All posts by Vanessa

Lloyds Bank are backing young entrants in Drama competition

YAoM

Manx Amateur Drama Federation (MADF) are delighted to announce Lloyds Bank as the sponsors for our Young Actor of Mann. This competition has been running for over twenty five years and is now a biennial event open to island young people between the ages of 13  to 19. See the Young Actor of Mann page for more details with entries closing on January 13. The competition will take place at Ballakermeen High School’s Studio Theatre on Saturday 30 March. The adjudicator will be Chris Baglin an experienced member of the Guild of Drama Adjudicators (GoDA).

Matt Beresford Island Director (IOM) Head of Operations & Community Bank said he was delighted Lloyds Bank were sponsoring the Manx Amateur Drama Federation Young Actor of Mann award in 2024. The award is a real celebration of the islands emerging talent and we’re proud to play our part in supporting this brilliant initiative.

Chair of MADF Sharon Walker said this most prestigious event for young people was a marvellous opportunity to compete and possibly win the prize, which is a week at a Drama school in the UK. The partnership with Lloyds Bank is very exciting and helps our commitment to nurturing young talent on the island. Many of the past winners and participants of this competition have gone on to successful professional careers and have returned to become leading actors in our own theatre world on the island.

  • Michael Lees

Another opening another show or shows?

Easter Festival, MADF

Well the Manx Amateur Drama Federation (MADF) has started preparations for their festivals in 2024 and 2025!

The invitations to teams from the Island, British Isles and Ireland have gone out. Our first competition will be the The Young Actor of Mann (now biennial). This will be Saturday 30th March at Ballakermeen Studio, further information can be found on the event page. Entrants must be Isle of Man residents. Closing date for entries Saturday 13th Jan 2024.

The Easter Festival (which now incorporates the One Act and Full Length Play Festivals) has teams coming from the Island and British Isles. It commences on Saturday 30th March, running for 7 days from 7.30pm each evening at the Gaiety Theatre and runs until Friday 5th April. The deadline for entries is 1st December 2023. The Empress Hotel will be MADF Headquarters and green room each evening.

We’re pleased to announce the adjudicator for all events will be Chris Baglin GoDA (Guild of Drama Adjudicators). Chris is well known to audiences on the island having previously adjudicated the One Act Play Festival.

Social events will include a Coffee morning on Friday 1st March at Peel Centenary Centre, more details from the Friends of MADF later. The traditional Easter Monday lunch will be Monday 1st April at the Empress Hotel.

We are now eagerly awaiting the entries for all our festivals and will announce the entrants in January 2024.

Some advance news for our 2025 Easter festival which will be our 75th Anniversary is the ever popular Robert Meadows GoDA has accepted our invitation and the Gaiety Theatre has been booked from Saturday 19th April  through to Friday 25th.  We are in the process of planning our special anniversary year and more details  will be released in the New Year.

We are very grateful to the IOM Arts Council for their continued support and would welcome other sponsors for any of our events. If you know of any who might be interested please let me know at michaellees@manx.net.

Michael J Lees MADF President and PR Officer