The tradition of a One Act Play Festival in the region goes back over 56 years. It is a competitive event that brings many amateur theatre groups from Canberra, the region, and other states to the host town.

Originally organised by the Wagga Wagga School of Arts and held in Wagga Wagga, the Festival has been held in Canberra for the past seven years. The Festival is a not for profit event and relies heavily on the support of local business and voluntary assistance from the Canberra theatrical community.

The Canberra Festival of One Act Plays 2009 is assisted by the ACT Government.

The importance of the Festival to the theatrical community is exemplified by the involvement of Federal MPs and media representatives as award presenters.