertainment (BFAME)
We are delighted to be back
at Highbury Theatre Centre B73 5HD
23rd & 24th March
Tickets £8 Saturday £6 Sunday
or £10 for both sessions
Email:bdtg@btinternet.com
On Saturday 23rd March Starting at 6pm
the following four groups will be performing:
Added Impact
‘The Selfish Shellfish’
Tomorrow Productions
‘Save the World’
Oldbury Rep Company
‘The Art of Robbery’
Encore
‘Swansong’
On Sunday 24th March Starting at 2pm
the following group will be performing:
Drama 13
‘Handbags’
This play will be follwoed by
the presentation of awards.
It is with regret that
Total Arts Community Theatre
have had to withdraw from the festival
due to medical reasons
What you need to know
What are the restrictions?
Plays that cause offence may not be allowed to enter.
The performance must last at least 20 minutes and be no longer than 55 minutes.
Plays entering the All-England Theatre Festival must have at least 2 speaking parts.
The pros arch is only 16ft wide - stage plan
How long do we have to set up and strike our set?
You
have
10
minutes
to
set
and
5
minutes
to
strike
your
set.
These
times
are
in
addition
to
your
playing
time.
There
are
penalties
awarded
for
not
keeping
within
times
for
performance,
setting
and striking - see how marks are awarded under ‘The Adjudicator’
How do we sort out our technical requirements?
You
will
be
sent
a
technical
questionnaire
which
needs
to
be
completed
and
returned
to
the
BDTG
at
least
2
weeks
prior
to
the
festival.
Please
bear
in
mind
that
to
accommodate
all
performances,
the
lighting
has
to
be
set
up
prior
to
the
festival
starting,
therefore,
some
compromises
will
be
necessary.
Will we be able to operate lights and sound ourselves?
No
we
will
provide
a
lighting
technician
throughout
the
weekend
so
that
groups
not
familiar
with
the
lighting
desk
are
not
penalised.
You
may
operate
the
sound
yourself
if
you
wish.
Cuing
can
be
done either by standing behind the operator or via headsets from the stage.
Do we get any rehearsal time?
Very
little
-
you
will
be
allocated
30
minutes
on
the
morning
of
your
performance
to
do
your
get-in
finalise
your
technical
requirements.
During that time the group may use the stage as they wish.
Do we get our own dressing room?
Yes,
you
will
have
your
own
dressing
room,
those
performing
in
the
afternoon
may
need
to
vacate
the rooms immediately following the adjudication to make room for the evening groups .
Do the cast get complimentary tickets?
Yes,
a
complimentary
ticket
is
available
for
each
member
of
the
cast
up
to
a
maximum
of
8
for
adult
groups
and
16
for
youth
groups.
Up
to
four
members
of
each
technical
team
may
also
get
a
complimentary
ticket.
These
tickets
can
be
used
to
view
other
plays
in
the
same
session
and
to
listen
to
the
adjudication.
Additional
tickets
are
available
at
greatly
reduced
prices
for
participants
to buy for supporters to see their plays.
Who will the audience be?
The
audience
comprises
members
and
supporters
from
other
groups
together
with
members
of
the public who have been attracted by the festival pubicity.
You
are
encouraged
to
bring
your
own
supporters
and
watch
the
other
play(s)
in
your
session
and
the other sessions throughout the weekend.
When are the results announced?
The
winners
of
the
various
trophies
are
announced
and
presented
on
the
Sunday
along
with
winners
of
the
peripatetic
festival.
There
may
be
2
competitive
plays
prior
to
the
presentation.
To
secure
a
seat
tickets
should
be
booked
in
advance.
It
is
desirable
that
recipients
of
awards
are
in
the audience to collect their trophy. Trophies are held for one year.
The Adjudicator
In
2024
we
are
pleased
to
welcome
back
Paul
Fowler
as
our
adjudicator,
Paul
is
a
very
highly
respected member of the Guild of Drama Adjudicat
What does the adjudicator do?
After each session, or following each play,the adjudicator will give his public views of each of
theplays, giving a constructive comments of the various aspects of the performance, e.g. acting,
directing etc. judging them against strict criteria.
Following the public adjudication he will talk privately to each team
How are marks awarded?
There are four areas against which points are
awarded.
Points are removed for not keeping within the
running time allowed for the production or for setting
and striking
Acting
40 points
Production
35 points
Stage presentation
15 points
Dramatic achievement
10 points
Up to 1 min
1 point
Up to 2 mins
3 points
Up to 3 mins
6 points
Up to 4 mins
10 points
Up to 5 mins
15 points
Over 5 mins
disqualification
The Awards 2024 Winners
Adult or Youth Awards
The Apollo Shield:Stage one AETF winner: Encore with ‘Swansong’
Will Horton Cup:Stage one AETF runner-up: Not awarded
Bert Newton Trophy: Technical Achievement: Added Impact - ‘The Selfish Shellfish’
Adult Group Awards
Alexandra Theatre Trophy:Adult one-act group winner: Drama 13 - ‘Handbags’
Herringshaw Trophy:Most outstanding Male Performance: James Blackburn in Swansong
Noele Gordon Trophy:Most outstanding Female Performance: Susan Smtih in Handbags
Rose Bowl:Any outstanding achievement: Drama 13
Cedric Hardwicke Trophy:Best original play or script: Handbags by Matthew Gough
Joan Taylor Memorial Trophy: direction: Matthew Gough ‘Handbags’
Youth Group Awards
Sir Harry Jackson Shield:Youth one-act group winner: No entry
Leon Salberg Shield:Most outstanding Male Performance: Charlie Mason in the Selfish
Shellfish
Edyth Jones Shield:Most outstanding Female Performance: Lily Montgomery in The Selfish
Shellfish
Mabel Burrows Shield:Any outstanding achievement: Added Impact
Roy Pinsent Shield:Best original play or script: No entry
William D S Bennett Trophy:direction: No entry