The speech and drama section comprises two parts; dramatic skills and the spoken word. Most classes are divided into age categories so competitors will be performing with people of a similar age. Novice classes are specifically aimed at entrants who have never performed in that particular class before.
There is a variety of verse speaking classes available including
- an own choice favourite poem,
- sonnet speaking,
- comedy poem,
- any choice of poem by a specified author,
- a recent addition is any poem on the subject of ‘Heroes’ – poetry that deals with the heroic in any form.
- For the younger entrants there is an own choice of two nursery rhymes to be memorised and spoken.
Prose is well represented with
- an own choice comedy prose piece,
- any choice of prepared prose reading from a specified author’s novels,
The beautiful prose of the King James Version of the Bible can be explored and enjoyed in two bible and prayer book reading classes.
For the particularly brave or accomplished there are sight reading (poetry or prose) classes and for the actors, solo improvisation and devised acting classes. Exciting stuff and not for the faint hearted!
Actors can also choose from
- solo or duologue acting,
- Shakespearian solo or duologue acting
- group acting
- devised drama
- musical theatre
Each class is adjudicated by a professional, experienced adjudicator who will give advice and encouragement to the whole class and also individual advice to each entrant in an adjudication report. Marks are allocated using the International Federation of Festivals marking system, certificates are awarded to third, second and first places with medals given for third and second place and a trophy presented for first place.
- General: All the Festival’s General Rules apply to Speech and Drama classes. Additional rules are set out below.
- Own choice pieces: Each own choice piece, which cannot be used for more than one class in this Festival, must be shown on the entry form, together with name of the book, play or poem and the author, as applicable. Clearly legible copies of own choice pieces must be sent with the form.No competitor may present an item with which they have previously been awarded first prize in this Festival.
- Full costume is not permitted in any drama or speech class. However small hand props or small items of character’s clothing are acceptable in an Acting or Musical Theatre class.
- Entrants are permitted to enter a solo class only once. An entrant may enter a Duologue Acting, Group Acting, Musical Theatre Duet or Musical Theatre Group class more than once provided they do not perform the same piece and character.
- Musical Theatre: A cd & tape player and speaker will be provided by the Festival but any other equipment used for playing music (i.e. laptop, i-pod, speakers etc) remains the entrant’s own responsibility.
- Introductions: Introductions must not be more than 40 words.
- Copyright: The Festival cannot be held responsible for any breaches of the copyright law and it should be noted that copyright regulations protect literary and dramatic works for 70 years after the death of the author or playwright. The Festival has entered into an agreement with the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society. As a result, entrants do not have to seek copyright permission for any poetry, prose or solo dramatic items performed, to a time limit of 10 minutes. Authors will be directly reimbursed as a consequence of their works being performed at this Festival. Duologues and group dramatic activity are not covered by this agreement; copyright for these items should be sought by the performers at the time of entry.
- To meet Child Protection regulations, parents and guardians are required to ensure their child(ren) under the age of 16, while travelling to, at or taking part in the Festival, are under their care or under the care of a responsible adult. In addition, on the day, they must confirm their child is fit and well to perform.
- Awards, cups and medals: Class Winners will be presented with trophies, cups or medals. In particular the Janet and David McVitie Trophy and the Joan Archer Memorial Trophy will be awarded. There will also be a trophy awarded for the most promising performer, not necessarily a class winner.
- Fees: Entrance fees are £5.50 for solo classes, £8 for duologue classes and £5 per member of the group acting class. There is also an administration charge of £2.00 per entrant. On the day spectator fees will be £5 for adults and £3 for children (8 years and above).
- All Speech and Drama entry forms, together with the proper fees, must be received by the Drama Co-ordinator, Stephanie Heney, 8 Kingsway, Ansdell, Lytham St Annes, FY8 1AB. Fees are not refundable. The closing date for 2023 Speech and Drama entries is Friday 15th December 2022.
Steph Heney
Drama Co-ordinator
Speech and Drama Entry Fees 2023.
£5.50 for Solo Classes, £8 for Duologue Classes, £5 per entrant for Group Classes.
