The All-England Theatre Festival ("AETF") organises the only countrywide eliminating contest for one-act plays in performance throughout England.

It provides an opportunity for Amateurs to compete against like-minded groups and to benefit from the adjudication they receive to improve the quality of their performance.

[1] The history of the All-England Theatre Festival dates back to 1919, when the British Drama League was formed.

In 1926 professionals were expressing concern that the rapid growth of amateur drama was likely to cause problems with too many people trying to enter an already overcrowded profession.

This interest had started a British 'Festival of Community Drama' which was used to find an entry for the American New York Little Theatre Tournament.

Other aspects of the league's work included the making of a substantial contribution to the Stratford-on-Avon Memorial Theatre, visits to Europe to help establish Festivals and the organisation of summer schools.

In 1938 the final of the National Festival was held outside London for the first time following the invitation of the Scottish Community Drama Association.

Until 1957 the organisation of subsequent annual Finals continued to be run by the British Drama League and eventually became the remit of the All England Theatre Festival.

The winning team is then eligible to represent Shropshire in succeeding rounds of the knockout competition which culminates in the British Final in June.