Menu
Coronavirus
The WMF committee has very reluctantly decided not to hold a “live” festival this year. Instead, entrants will make recordings of their performances, upload them to cloud storage, share them and send us links which will be forwarded to the adjudicators so that they can comment on and grade the performances.
We regret that this means that the performances will not be publicly available and cups and trophies normally presented during the Festival sessions will not be awarded this year. A decision about whether to hold the Young Musician Competition in February and to award the other major trophies will be taken after the festival.
Please enter as usual by the closing date of 4th October, 2020 and you will receive an e-mail confirming your entry.
You’ll receive a second e-mail a day or two after the closing date with information about your entry that you can use to complete the video submission form. This form must be completed by 7th November.
You should make a video recording of your performance for each class that you have entered. Upload it to a suitable platform, making appropriate privacy settings, and send us the link. Please do not send us the recording itself. Advice on making and submitting recordings is available elsewhere on this site.
These links will be forwarded to the adjudicators who will grade and comment on the performances.
When we receive the mark sheets back, we will send them on to you.
If you have any queries about this process, please get in contact with the Speech & Drama section secretary.
Time limits must be adhered to in fairness to all — we do not wish to stop performers so please do not choose pieces that extend beyond the time limit.
Junior English Art Song and Speech Class: under 19yrs
Speech and Drama entrants may wish to enter this class where both singing and the spoken word are adjudicated. See class B10 in vocal section for details.
Verse Speaking – Prose Reading – Solo Acting – Reading – Group or Choral Speaking, Group Drama & Duologues
The sources for the set pieces are as follows:
(1) The Works chosen by Paul Cookson, pub Macmillan (9781447273493)
(2) Centre for Literacy in Primary Education, https://clpe.org.uk
(3) Read Me Out Loud, chosen by Nick Toczek and Paul Cookson, pub Macmillan (9780330446211)
(4) Fantastic First Poems, ed June Crebbin, pub Puffin (9780141308982)
(5) A Very First Poetry Book, pub OUP (9780199160501)
S1: Verse Speaking – under 7yrs
One from:
Tiger – Mary Ann Hoberman (4)
Playground Song – Paul Cookson (1)
Welly Boots (Jelly Boots Smelly Boots) – Michael Rosen (2)
Fee: £6
Festival Medal
S2: Verse Speaking – 7yrs
One from:
Firework Poem (Zim Zam Zoom) – (2)
Into the Blue (Blue Balloons and Rabbit Ears) – Hilda Ofen (2)
Farewell Pete – Roger Stevens (3)
Fee: £6
Festival Medal
S3: Verse Speaking – 8yrs
One from:
Look at the Train (The Dragon with a Big Nose) – Kathy Henderson (2)
In the Tree’s Defence (Things You Find in a Poet’s Beard) – A F Harrold (2)
Our Cats – Wes Magee (5)
Fee: £6
Festival Medal
S4: Verse Speaking – 9yrs
One from:
Easter Eggs (Bookside Down) – Joanne Limburg (2)
The Flying Machine (Blue Balloons and Rabbit Ears) – Hilda Ofen (2)
Tell Me, Mama (Dancing in the Rain) – John Lyons (2)
Fee: £6
The Othon Polak Cup
S5: Verse Speaking – 10-11yrs
One from:
Billy McCool – Aoife Mannix (2)
Lost (A Great Big Cuddle) – Michael Rosen (2)
Why Must We Go to School? (Collected Poems) – Allan Ahlberg (2)
Fee: £6
Festival Medal
S6: Verse Speaking – 12-13yrs
Own choice.
Time limit: 2 minutes
Fee: £6
S7: Verse Speaking – 14-15yrs
Own choice.
Time limit: 2 minutes
Fee: £6
S8: Verse Speaking – 16-18yrs
Own choice.
Time limit: 3 minutes
Fee: £7
S9: Verse Speaking – over 18yrs
Own choice.
Time limit: 3 minutes
Fee: £8
S10: Sonnet – 13-18yrs
Own choice.
Fee: £7
S11a: Humorous Verse Speaking – 8-9yrs
Own choice.
Time limit: 2 minutes
Fee: £6
Festival Medal
S11b: Humorous Verse Speaking – 10-11yrs
Own choice.
