2023 Festival Adjudicators
Timothy McCarthy MA,HDE,FTCL,FLCM,LGSMD,ALAM,PGCA
Timothy studied Speech & Drama at the Cork School of Music; graduated from the National University of Ireland with an MA Degree in Drama and Theatre Studies and the Higher Diploma in Education; he holds the Post Graduate Certificate in Adjudicating.
He is a member of the examiners panel in Speech, Drama and Communication at Trinity College, London. He runs his own Speech & Drama Studio, where he teaches all aspects of the subject. For 17 years he was the Drama Director at the annual International Youth Camp Festival of Music, Dance and Drama, Sri Lanka. He works closely with the Irish National Council for the Blind, recording audio books for its members. He conducted Teacher Training Courses in Speech & Drama in Kuala Lumpur, Colombo and at his own Studio in Cork. He led a number of workshops for English teachers in Bangkok, Malacca and Sri Lanka using Speech & Drama pedagogy as a means of teaching English. He has given training courses for Church Ministers and directed an Adult Drama Company for ten years, specializing in One Act Play Productions.
Timothy is an Adjudicator-Member, Hon. Adjudicators’ Vice-President and former Vice-Chair of The British and International Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance and Speech; a Council member of The Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama, and a member of Speech and Drama Teachers of Ireland. He is the Director of Cork Feis Maitiú – the Music and Drama Festival in his home City; has adjudicated at Festivals in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Jersey, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong. In 2011 he was awarded a Fellowship of The Federation of Festivals for services to the Festival Movement.
Helen Grady BA (Hons)
Helen trained at the Oxford School of Drama and works as an actor, director and drama tutor. She has professional experience of stage, screen and voiceover; including working with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon and the West End.
She recently devised and delivered a new course on Creative Writing for Performance for students on the Foundation Course at the Oxford School of Drama – as well as teaching acting at the school. Helen assisted the Principal in delivering Professional Development classes to graduating students and contributed to the Professional Development workbook, covering practical aspects of working in the profession.
Helen also works as a writer under the pen-name Maggie Dealey. She has had two plays published via Stagescripts and has two short films in pre-production. She is working on two feature length screenplays, a web series and three further short films.
Peter Dayson CertEd
Peter started his career as an actor in stage, television and film, progressing to writing, directing and producing.
He runs an International Community Cross-Over Project which takes children and students from across the London Boroughs and performs in the West End, transferring to Ohio, U.S.A. This involves artists from the industry working with local actors and special needs students.
As an Actor Peter has appeared in many tv series and sit-coms, on stage played everything from John Macey in ’ MONDAY AFTER THE MIRACLE’ (West End) to Chris Keller in ‘ALL MY SONS’ with rep seasons ranging from Nottingham, Swansea, and Basingstoke.
As a writer Peter has written several plays, 8 musicals, show-cased in the West End and is currently working on a spy-thriller.
For television Peter has appeared in several Dr Who episodes with five different Doctors, Blakes Seven, Three of a Kind, Stig of the Dump and The Stanley Baxter Picture Show.
He has just finished writing and directing a new musical called Hazlewood Heroes and currently working on a new film script.
Later this year he is directing a 110 centenary production in Birmingham with an all star cast.
As a Director Peter has been responsible for many productions, was Artistic Director for Stafford Gatehouse for 8 years, worked for Disney as a Director and Executive Producer and, also worked for Really Useful Theatre Groups and for 2 years as a writer for E.M.I.
Peter’s passion is working with children, students and young performers, particularly special needs to nurture, encourage, support and develop them with perhaps a career in the industry or just ‘Life Skills’.
Peter has just finished directing GODSPELL with Chesney Hawkes, Sleeping Beauty in Leeds and Cinderella in Birmingham. He is currently directing a play which is heading into the West End later next year.
With three productions in December 2022, Peter has just directed ‘ Cinderella ‘ in Leeds, ‘Beauty and the Beast ‘ in Birmingham and ‘Santa’ in Wimbledon. He has just completed Sri Lanka Festival and is currently adjudicating Hong Kong. In April 2023 he is adjudicating the Canada Festival.
Dr Ann Bauer EdD,MEd,BA(Hons),LRAM,LGSM,PGCE,DipSpLD
Ann 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, team work, 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.
Ann is continuing to teach online and is able to offer online/virtual adjudication sessions
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.