The All-Ireland Drama Festival, known for sponsorship reasons as the "RTÃÂ All-Ireland Drama Festival", is an amateur theatre competition organised by the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland. It takes place in the Dean Crowe Theatre, Athlone, County Westmeath each May. Amateur drama groups from across the island are chosen from a long-list to present a production in the venue, and the best production is awarded the grand prize.
A fringe festival includes a short-film competition. A playwrighting competition for secondary school students is also included in the festival.
As part of the An Tóstal collection of festivals celebrating Irish culture, the festival began in 1953, and was staged in the General Textiles "Glenex"s Sportex hall. Principal sponsors have been Esso, from 1959 to 1999, Ericsson from 2000 to 2003, and Raidió TeilifÃÂs ÃÂireann from 2004.
The All-Ireland Confined Drama Finals is a related competition, in which theatre groups with less experience, resources or fewer members, who have not been chosen for the Athlone Festival compete. The finals are staged in a different venue year to year.
The All-Ireland One Act Festival Circuit features amateur one-act productions. It is organised by the Drama League of Ireland, in conjunction with the Amateur Drama Council.