Speech and Drama Syllabus 2022
| Class Number | Class | Choice |
|---|---|---|
| D1 | Nursery Rhymes – Age 7 and under | Own choice of two nursery rhymes – limit 1 minute |
| D2 | Verse Speaking – Age 9 and under | Any poem by E V Rieu – limit 1 minute |
| D3 | Verse Speaking – Age 10 to 11 | Any poem by Kenn Nesbitt – limit 1 minute |
| D4 | Verse Speaking – Age 12 to 14 | Any poem by Jackie Kay – limit 2 minutes |
| D5 | Verse Speaking – Age 15 to 18 | Any poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning – limit 3 minutes |
| D6 | My Favourite Poem – Age 13 and under | Own Choice – limit 2 minutes. Introduce your poem by telling the audience in not more than 40 words why it is your favourite. |
| D7 | My Favourite Poem – Age 14 to 18 | Own Choice – limit 3 minutes. Introduce your poem by telling the audience in not more than 40 words why it is your favourite. |
| D8 | Eng Lit Syllabus poem – Age 18 and under | Own Choice of any poem from a current GCSE or A’ level English Literature syllabus – limit 2 minutes |
| D9 | Any Comedy Poem or Prose Passage – age 11 and under | Own Choice from memory – limit 3 minutes |
| D10 | Any Comedy Poem or Prose Passage – age 12 to 14 | Own Choice from memory – limit 3 minutes |
| D11 | Any Comedy Poem or Prose Passage – age 15 to 18 | Own Choice from memory – limit 4 minutes |
| D12 | Prepared Reading – age 9 and under | Any book by Polly Faber – limit 150 words |
| D13 | Prepared Reading – age 10 to 11 | Any book by Liz Pichon – limit 200 words |
| D14 | Prepared Reading – age 12 to 14 | Any book by Joseph Delaney – limit 250 words |
| D15 | Prepared Reading – age 15 to 18 | Any book by Michael Grant – limit 250 words |
| D16 | Sonnet Speaking – Age 18 and under | Own choice of any sonnet |
| D17 | Sight Reading – age 13 & under | To read a passage chosen by the adjudicator |
| D18 | Sight Reading – age 14 to 18 | To read a passage chosen by the adjudicator |
| D19 | Public Speaking – age 18 and under | A speech on any subject to last no longer than 4 minutes. Visual aids may be used. |
| D20 | Shakespeare Solo – age 18 and under | Own Choice from any Shakespeare play – limit 4 minutes |
| D21 | Drama Solo – age 11 and under | Own Choice from any play other than Shakespeare – limit 4 minutes |
| D22 | Drama Solo – age 12 to 14 | Own Choice from any play other than Shakespeare – limit 4 minutes |
| D23 | Drama Solo – age 15 to 18 | Own Choice from any play other than Shakespeare – limit 4 minutes |
| D24 | Solo Improvisation – age 18 and under | An improvisation, with or without speech, on a theme set by the adjudicator – limit 3 minutes plus up to a minute for preparation. |
| D25 | Drama Duologue – age 11 and under | Own Choice from any play other than Shakespeare – limit 5 minutes |
| D26 | Drama Duologue – age 12 to 14 | Own Choice from any play other than Shakespeare – limit 5 minutes |
| D27 | Drama Duologue – age 15 to 18 | Own Choice from any play other than Shakespeare – limit 5 minutes |
| D28 | Shakespeare Duologue – age 18 & under | Own Choice from any Shakespeare play – limit 5 minutes |
| D29 | Group Acting – age 18 and under | Own Choice piece from a published play with not less than 3 players – limit 5 minutes |
| D30 | Devised Drama Solo – age 13 and under | Perform a prepared scene of your own devising based on one of the following events: • the thunderstorm • the den • the party. The scene must be a minimum of two minutes and no more than three minutes in performance time. The performer must announce the title prior to the performance. |
| D31 | Devised Drama Solo – age 14 to 18 | Perform a prepared scene of your own devising based on one of the following phrases: • I didn’t plan to get lost • It can’t possibly be this easy • I’m sorry, this feels like a huge responsibility. The scene must be a minimum of three minutes and no more than four minutes in performance time. The performer must announce the title prior to the performance. |
| D32 | Devised Drama Duologue – age 13 & under | Perform a prepared scene of your own devising based on one of the following events: • the new pet • the concert • the test. The scene must be a minimum of two minutes and no more than three minutes in performance time. The performers must announce the title prior to the performance. |
| D33 | Devised Drama Duologue – age 14 to 18 | Perform a prepared scene of your own devising based on one of the following phrases: • honestly, you look perfect • I’m sure this was the way out • put the knife down. The scene must be a minimum of three minutes and no more than four minutes in performance time. The performers must announce the title prior to the performance. |
| D34 | Devised Drama Group – age 13 & under | Perform a prepared scene of your own devising based on one of the following events: • the sponsored fancy dress walk • the journey • the beach party. The scene must be a minimum of two minutes and no more than three minutes in performance time. The performers must announce the title prior to the performance. |