Time limit: 2 minutes
Fee: £6
Festival Medal
S12a: Humorous Verse Speaking – 12-13yrs
Own choice.
Time limit: 2 minutes
Fee: £6
The Bradly Cup for the best performance of S12a-d.
S12b: Humorous Verse Speaking – 14-15yrs
Own choice.
Time limit: 2 minutes
Fee: £6
The Bradly Cup for the best performance of S12a-d.
S12c: Humorous Verse Speaking – 16-18yrs
Own choice.
Time limit: 3 minutes
Fee: £7
The Bradly Cup for the best performance of S12a-d.
S12d: Humorous Verse Speaking – over 18yrs
Own choice.
Time limit: 3 minutes
Fee: £8
The Bradly Cup for the best performance of S12a-d.
S13: Prose Reading – 10-12yrs
Own choice. Excluding drama.
Time limit: 3 minutes
Fee: £7
The Boroughs Cup
S14: Prose Reading – 13-15yrs
Own choice. Excluding drama.
Time limit: 3 minutes
Fee: £7
S15: Prose Reading – 16-18yrs
Own choice. Excluding drama.
Time limit: 4 minutes
Fee: £8
S16: Prose Reading – over 18yrs
Own choice. Excluding drama.
Time limit: 4 minutes
Fee: £8
S17a: Solo Acting – 7-9yrs
Perform a speech from a play (except Shakespeare) or dramatisation from a novel of own choice. Selections must be scripted scenes taken from published works.
Time limit: 3 minutes
Fee: £7
Festival Medal
S17b: Solo Acting – 10-11yrs
Perform a speech from a play (except Shakespeare) or dramatisation from a novel of own choice. Selections must be scripted scenes taken from published works.
Time limit: 3 minutes
Fee: £7
Festival Medal
S18a: Solo Acting – 12-14yrs
Perform a speech from a play (except Shakespeare) or dramatisation from a novel of own choice. Selections must be scripted scenes taken from published works.
Time limit: 4 minutes
Fee: £8
S18b: Solo Acting – 15-16yrs
Perform a speech from a play (except Shakespeare) or dramatisation from a novel of own choice. Selections must be scripted scenes taken from published works.
Time limit: 4 minutes
Fee: £8
S18c: Solo Acting – 17-18yrs
Perform a speech from a play (except Shakespeare) or dramatisation from a novel of own choice. Selections must be scripted scenes taken from published works.
Time limit: 4 minutes
Fee: £8
S19: Solo Acting – over 18yrs
Perform a speech from a play (except Shakespeare) or dramatisation from a novel of own choice. Selections must be scripted scenes taken from published works.
Time limit: 4 minutes
Fee: £8
S20a: Solo Acting – Shakespeare – under 18yrs
Own choice of speech or scene for one character only.
Time limit: 6 minutes
Fee: £8
S20b: Solo Acting – Shakespeare – 18yrs and over
Own choice of speech or scene for one character only.
Time limit: 6 minutes
Fee: £8
S21: Poetry Reading – 13-17yrs
Own choice. Excluding drama.
Time limit: 3 minutes
Fee: £7
S22: Poetry Reading – 18yrs and over
Own choice. Excluding drama.
Time limit: 3 minutes
Fee: £8
S23: Dramatic Reading – 13-18yrs
Own choice excluding Shakespeare. A speech for ONE character only as a dramatic reading. NOT memorised nor acted.
Time limit: 3 minutes
Fee: £7
S24: Bible Reading – 11-12yrs
Own choice from King James’ or Revised Standard Version or Jerusalem Bible.
Time limit: 3 minutes
Fee: £7
S25: Bible Reading – 13-14yrs
Own choice from King James’ or Revised Standard Version or Jerusalem Bible.
Time limit: 3 minutes
Fee: £7
S26: Bible Reading – 15-17yrs
Own choice from King James’ or Revised Standard Version or Jerusalem Bible.
Time limit: 4 minutes
Fee: £8
S27: Bible Reading – 18yrs and over
Own choice from King James’ or Revised Standard Version or Jerusalem Bible.
Time limit: 4 minutes
Fee: £8
NB: A performer may only appear once within any one particular class, duologue, group speaking etc. where age limits overlap.
