Speech
All entries for the 2020 festival are now closed.
Please come back at the beginning of September to enter for 2021!
| Adjudicator: | Phil Pennington BA Hons | Closing date for entries: 15th November 2019 |
| Venue: Dates: |
Park
Community School, Havant, PO9 4BU. 28th Feb – 1st March; 6th – 8th March 2020 | * Please send entries/titles to: Pat Bamborough, 23 Lovage Road, Whiteley, Fareham, PO15 7NE. |
Phil Pennington first became involved in theatre in his teens when he joined the hugely successful Ilkley Upstagers Youth Theatre. He later went on to study Performing Arts at Middlesex University and after that worked in theatre for over 20 years, writing, producing and directing numerous shows for young people as well as becoming Centre Director of Central Studio in Basingstoke. More recently, Phil was the coordinator for the Speech and Drama section of the Portsmouth Music Festival and last year stepped in as adjudicator when the advertised adjudicator was snowed in on the opening night.
PLEASE NOTE:
In addition to the main Rules & Regulations, the following rules now apply to the Speech & Drama section.
Please read these carefully as there are some changes this year.
- Performers MUST comply with time limits. Failure to keep within the time limits set will mean that the performer will be adjudicated only. Time Limits as specified in the syllabus will be strictly adhered to.
- A music system will be provided but teachers will be expected to play their own music. All music must be on CD if you wish to use the equipment provided by PMF. If teachers wish to use their own equipment that is also permitted. If you require a piano etc., this MUST be specified on the entry form so that adequate arrangements can be made to provide such. Requests made on the day will be declined.
- Pre-recorded music used in any class where singing is a part of the performance must not include any singing or chanting anywhere on the recording.
- Costume and costume suggestion are NOT permitted. It is suggested that participants in acting classes wear their Drama School uniform or an “all black” practice outfit to avoid any confusion.
- Essential props only are permitted. (Please note if an item of clothing has a specific use within the acting piece it may be worn as an essential prop e.g. a hat worn to denote character such as a witch would be deemed costume suggestion and is not allowed but a hat which is removed in the scene for a specific purpose would be considered an essential prop. Any prop which could not be effectively mimed would also be considered as an essential prop e.g. a wand which is held and used throughout the performance)
- Classes which include singing in the performance should not be predominantly a vocal performance with little dialogue. There should be sufficient dialogue to lead smoothly into the song and there should be a balanced performance with spoken words and song – not necessarily equal but it must be remembered that this is the Speech & Drama Section and not Vocal or Choral.
- No performance should contain any swearing or obscene language. (If you are in any doubt about whether a word or phrase would be considered “swearing or obscene language” or could cause embarrassment or offence to an audience member it is advised that you omit or change the relevant words. Please remember that there may be young children in the audience and even mild swearing is therefore unacceptable.) See note below.
- Performers should avoid using material unsuitable for the age of the performer. (This does not necessarily relate to the age of the character being portrayed – many young children choose to perform speeches or songs originally performed by adults e.g. Mary Poppins. The concerns are rather with younger children performing work which contains, for example inappropriate sexual references, or explicit references to violence etc.) In group items the material performed should be suitable for the youngest members of the group even if they are not on stage at the time as they will still be exposed to inappropriate material. See note below.
- No performer may perform the same piece in more than one class.
- No performer may perform the same piece in different years.
- Performers older than 17 on 1st September 2018 are regarded as adults.
Note: No performance should contain swearing or obscene language or any reference which could cause embarrassment or offence. Any performance that breaks this rule will be immediately disqualified and the performer may, at the discretion of the section head, be required to withdraw from further classes in that section. (See rules 6 & 7 above.)
The John Davidson Challenge Trophy will be awarded to the entrant from the Junior Section with the highest aggregate mark from Verse Speaking; Prose Reading or Religious Reading; Character study or Shakespeare Character Study.
The Whymark Trophy will be awarded to the entrant from the Junior Section who, in the opinion of the adjudicator, has achieved a consistently good standard & shows promise, but has not been awarded a first place in a solo class.
The Tenth Anniversary Cup will be awarded to the most outstanding solo performance in the Junior Section
(regardless of mark) in the opinion of the adjudicator.
The Clarke-Jervoise Shield will be awarded to the entrant from the Adult Section with
the highest aggregate mark from Prose Reading, Sight Reading & Religious Reading.
The Julia Cup will be awarded to the most outstanding performer, in the opinion of the adjudicator, in Class SD G3.