| D35 | Devised Drama Group – age 14 to 18 | Perform a prepared scene of your own devising based on one of the following phrases: • listen – did you hear that? • I told you this would be amazing • What do you mean, ‘it’s been cancelled’?. The scene must be a minimum of three minutes and no more than four minutes in performance time. The performers must announce the title prior to the performance. |
| D36 | Musical Theatre – Solo – age 13 and under | Present a piece of devised text in character which will lead into/occur during the performance of a song. The song may be from either Mary Poppins, Frozen, The Wizard of Oz or The Lion King and should be between three and four minutes long. It must be accompanied (see Rules) and memorised. |
| D37 | Musical Theatre – Solo – age 14 to 18 | Present a piece of devised text in character which will lead into/occur during the performance of a song. The song may be from either Mama Mia!, Grease, Legally Blonde or Anything Goes and should be between three and four minutes long. It must be accompanied (see Rules) and memorised. |
| D38 | Musical Theatre – Duets – age 13 and under | Present a piece of devised text in character which will lead into/occur during the performance of a song. The song may be from either Mary Poppins, Frozen, The Wizard of Oz or The Lion King and should be between three and four minutes long. It must be accompanied (see Rules) and memorised. |
| D39 | Musical Theatre – Duets – age 14 to 18 | Present a piece of devised text in character which will lead into/occur during the performance of a song. The song may be from either Mama Mia!, Grease, Legally Blonde or Anything Goes and should be between three and four minutes long. It must be accompanied (see Rules) and memorised. |
| D40 | Musical Theatre – Groups – age 13 and under | Present a piece of devised text in character which will lead into/occur during the performance of a song. The song may be from either The King & I, The Sound of Music, Aladdin or The Jungle Book and should be between three and four minutes long. It must be accompanied (see Rules) and memorised. |
| D41 | Musical Theatre – Groups – age 14 to 18 | Present a piece of devised text in character which will lead into/occur during the performance of a song. The song may be from either Into The Woods, The Addams Family, Billy Elliot the Musical, South Pacific and should be between three and four minutes long. It must be accompanied (see Rules) and memorised. |
| D42 | Musical Theatre – Solo, Duet, Group – age 18 and under | Present a piece of devised text in character which will lead into/occur during the performance of a song. The song may be from a theatre musical or a film musical composed by any composer and should be between three and four minutes long. It must be accompanied (see Rules) and memorised. |
Speech & Drama Adjudicators 2022
JAYNE BUCHANAN MA, BA(Hons), LTCL, ATCL, PCertLAM,
Jayne is a multi-faceted practitioner, passionate about dramatic art.
She has trained as an adult actor with Jim Cartwright and Karen Henthorn and holds both Equity and Spotlight membership.
Jayne, like all our adjudicators, is a practising teacher. She works in both the public and private sector teaching speech and drama to a wide variety of ages and levels. Alongside this she co-manages a boutique talent agency for children and adults.
As well as holding an examinership with the prestigious LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art), Jayne also adjudicates at Speech and Drama Festivals across the UK.
Ever busy, Jayne recently completed a Masters in Applied and Community Arts. She is looking forward to adjudicating at our festival and watching all the talented performers shine.
SHARON ROGERS ALCM LLCM (TD) Teachers Certificate
Sharon made her first festival appearance at the age of eight and loved it – despite not being placed in any class until she was in her teens! She is committed to the festival movement and believes that every child should be given opportunities to share their work, learn from their peers and to speak and perform in public – to unfamiliar but supportive audiences – and that a festival should be a positive, encouraging and enjoyable experience.
As an experienced primary school teacher and former deputy head, Sharon planned the speaking, listening and drama activities within several schools and taught LAMDA pupils. Since retiring from a class teaching role she has worked in schools and privately with older pupils; many of these have gone on to train at major UK drama schools and enjoyed success in their stage careers.
Sharon is looking forward to visiting Lytham and meeting some of the Festivals’ young performers.