S28a: Group or Choral Speaking – 6-9yrs
No fewer than four nor more than thirty in the group.
Own choice poetry or prose.
NB: A performer may only appear once within any one group or choral speaking class, where age limits overlap.
Time limit: 10 minutes
Fee: £15
The St Teresa Cup for the best performance of S28a, S28b and S29.
S28b: Group or Choral Speaking – 9-14yrs
No fewer than four nor more than thirty in the group.
Own choice poetry or prose.
NB: A performer may only appear once within any one group or choral speaking class, where age limits overlap.
Time limit: 10 minutes
Fee: £15
The St Teresa Cup for the best performance of S28a, S28b and S29.
S29: Group or Choral Speaking – 14-18yrs
No fewer than four nor more than thirty in the group.
Own choice poetry or prose.
NB: A performer may only appear once within any one group or choral speaking class, where age limits overlap.
Time limit: 10 minutes
Fee: £15
The St Teresa Cup for the best performance of S28a, S28b and S29.
S30a: Group Drama – 6-9yrs
Own choice including Shakespeare. Selections must be scripted scenes from published works or rehearsed scenes from improvised work devised in class. No scenery, minimum make-up and limited costume and hand props may be used.
NB: A performer may only appear once within any one group drama class, where age limits overlap.
Time limit: 12 minutes
Fee: £15
The Mansfield Speech and Drama Cup for the best performance of S30a, S30b and S30c.
S30b: Group Drama – 9-14yrs
Own choice including Shakespeare. Selections must be scripted scenes from published works or rehearsed scenes from improvised work devised in class. No scenery, minimum make-up and limited costume and hand props may be used.
NB: A performer may only appear once within any one group drama class, where age limits overlap.
Time limit: 12 minutes
Fee: £15
The Mansfield Speech and Drama Cup for the best performance of S30a, S30b and S30c.
S30c: Group Drama – 14yrs-18yrs
Own choice including Shakespeare. Selections must be scripted scenes from published works or rehearsed scenes from improvised work devised in class. No scenery, minimum make-up and limited costume and hand props may be used.
NB: A performer may only appear once within any one group drama class, where age limits overlap.
Time limit: 12 minutes
Fee: £15
The Mansfield Speech and Drama Cup for the best performance of S30a, S30b and S30c.
S31a: Duologues – 8-10yrs
A small table and chairs will be provided. Appropriate costumes may be worn, but only hand props are allowed.
NB: A performer may only appear once within any one duologue class where age limits overlap.
Time limit: 6 minutes
Fee: £10
Festival Medal
S31b: Duologues – 10-14yrs
A small table and chairs will be provided. Appropriate costumes may be worn, but only hand props are allowed.
NB: A performer may only appear once within any one duologue class where age limits overlap.
Time limit: 6 minutes
Fee: £10
The Speech and Drama Duologue Shield for the best performance of S31b, S31c and S31d.
S31c: Duologues – 14-17yrs
A small table and chairs will be provided. Appropriate costumes may be worn, but only hand props are allowed.
NB: A performer may only appear once within any one duologue class where age limits overlap.
Time limit: 6 minutes
Fee: £10
The Speech and Drama Duologue Shield for the best performance of S31b, S31c and S31d.
S31d: Duologues – 18yrs and over
A small table and chairs will be provided. Appropriate costumes may be worn, but only hand props are allowed.
NB: A performer may only appear once within any one duologue class where age limits overlap.
Time limit: 6 minutes
Fee: £10
The Speech and Drama Duologue Shield for the best performance of S31b, S31c and S31d.
S32a: Public Speaking – 9-11yrs
A talk on any subject of own choice. Notes may be used – but not a full script. No visual aids.
Time limit: 5 minutes
Fee: £8
Festival medal
S32b: Public Speaking – 12-14yrs
A talk on any subject of own choice. Notes may be used – but not a full script. No visual aids.
Time limit: 5 minutes
Fee: £8
S32c: Public Speaking – 15-16yrs
A talk on any subject of own choice. Notes may be used – but not a full script. No visual aids.
Time limit: 5 minutes
Fee: £8
S33a: Public Speaking – 17-18yrs
A talk on any subject of own choice. Notes may be used – but not a full script. No visual aids.
