The All England Theatre Festival (AETF), now in its eighth decade, is the only countrywide, competitive festival of one-act drama in England.

AETF's twenty-nine countrywide competitive drama festivals in 2023 lead up to this English Final when four teams perform in front of well-known adjudicator, Jan Palmer-Sayer GoDA, to see who will travel over to The Mac Theatre, Belfast to compete in the British Final.

The contestants vary from well-known companies presenting classics to small itinerant groups who are premiering the works of new playwrights. Each year is full of surprises: comedies, farces, thought-provoking dramas, fantasies, psychological thrillers, physical theatre. You name it, companies will tackle it.

Sometimes there will be two experienced actors on stage, sometimes the stage will teem with hordes of talented young people. You never know.

The programme for this Afternoon Final will be published here once confirmed.

If you buy tickets for both the Afternoon and Evening Finals the price will automatically discount to £20 for both sessions.