One Act Festival 2026

Festival Award Winners & Nominees

The Manx Amateur Drama Federation’s 2026 One Act Festival, held at the Erin Arts Centre, has come to a close – a fantastic celebration of local theatre talent.

On Saturday 14 March, we proudly presented this year’s awards. Congratulations to all nominees and winners for an exceptional festival.

Awards

Best Newcomer – Walker Family Award

Winner: Me, My Monsters and I – Stage Door Academy

Best Use of Sound & Lighting – Sure Mobile Award

Winner: Lockdown – Elite Theatre Arts
Nominations:

  • Little Dolls – High Horse Productions
  • Theodora – Starling Crew

Best Comedic Moment – Daphne Clark Memorial Trophy

Winner: Roast Dinner – Service Players
Nominations:

  • Janet and John – Service Players
  • Theodora – Starling Crew
  • A Matter of Husbands – Cobbled Heights

Best Dramatic Moment – Nadine Talbot Award

Winner: Janet and John – Service Players
Nominations:

  • Parallels – Rushen Players
  • Theodora – Starling Crew
  • Little Dolls – High Horse Productions
  • Lockdown – Elite Theatre Arts
  • Blood of the Lamb – Rushen Players

Best Youth Actress – Olga Gray Award

Winner: Daisy Maddocks – In Juliet’s Garden (Stage One Drama)
Nominations:

  • Emily Furner – Me, My Monsters and I – Stage Door Academy
  • Eva Macaulay – Lockdown – Elite Theatre Arts
  • Maddie Wood – In Juliet’s Garden – Stage One Drama

Best Actor – Mark Clift Trophy

Winner: Thomas Iain Dixon – Theodora – Starling Crew
Nominations:

  • Steve Blower – Parallels – Rushen Players
  • Bernard Wood – Janet and John – Service Players
  • Tom Cain – Roast Dinner – Service Players
  • Toby Smith – Roast Dinner – Service Players

Best Youth Actor – Stan Woollock Trophy

Winner: Oran Molloy – Lockdown – Elite Theatre Arts
Nominations:

  • Flynn Gartside – Lockdown – Elite Theatre Arts

Best Actress – Jean C Webb Award

Winner: Ailsa Harrop – Blood of the Lamb – Rushen Players
Nominations:

  • Rachel Martin – Janet and John – Service Players
  • Gemma Varnon – Theodora – Starling Crew
  • Megan Hills – Little Dolls – High Horse Productions
  • Lisa Smith – Roast Dinner – Service Players
  • Kim Childs – Roast Dinner – Service Players
  • Laura Jones – A Matter of Husbands – Cobbled Heights
  • Robin Hughes – Blood of the Lamb – Rushen Players

Best Director (Youth Plays) – John Bowring Trophy

Winner: Jacqui Hawkes – Stage One Drama

Best Director (Festival) – Caine Family Trophy

Winner: Sarah Lockyer – Blood of the Lamb – Rushen Players

Best Youth Play – Cyril Spencer Trophy

Winner: In Juliet’s Garden – Stage One Drama

Runner-Up Best Play – Service Players & Caine Family Prize

Winner: Roast Dinner – Service Players

Best Play – Northern Arts Rose Bowl

Winner: Blood of the Lamb – Rushen Players

Our Thanks

A heartfelt thank you to our GODA Adjudicator, Sue Doherty, whose expertise, insight, and engaging anecdotes enriched the festival throughout the week.

For details of the prizes, please see the Awards

MADF is delighted to welcome back to EAC their 2026 Festival of One Act Plays, adjudicated by hugely popular Sue Doherty (GODA). 

Presenting Drama and Comedy from renowned playwrights and featuring four original pieces of writing from Island authors. Enjoy 4 nights of thought-provoking entertainment provided by talented actors and directors from across the Island. Sue Doherty will give an enlightening adjudication about the plays and the performances after the final play each evening.

Wednesday 11 March, from 7pm:

Service Players: Janet and John by Michael Pearcy

Janet and John have been married a long time, but she has no idea what announcement he might have in store for her. She only knows that it’s unheard for him to give up his Friday night at the railway society to take her out to dinner. Why?

Rushen Players: Parallels by Wood and Kinley

A married couple, both architects, go for counselling when their marriage is in trouble. Their experiences stir up troubling memories in the therapist of his mother’s alcoholism. Warning: Strong language.

Starling Crew: Theodora by Gemma Varnom

Asteroid ‘Theodora’ is on an unstoppable, apocalyptic collision course with Earth, and every soul on the planet must choose how to spend the precious few hours that remain. Mia is resigned to a night alone with her favourite music, a bottle of tequila and a top-tier cheeseboard, when ex-boyfriend Danny comes crashing back into her life. With impact fast approaching, Mia and Danny must decide what truly matters when there are no more chances… and no more consequences.

Thursday 12 March, from 7pm:

High Horse Productions: Little Dolls by Nancy Harris

Vicky seeks counselling from John to overcome her intense fear of darkness. But what if there really is some truth in her anxiety, and what if the darkness really is a disease? Warning: references to mental illness. 

Underwood Productions: Bus 404 by Alessandro Mazzota

A normal tour guide takes a small batch of what seem to be tourists around the beautiful Isle of Man. One moment in time and one change of thought creates a devastating turn of events that changes the lives of everyone on board Bus 404.Warning: reference to sexual assault and violence.

Service Players: Roast Dinner by Lisa Smith

Carrie and Ben are in love but they have an unusual relationship with unique challenges. Mum is a big help though, as is friend Karl, and everyone can agree that roast dinner is the best part of life – what can’t be fixed over a steaming gravy jug?

Friday 13 March, from 7pm (Youth Plays):

Stage Door Academy: Me, My Monsters and I by Grey Pratt

This is a children’s play dealing with loss and feelings.  The ‘KID’ is confronted by their emotions ‘ANXIETY’, ‘JUDGEMENT’, ‘FAILURE’, CHANGE’, ‘ENVY’, ‘PAIN’, ‘DEPRESSION’ and ‘LOSS’ after the death of their sister in a car accident.  The kid works with the emotions to deal with what has happened.

Elite Theatre Arts: Lockdown by Douglas Craven

Eight students sit in a dark classroom, not knowing if the lockdown that has been announced is a drill or a real emergency. When their teachers leaves, should they stay where they are or run? Warning: reference to violence.

Stage One Drama: In Juliet’s Garden by Judy Elliot McDonald

Juliet invites four other Shakespearean heroines to lunch. They discuss the issues they all have with their plots. Juliet’s Nurse and Shakespeare’s agent attempt to settle matters.

Saturday 14 March, from 7pm:

Cobbled Heights: Matter of Husbands by Ferenc Molnar

A young wife believes her husband is in love with a famous actress. The actress uses her charm and quick thinking to convince the wife that it is all a misunderstanding. The play ends with a twist, leaving the truth a mystery.

Rushen Players: The Blood of the Lamb by Arlene Hutton

A heartfelt look at two women navigating the vagaries of the law which requires a dead foetus to be carried to term as an unborn ‘citizen’ of the state of Texas.Warning: reference to child loss and abortion.