B.C.Drama Festival
It is with regret that we have postponed the 2021 festival due to Covid-19 uncertainty and insignificant funds to allow us to run. We are planning a number of fund rasing events to help get the festival back on its feet for September 2022, we look forward to seeing you all then
Entry & Info
Here you will find this year entry pack for the Drama Festival
Read MoreAbout the BCDF
The Festival was originally staged in Ilford for church youth clubs in the Diocese of Brentwood moving to St Edward's Church Hall in Romford when it was taken over by Cyril Dennis, to save it from closing down. He successfully ran it with the support of a dedicated and passionate team of volunteers until his death in 2004. He also wrote plays for several groups.
After Cyril's death his son Mike Dennis, took up the reins and carried on until his untimely death in 2006. Festivals like ours are becoming fewer and much gratitude is owed to the team for continuing their hard work and efforts to keep this unique festival running. Some group members have passed on the Drama "bug" to their children, with two families having had three generations represented over the years, making this festival something of a family tradition.
Over the years we have held the Festival at Romford Technical School, the Sacred Heart School in Upminster and the Havering 6th Form College in Hornchurch, finally coming home to Brentwood in 2009. We have also always been very fortunate to have had the expert advice and encouragement of many excellent adjudicators several of whom have 'cut their teeth' at our Festival.
The Team
Miss S White
President
Mr G Catlin
Festival Treasurer / Sound Technician
Mr N Gray
Festival Secretary / Festival Co-Ordinator
Miss J Gower
Stage Manager / Festival Co-Ordinator
Mrs E Catlin
Marketing / Festival Co-Ordinator
Annual Drama Festival
Annual Drama Festival
The Brentwood Catholic Theatre Club have been organising the annual competitive one act drama festival since 1948. This means we have now been running for over 70 years, possibly makes it one of the longest running one act drama festivals' in the UK. In recent years we have changed our name to the BC Drama Festival as we not associated with Catholic church or the Brentwood Diocese since the 1990's. We felt this change would make us more appealing to groups. We also think that it is one of the friendliest and we welcome old friends, new participants and young performers. Although originally only groups from within the Brentwood Diocese were allowed to enter, the competition is now open to any drama group or theatre company from anywhere in the UK.
This years ticket cost we have managed to hold for the eight year at:
Adult Ticket £10.00
Concession Ticket £7.50
Family Ticket (2 Adults, 2 concessions) is just £25.00
Standard Season Ticket (All 5 Sessions at the cost of 4) £40.00
Concession Season Ticket (All 5 Sessions at the cost of 4) £30.00
Tickets will be on sale shortly, please check our site for updates.
Performance start at 7.30pm each evening, with the Saturday matinee (Youth Section) starting at 2.30pm then the adult and awards from 7:00pm. Depending on the number of groups who enter will dictate which evening we start the run from. Usually it has started on a Thursday however we have started on a Wednesday evening. We will keep people updated via our site, social media and the theatre.
It is great fun to watch and a great learning opportunity both for participating groups as well as students of drama and theatre studies and as many of the top local theatre companies have entered this should be another Festival to remember.
The Brentwood Catholic Theatre Club have been organising the annual competitive one act drama festival since 1948. This means we have now been running for over 70 years, possibly makes it one of the longest running one act drama festivals' in the UK. In recent years we have changed our name to the BC Drama Festival as we not associated with Catholic church or the Brentwood Diocese since the 1990's. We felt this change would make us more appealing to groups. We also think that it is one of the friendliest and we welcome old friends, new participants and young performers. Although originally only groups from within the Brentwood Diocese were allowed to enter, the competition is now open to any drama group or theatre company from anywhere in the UK.
This years ticket cost we have managed to hold for the eight year at:
Adult Ticket £10.00
Concession Ticket £7.50
Family Ticket (2 Adults, 2 concessions) is just £25.00
Standard Season Ticket (All 5 Sessions at the cost of 4) £40.00
Concession Season Ticket (All 5 Sessions at the cost of 4) £30.00
Tickets will be on sale shortly, please check our site for updates.
Performance start at 7.30pm each evening, with the Saturday matinee (Youth Section) starting at 2.30pm then the adult and awards from 7:00pm. Depending on the number of groups who enter will dictate which evening we start the run from. Usually it has started on a Thursday however we have started on a Wednesday evening. We will keep people updated via our site, social media and the theatre.
It is great fun to watch and a great learning opportunity both for participating groups as well as students of drama and theatre studies and as many of the top local theatre companies have entered this should be another Festival to remember.
The Awards
The list below shows the various Awards that the groups, who enter the festival, could be presented with.
Festival Shield - Senior Winning Team
Best Director Award
Mary Dennis Memorial Cup - Best Actor
John Scowen Memorial Cup - Best Director
Daniel Penfilled Award - Best Actress
Joan Ross Award - Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Ensemble Award
Stage Presentation
Maurice McLoughlin Trophy - Youth Winning Team
Original Play
Costume Award
Glynne Award - Best Ensemble
Cyril Dennis Award Spirit of the Festival - Group or Individual
David Hamilton Award - Best Backstage Team
Michael Dennis Adjudicators Award - Anyone Involoved in the Festival
Enterprise Award
Angie Marshall Award - For up and coming talent up to the age of 25
6 Medallions of Merit - Youth Group or Individual
1 Medallion of Special Merit - Youth Group or Individual
Youth teams also have Medallions of Merit awards
Festival Shield - Senior Winning Team
Best Director Award
Mary Dennis Memorial Cup - Best Actor
John Scowen Memorial Cup - Best Director
Daniel Penfilled Award - Best Actress
Joan Ross Award - Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Ensemble Award
Stage Presentation
Maurice McLoughlin Trophy - Youth Winning Team
Original Play
Costume Award
Glynne Award - Best Ensemble
Cyril Dennis Award Spirit of the Festival - Group or Individual
David Hamilton Award - Best Backstage Team
Michael Dennis Adjudicators Award - Anyone Involoved in the Festival
Enterprise Award
Angie Marshall Award - For up and coming talent up to the age of 25
6 Medallions of Merit - Youth Group or Individual
1 Medallion of Special Merit - Youth Group or Individual
Youth teams also have Medallions of Merit awards
Sponsors & Supporters
Alban Gould Baker & Co Solicitors
"Alban Gould, Baker & Co., Solicitors and Notary Public, are pleased to sponsor the BCDF and wish all performers "break a leg""
Learn MorePeter H Baker Notary Public
"I love theatre and offer my full support to this wonderful festival"
Learn MoreShows / Events / Fundraisers
Past Events
| Title | Date | Day | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| BC Drama Festival | 23 Sep 2020 | Wednesday | 15 Shenfield Road, Brentwood, UK |
| BC Drama Festival Treasure Hunt | 29 May 2020 | Friday | |
| BC Drama Festival Quiz Night | 28 Mar 2020 | Saturday | South Weald Parish Hall |