The Hale One-Act Drama Festival is known as the "Friendly Festival" and has remained so over the years. The Festival has become one of the Festivals to enter in the North West.

When the Hale and District Arts Council was disbanded the Club Theatre took over as the benefactors of the Festival, in order to perpetuate the competition. As well as the extra-ordinary happy atmosphere that exudes during the activities of the week there is a sense of belonging and it can be said that acquaintances are made that last a life time. The fare on offer for the viewing public is mixed and very interesting and really not to be missed

The Hale One-Act Drama Festival has played host to many Societies over the years and they come from all over the district. These entries range from very local Societies to Societies from the Wirral, Mossley and Oldham. So why not come along and enjoy some quality performances by groups from all over the North West.

The Festival is competitive and each year the Adjudicator  watches each play and performers and then at the end of each night He/She gives their opinion of what they have seen. The culmination of the week is the final night when the final play has been seen and the summary has been delivered, the Adjudicator retires to deliberate on the winners of the awards. There is just as much atmosphere, tension, apprehension and expectation as any "Oscar" awards ceremony. The delight on the faces of the winners is plain to see. The determination of those not selected is obvious by the will to "return next year and try again".

The backstage staff, at any Festival, know they are in for a hard week but with the Hale Festival there is always a happy atmosphere. Picture the scene at 6pm, waiting for the societies to arrive with their settings....a group arrive and bring in a small chair and table and a few costumes and deliver a super performance with minimal set.....then you will find the next group will arrive with a furniture van and off-load a full house setting. The poor stage manager then tries to shoe-horn all the furniture and props backstage. Two societies offstage and one onstage at any one time. If two of the societies are Youth or Junior, they sometimes have the whole Drama School there, and suddenly you have forty or fifty in the dressing rooms. Not quite chaos, good behaviour abounds as there is discipline in the ranks. For all this behind the scenes the audience see a wonderful array of performances from all ages, on the stage. Performers who range from 5 years to 75 years old, if you can act, you can act, no matter what age you are.

Come along, join in and soak up the atmosphere, tickets are reasonably priced. All enquiries at the Theatre, 17 Oxford Road, Altrincham, Cheshire Tel 0161 928 1113. or email hale.festival@clubtheatre.org.uk