Speech

Adjudicator:	Ann Bauer EdD MEd BA(Hons) LRAM LGSM PGCE DipSpLD	Closing date for entries: 17th November 2023
Venue:	Park Community School, Havant, PO9 4BU	* Please send entries/titles to: PMF Speech & Drama
Dates:	3rd & 4th February 2024	c/o 34, Woodlands Avenue, Emsworth. PO10 7QE speech@portsmouthmusicfestival.co.uk
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Ann Bauer has spent her working life in education teaching in secondary and primary schools, theatres, university and therapy teams, as well as examining drama and theatre studies. Ann ran her own drama school for many years. Ann is also an adjudicator for The British and International Federation of Festivals.

Ann trained to teach under John Hodgson at Bretton Hall, his major influence was the importance of improvisation. Ann continues to be an enthusiastic teacher of improvisation for developing all performance skills.

She believes strongly in the inclusive power of drama, that it offers confidence building, teamwork, and the discipline of controlling body, voice – and nerves. Combining that with her love of the written word, her first degree was English; she counts herself lucky to spend her life talking about what she loves.

Currently Ann combines her teaching with specialist teaching, research and writing in SEN.

In her spare time Ann still attends ballet and tap classes, a lifelong passion, enjoys theatre going, advocacy in SEN, precious time with her family and long distance back-packing treks.

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.

1. All entries needing a recorded accompaniment such as a backing track must be sent as an MP3 or MP4 file via email by Monday 8^th January to pmfspeechanddrama@yahoo.com
2. 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.
3. 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)
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.

The John Davidson Challenge Trophy will be awarded to the entrant from the Junior Section with the highest aggregate mark from Verse Speaking, Prepared Prose Speaking, Acting Monologue, Shakespeare Solo and Sight Reading.

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 Verse Speaking, Prepared Prose Speaking, Acting Monologue, Sight Reading and Shakespeare Solo.

The Julia Cup will be awarded to the most outstanding performer, in the opinion of the adjudicator, in Class SD43.

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

Nursery Rhyme – Entrants are to speak from memory one Nursery Rhyme of their own choice. A copy of the Nursery Rhyme is to be given to the adjudicator’s steward.

Verse Speaking – Entrants are to recite from memory one poem of their own choice. A copy of the poem is to be given to the adjudicator’s steward.

Prepared Prose Reading – Entrants are to read an extract of their own choice. A copy of the extract is to be given to the adjudicator’s steward.

Sight Reading – Adjudicator’s choice.

Shakespeare Solo – Own choice portraying one character from any of Shakespeare’s plays. The play chosen should be written by Shakespeare alone and not by Shakespeare in conjunction with any other writer. Spoken from memory. A copy of the script is to be given to the adjudicator’s steward. No costume and essential props only. (Please see Rules 4 & 5 above.)

Solo Scene & Song – Own choice portraying one character from any musical, to include acting, dialogue, singing & movement where appropriate. Performed from memory. A copy of the script is to be given to the adjudicator’s steward. No costume and essential props only. (Please see Rules 4, 5 & 6 above.)

Acting Monologue – Own choice portraying one characters from any book or play, excluding plays written exclusively by Shakespeare. Spoken from memory. A copy of the script is to be given to the adjudicator’s steward. No costume and essential props only. (Please see Rules 4 & 5 above.)

Acting Duologue – Own choice. Two actors portraying two characters from any book or play. Spoken from memory. A copy of the script is to be given to the adjudicator’s steward. No costume and essential props only. (Please see Rules 4 & 5 above.)

Duo Scene & Song – Own choice. Two actors portraying two characters from any musical to include acting, dialogue, singing & movement where appropriate. A copy of the script is to be given to the adjudicator’s steward. No costume and essential props only. (Please see Rules 4, 5 & 6 above.)

Acted Scene (Group class) – Acted scene from any book or play. Minimum number of performers: 3. A copy of the script is to be given to the adjudicator’s steward. No costume and essential props only. (Please see Rules 4, 5 & 6 above.)

Devised Scene (Group class) – The piece should be original, transcribed & a copy of the script is to be given to the adjudicator’s steward. Minimum number of performers: 3. No costume and essential props only. (Please see Rules 4 & 5 above.)

Acted Scene & Song (Group class) – Acted Scene from any musical to include acting, dialogue & singing with movement where appropriate. A copy of the script is to be given to the adjudicator’s steward. Minimum number of performers: 3. No costume and essential props only. (Please see Rules 4, 5 & 6 above.)

Please see the full rules and regulations here.

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