In the second weekend of August, Ipswich Little Theatre will be celebrating another magnificent weekend of performances in the historic Incinerator Theatre. Our venue is a mainstay for the One Act Play Festival and we would love to have old and new creatives come and celebrate the wonder of theatre.
Our Adjudicator – Arthur Frame AM
Arthur Frame’s association with the Ipswich Little Theatre drama festival began when he pencilled for Joan Whalley OAM for her adjudication of our 14th annual festival in 1968. Subsequently he adjudicated our 30th and 60th anniversary festivals. It seems especially appropriate that he returns to adjudicate our 70th anniversary festival.
Arthur enjoyed a 50-year professional career in the Arts in Australia, working in radio, television, and extensively in theatre as an actor, director, artistic director, playwright, executive production manager, theatre manager, chief executive officer, administrator, and board director.
During his career he worked for the Macquarie Broadcasting Network in Far North Queensland and the radio drama department at the ABC, the Channel 9 Network (as Humphrey B. Bear), The National Theatre Company at The Playhouse in Perth Western Australia, Queensland Theatre Company, Queensland Arts Council, Arts Queensland, and co-created his own entrepreneurial company Frame and Kennett Promotions (which founded Brisbane’s Gallery Theatre). He was also Assistant Director of London’s Royal Court Theatre.
Throughout this Golden Age of the Arts in Australia, he played many pivotal roles in the entertainment industry, being acknowledged by the Australian Government in 2008 with his appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia.
Last year, Arthur launched his now multi-award-winning theatrical memoir, The Arts Juggler – The Right Place at the Right Time, here at The Incinerator Theatre. He chose this venue in grateful recognition of the nurturing role Ipswich Little Theatre played in launching his extraordinary professional career. As we celebrate the 70th anniversary of this unique drama festival, we are delighted to have Arthur back with us as our adjudicator.
What is a One Act Play Festival?
Each year, local theatres run a One-Act Play Festival. These host an average of 15 – 20 plays across intermediate or open sections, with a wide range of awards available to be won. Every Festival chooses an Adjudicator to judge the entries, with the awards session always a highly anticipated event. Theatres running the festival include Dalby, Beenleigh, Toowoomba, and Nanango. The festival runs from June to September. Groups from all around attend that theatre and perform different and exciting plays for their audiences.
For 70 years now, we have welcomed theatre groups from around the state and country to compete in our One Act Play Festival. On the weekend of 7th, 8th, 9th August 2026, Ipswich Little Theatre will once again host one of the longest-running festivals. We are proud that our Festival has a reputation of being one of the friendliest and best organised on the South East Queensland Theatre Festival circuit and hope to welcome you as an entrant or patron this year.