The Enniskillen Annual Drama Festival is a nine night amateur drama festival staged annually in the Ardhowen Theatre each spring since 1980.  It is affiliated to the ADCI (Amateur Drama Council of Ireland) and the AUDF (Association of Ulster Drama Festivals).  It was founded by a small group of local drama enthusiasts to celebrate the best of amateur drama, to foster and encourage excellence in amateur production and to bring a varied range of dramatic productions to as wide an audience as possible.

 

The original committee in 1980 was formed out of the two amateur drama groups in the Enniskillen area at that time; Enniskillen Amateur Drama Society and St Michael's Drama Society and the first five festivals were held in the assembly hall of Fermanagh College of Further Education.  The popularity of the festival and its ability to attract impressive audiences went some way to assisting the local council to successfully lobby for the funds to build the Ardhowen Theatre which was officially opened in 1986 by the playwright Brian Friel.

 

With the constant support of Fermanagh & Omagh District Council (Formally Fermanagh District Council) and local businesses, the Festival has continued to flourish and to become one of the foremost festivals on the island.

 

The Enniskillen Drama Festival nominates to both the AUDF Ulster Drama Finals and the ADCI All-Ireland Drama Finals which are traditionally held each year in Athlone and are currently sponsored by RTÉ. In addition the festival also nominates to the All-Ireland Confined Finals.