The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company is supporting local charity, the Manx Amateur Drama Federation (MADF), with its 2022 Easter Festival of Full Length Plays.
The Easter Festival of Full Length Plays will see amateur dramatic groups from across the UK and the Isle of Man come together to perform six full-length plays at the Gaiety Theatre throughout the Easter week. The six groups will compete for the best play and performance of the week and will be judged by leading independent UK adjudicator, Jan Palmer Sayer. Audience members attending the full week’s performances are also entitled to cast a vote.
The Festival, which was first started in 1950, has welcomed hundreds of visiting groups from across Europe and the UK over its 72-year history, and looks to foster and celebrate amateur theatre. MADF, which was formed in the 1940’s, promotes live theatre and is open to all amateur drama, operatic, musical and play groups in the Isle of Man. The charity also provides acting, stage management and technical theatre training to its members.
The Isle of Man Steam Packet will be supporting the event by subsidising the travel expenses of those groups travelling from the UK to take part in the Festival.
Brian Thomson, Managing Director of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, said: ‘The Steam Packet Company is thrilled to support MADF with its Easter Festival of Full Length Plays. This is a wonderful opportunity for residents, and visitors alike, to watch some outstanding local and UK acting talent in the beautiful setting of the Gaiety Theatre. With a wide range of plays to watch, there is something for everyone. We are delighted to be supporting this iconic event, which celebrates local theatre and the art of storytelling.’
Michael Lees, President of the MADF, added: ‘MADF would like to thank the Isle of Man Steam Packet for its support in helping us to bring across the UK teams taking part in our Easter Festival of Full Length Plays. This Festival is a wonderful addition to an already diverse and exciting Isle of Man events calendar and attracts many visitors from the UK and beyond.
‘This is a great opportunity for the public to watch a variety of live theatre performances and plays spanning a huge range of genres, all within the space of a week – an opportunity that doesn’t come along too often. Several ticket options are available, including single performance and weekly season tickets.’
To find out more about MADF and its work, visit: www.madf.im. To purchase tickets for The Easter Festival of Full Length Plays, taking place between the 17th and 22nd April, visit: www.villagaiety.com/easterfestival.