Festival Guidelines

One Act Play Festivals are organised and run independently of the VDL.
Any query about rules or management of the Festivals should be directed to the relevant organisers.

As a guide, most companies use variations of the following rules.
Please note that the VDL does not endorse nor prescribe these rules.

  • Running Time: Usually between 15 to 45-50 minutes per production
  • Number of characters: Check with the host company
  • “Bump in” time 10 minutes, “bump out” time 5 minutes
  • Royalties to be paid by the participant(s)
  • A copy of the script should be sent with the entry
  • Information about cast, play & company is usually sent to the organisers with the entry from for inclusion in the program
  • Entry fees vary from festival to festival

Note that festival dates occasionally overlap. It is our hope that festival organisers will avoid placing festivals on the same weekend as another.