- THE East London Festival Of Theatre -

FESTIVAL RULES - WALTHAM FOREST FESTIVAL OF THEATRE 2010.

1. Each company must consist of a bona fide amateur drama group.
2. Teams competing for the youth entry are subject to the same marking system as all other teams and are eligible to go forward to the next round. Maximum age for the majority of participants in a youth entry is 18.
3. Any group wishing to take the option of proceeding, if chosen to do so, to Stage 2 of the All-England Theatre Festival must declare this wish on the entry form. No company can proceed, which has not elected to do so on first entering. Each company must enter the A-ETF through the local festival approved for its district. Except where special permission is given, no entry in any other Stage 1 festival shall be valid.
4. No company may go forward to Stage 2 of the A-ETF from more than one Stage 1 festival with the same play.
5. No individual shall perform in more than one entry if wishing to go forward to Stage 2.
6. Each entry must be at least 20 minutes in length but must not exceed 55 minutes in duration, including the time
spent changing a scene during the course of that performance. (But not including the specific times allowed for setting and striking the whole production.) Curtain calls are not encouraged.
7. Each entry must be set within the time limit of ten minutes and struck within five minutes. The penalties for not keeping within the allotted times for performance, setting or striking are as follows:
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
More than 5 minutes over or under time …….disqualification.

8. All plays should have no fewer than two speaking parts.
9. An original play is one that, on the last date for entries, has not been performed before an audience.
10. A copy of the play must accompany each entry and will be returned after the festival. No entry will be considered valid unless such a copy reaches the secretary by the closing date for entries.
11. Companies are responsible for obtaining permission for the performance of copyright plays and for paying any royalties. The licence should be shown to the stage manager no later than at the technical rehearsal.
12. All entries will be subject to the provisions of Theatres Act 1968. Entrants are deemed to have full knowledge of the act and the liabilities there under concerning obscene, seditious or libellous plays or those liable to incite racial hatred or a breach of the peace. Plays that could cause offence to an audience of mixed ages should be brought to the attention of the organisers at an early date to assist with scheduling.
13. Each company will be responsible for ensuring that any stage properties or scenery used in their play are fireproofed to comply with the required safety standards.
14. All companies must use the curtains provided but may bring such additional scenery as is considered essential to their production. Complete box sets (i.e. completely enclosed sets constructed of flats standing independent of, and unrelated to the curtain surround) are not permissible.
15. Companies must notify the stage manager (and statutory authority on the form provided) if their play requires unusual effects. i.e. naked lights, pistol shots, etc. If it is found necessary to place a limit on the proposals with regard to such effects, the companies will be notified by the organisers, whose decision must be final.
16. Companies taking part must ensure that their members do not enter or exit the theatre auditorium during the performances of the plays or adjudications.
17. In the case of youth entries there should be at least two chaperones for every ten children under the age of 16.
18. No part of the festival may be recorded, televised or filmed without the consent of the organisers and no mechanical record of the adjudication may be made without the consent of the adjudicator. The use of video cameras and photographic equipment in the theatre for the purpose of recording the plays is not permitted.
19. Any company may enter more than one team, but priority will be given to the first entry. If programme space allows, subsequent entries may be accepted at the discretion of the Festival Committee. Only entries received by the closing date will be accepted. Late entries may be accepted if space allows.
20. Any matters not specifically covered by these rules shall be decided by the organisers whose decision is final.
21. It must be understood that neither the organisers, Waltham Forest Borough Council or Waltham Forest Arts Council can be held responsible for any loss or damage to property or for any injury sustained by members of participating teams during the course of the rehearsal period or the festival period.