Unfortunately, we have not been able to secure a venue for the 2025 drama festival, so for the first time in our 61 years history, apart from the Covid years, we will not be able to present Hertford Theatre Week this spring.
However, we are optimistic we will be back in 2026, so please, whether you are reading this as a potential audience member or part of a competing theatre group, keep an eye on our website when later in the year we hope to be able to publish more information about Hertford Theatre Week 2026.
After a successful 60th Hertford Theatre Week in 2023 we are pleased to have repeated that success in 2024 at the Ayckbourn Theatre in the splendid setting of the Haileybury College campus, just three miles from Hertford town centre.
A little later in the year than last year we were worried if that would affect our audience numbers, but those fears were unfounded as we played to effectively full houses all week, so a big thank you to all that supported us.
If you want to be sure not to miss any updates why not click or tap the button on the right and join our email list to be kept up to date with this, and other, Hertford Dramatic & Operatic Society productions? It only takes a moment, we don't send hundreds of emails, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Steve Onyon
Chairman
The festival was instigated when a small committee from Hertford Dramatic & Operatic Society, investigating the possibilities of further stimulating amateur drama, invited neighbouring societies and drama groups to perform one of their own productions under festival conditions. With rules agreed and sufficient support promised to ensure a full week's programme of six different plays, 1962 saw the first Hertford Theatre Week.
Sponsorship of the first ten years was provided by the directors of the Hertfordshire Mercury and County Press, the publishers of our local newspaper and supporters of local drama. Since 1972 Hertford Dramatic & Operatic Society has not only been the hosts and organisers but also the main sponsors.
In recent years the festival has been completely self-financing and, unlike many full-length play festivals which draw sponsorship from their local authority or commercial organisations, our only revenue comes from the Box Office sales.
Hertford Theatre Week is run by a team of unpaid volunteers from HD&OS, some of whom give up a week of their annual holiday to work on the competition, and whose only reward is their love of theatre and the satisfaction of being involved in what has become recognised as one of the leading full-length drama competitions in the country.
Since 1986 the Hertford competition has been affiliated to the National Drama Festivals Association and we are proud to say that in a number of past years, Hertford Theatre Week provided the winner of the NDFA National Drama Festival (formerly the British All-Winners Drama Festival).
More information on the NDFA can be found at www.NDFA.co.uk
The programme for 2006 featured 6 productions:
Comic Potential by Alan Ayckbourn, presented by The Barn Theatre, Welwyn Garden City
Ladies in Retirement by E Percy and R Denham, presented by Sawston Players, Cambridge
Closer by Patrick Marber, presented by OVO Theatre Club, Hitchin
The Woman in White by Constance Cox, presented by Cuffley Players, Cuffley, Herts
Chapter Two by Neil Simon, presented by Hoddesdon Players, Hoddesdon, Herts
Hannah and Hanna by John Retallack, presented by In Yer Space
If you would like receive information about Hertford Theatre Week and other Hertford Dramatic& Operatic Society forthcoming productions by email please click here to join our contact list.
Thank you.
Paul Fowler is absolutely delighted to have been asked to return to the Castle Hall to adjudicate Hertford Theatre week for a second time. Paul has been involved in the amateur theatre all his adult life, spending over 30 years as an actor, director and stage manager, company committee member, chairman and festival organiser.
Read more »