1 OWN CHOICE The printed books or copies of own choice pieces must be brought by the Performers and handed to the Adjudicator’s Steward before performing. Cuts should be clearly marked. Title and author of all Own Choice items must be supplied in writing at the time of performance, in order to comply with Performing Rights Rules. All Own Choice selections must be by published authors.
2 VERSE / PROSE Gesture and movement are NOT permitted in the speaking of Lyrical Verse. All Verse must be memorised. Gesture is allowed in the speaking of Memorised Prose.
3 GROUP VERSE / DUO VERSE Movement optional. Music or Sound Effects may be included but equipment must be provided by the Entrant. Hand props allowed.
Groups must enter under a Collective Title, NOT Individual Names.
4 MIME CLASSES. In all Mime Classes no-one under Year 5 may enter.
No costume or handprops are allowed. Table and chairs will be provided. Shoes if worn must have soft soles. Sound effects or music may accompany the mime offstage, but equipment must be provided by the Entrant.
5 ACTING CLASSES.
In all classes a scene from any published play or dramatisation of a novel may be used. Sketches are permitted from published texts and from Exam Syllabi, but must be cut to comply with Festival time limits. Performers should set their own scene. Solo performers must use the lines of ONE character only. No performer may appear in more than one Scene in the same class. Chairs and tables will be provided by the Committee. Sound effects or music may accompany the acting / devised performance offstage but equipment must be provided by the Entrant.
In ALL Acting Classes, minimal hand props are permitted. However, the Festival encourages the use of mime instead of props. Costume is not allowed. Appropriate practice clothing permitted. See General Rules.
GROUP ACTING CLASSES. These must consist of three or more speaking parts, and Entrants cannot enter the same scene in more than one class. Performers may not enter the same class more than once. In School Classes, entrants in each group must be from the same school.
Groups must enter under a Collective Title, NOT Individual Names.
6 TIME LIMITS. All Time Limits must be strictly observed. Entrants may be penalised if exceeded, and marks will be deducted. Introductions are NOT included in the time limit.
7 CONDUCTING or Offstage direction in any class will incur a penalty.
8 SUBSTITUTIONS. Any School or Club entering Performers in Solo or Duologue Classes must put the name(s) of any entrants on the Entry Form. No substitution will be allowed. Substitutions are allowed in Group Performances.
9 YOUTH DEBATING and PUBLIC SPEAKING CLASSES. Speeches must be composed by the
Competitor. Minimal notes and visual aids may be used. Technical Equipment will be permitted for
Public Speaking Classes, with the exception of Class 84.
NB : Performers and teachers are asked to show sensitivity towards their audience in their choice of text and language.