Time limit: 6 minutes
Fee: £10
S33b: Public Speaking – 19yrs and over
A talk on any subject of own choice. Notes may be used – but not a full script. No visual aids.
Time limit: 6 minutes
Fee: £10
Improvisation classes. The adjudicator will announce the subject for each class approximately 10 minutes before it begins. The group must be present for this announcement and then they may leave the room to discuss the theme.
S34a: Improvisation Duologue – 10-14 yrs
Time limit: 5 minutes
Fee: £10
S34b: Improvisation Duologue – 14-17 yrs
Time limit: 5 minutes
Fee: £10
S34c: Improvisation Duologue – 17yrs and over
Time limit: 5 minutes
Fee: £10
S34d: Improvisation Duologue – any age
Time limit: 5 minutes
Fee: £10
S35a: Group Improvisation – 10-14yrs
Time limit: 5 minutes
Fee: £15
S35b: Group Improvisation – 14-17yrs
Time limit: 5 minutes
Fee: £15
S35c: Group Improvisation – 17yrs and over
Time limit: 5 minutes
Fee: £15
S35d: Group Improvisation – any age
Time limit: 5 minutes
Fee: £15
Musical theatre classes. Performances should be a musical scene. These should be chosen from a published work of musical theatre and should include a balance between song, movement and dialogue. Please provide a copy of the music / script for the adjudicator. Competitors may use their own accompanist or a backing track, which should not include vocals, to be played on their own machine.
S36a: Musical Theatre Solo (before 1970) – under 8yrs
Own choice.
Time limit: 5 minutes
Fee: £7
Festival Medal
S36b: Musical Theatre Solo (before 1970) – 8-11yrs
Own choice.
Time limit: 5 minutes
Fee: £7
Festival Medal
S36c: Musical Theatre Solo (before 1970) – 12-17yrs
Own choice.
Time limit: 6 minutes
Fee: £8
S36d: Musical Theatre Solo (before 1970) – 18yrs and over
Own choice.
Time limit: 6 minutes
Fee: £8
S37a: Musical Theatre Solo (after 1970) – under 8yrs
Own choice.
Time limit: 5 minutes
Fee: £7
Festival Medal
S37b: Musical Theatre Solo (after 1970) – 8-11yrs
Own choice.
Time limit: 5 minutes
Fee: £7
Festival Medal
S37c: Musical Theatre Solo (after 1970) – 12-17yrs
Own choice.
Time limit: 6 minutes
Fee: £8
S37d: Musical Theatre Solo (after 1970) – 18yrs and over
Own choice.
Time limit: 6 minutes
Fee: £8
S38a: Musical Theatre Duet (before 1970) – under 8yrs
Own choice.
Time limit: 5 minutes
Fee: £7
Festival Medal
S38b: Musical Theatre Duet (before 1970) – 8-11yrs
Own choice.
Time limit: 5 minutes
Fee: £7
Festival Medal
S38c: Musical Theatre Duet (before 1970) – 12-17yrs
Own choice.
Time limit: 6 minutes
Fee: £8
S38d: Musical Theatre Duet (before 1970)- 18yrs and over
Own choice.
Time limit: 6 minutes
Fee: £8
S39a: Musical Theatre Duet (after 1970) – under 8yrs
Own choice.
Time limit: 5 minutes
Fee: £7
Festival Medal
S39b: Musical Theatre Duet (after 1970) – 8-11yrs
Own choice.
Time limit: 5 minutes
Fee: £7
Festival Medal
S39c: Musical Theatre Duet (after 1970) – 12-17yrs
Own choice.
Time limit: 6 minutes
Fee: £8
S39d: Musical Theatre Duet (after 1970) – 18yrs and over
Own choice.
Time limit: 6 minutes
Fee: £8
S40a: Musical Theatre Group – under 8yrs
Own choice.
Time limit: 8 minutes
Fee: £10
S40b: Musical Theatre Group – 8-11yrs
Own choice.
Time limit: 8 minutes
Fee: £10
S40c: Musical Theatre Group – 12-17yrs
Own choice.
Time limit: 12 minutes
Fee: £15
S40d: Musical Theatre Group – 18yrs and over
Own choice.
Time limit: 12 minutes
Fee: £15