The Far North Queensland 1 Act Play Festival has been operating in different
centres in the Far North for over 60 years. While the very first festival was held in
Cairns in 1957, the first time it was held in Atherton was in 1959 in ye faithful
Merriland Hall, where, it was reported in the Tablelander that 1,000 people
attended! In contrast we necessarily hold a very intimate event during the covid
crisis. However we are delighted to be operating again at this grass roots level.
This year we have a theme – “Theatre through Time”. While Friday evening’s
plays are of a general nature, the Saturday afternoon plays feature Theatre through
Time, with a particular emphasis on Shakespeare, culminating on Saturday
evening with the facilitators’ “Dramarama – the Theatre Time Machine” giving us
an appreciation of theatre through the ages. The workshops too revolve around the
evolving of theatre through time.

The plays presented over the weekend cover a wide array of topics from
myth and fantasy, through all kinds of adaptations of Shakespeare, the
extraordinary effects of food on the human psyche, stalking, horror –
mystery and self-determination. Most scripts are published. Some are not. Within
Tropical Arts’ Shakespearean extracts there is much creativity on display from local
writers/composers. The House is totally original and written by a local teenager.
And another script from a Kuranda lady is so new to us that it is presented as a
rehearsed reading. We hope you will be entertained by the varied presentations.
I know we will all be given food for thought when our Facilitator Arminelle
Fleming gives her constructive criticism and feedback on each play.
Most importantly the weekend is all about Thespians from the north sharing their
creativity and good will among themselves and the community. We appreciate
that the event has been made possible by a RADF Grant from TRC and the
Queensland Government