CALLING all budding amateur actors and actresses, the All England Theatre Festival will be looking for you in Christchurch at the Regent Centre on Saturday, June 8.

The event is the only nationwide eliminating contest for one act plays in performance.

The final of the festival will be staged in Christchurch at the Regent Centre on Saturday, June 8.

There are four groups in the English Final, at 2.30pm the Western Area finalists will compete against the Best Drama Group from the central area. Then at 7.30pm, the best groups from the Northern and Eastern areas will compete against each other.

Judging will take place on the evening and the outright winners of the English will progress to the British Finals in Londonderry in July, where they will compete against the winners from Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

The plays themselves are all original works and have not been published or performed at any other festival.

The identities of the authors are also kept anonymous until a final winner emerges at the British Final in Londonderry.

The Regent, which hosts a number of local groups at its theatre throughout the year and has its own in-house group, Regent Rep, is very proud to have been asked to hold the English Final of the All England Theatre Festival of One Act Plays 2013.

The Festival dates back to 1919 when the British Drama League was formed, and its aim is to provide an opportunity for amateurs to compete against like-minded groups with the aim of networking and improving drama standards in the UK.

Anyone who enjoys drama live on stage will want to catch the Festival at the Regent Centre in Christchurch on June 8 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.