Speech, Drama and Mime
Welcome to the 2024 Hastings Musical Festival Syllabus for Speech, Drama and Mime.
Thank you to all who took part in our 2023 Festival. We were pleased that the number of our entries overtook pre-pandemic levels and we enjoyed a very happy Festival with our adjudicator Vivienne Cunningham.
We are looking forward to welcoming Ann Bauer back to adjudicate in 2024, and we are delighted to be able to say that there will be trophies to be won in all classes for those aged under 19 in Speech Solos, Humorous Verse, Dramatic Monologue, Dramatic Duologue and Mime.
Read the Syllabus carefully as there are two brand new classes and adjustments have been made to some others in relation to age limits and School Year groupings.
There are over seventy Speech, Drama and Mime classes to choose from, and there are some special trophies encompassing all age groups for aggregate marks across two or three of the four genres: Poetry, Prose, Monologue and Mime; so you may wish to consider combinations of entries to give yourself opportunities to achieve these additional awards. There are also two aggregate awards for those aged under 13 for combinations of entries in Speech with Piano or Singing, and Speech with Dance.
If you are aged 19 or over or are a previous Silver Medal winner, do give serious thought to making an entry in the Speech Gold Medal class. Although, in this class, 90 must be achieved to be awarded the medal, there will be a cash prize of £150 for a winning mark of 87 or more.
Before looking at the Speech, Drama and Mime Syllabus, please go to the Combined Syllabus where you will find the General Rules, which are applicable to all sections, and information about our Special Trophies.
If you have any queries, contact Deirdre Goodger, the Section Secretary: dgoodger46@gmail.com
Shakespeare, in Hamlet, Act lll, Scene 2, has some good advice to those entering this Section:
"Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue; but if you mouth it as many of your players do, I had as lief the town-crier spoke my lines. Nor do not saw the air too much with your hand, thus: but use all gently."
To view the Combined Syllabus click here (opens a new window).
Syllabus
Browse the Speech, Drama and Mime timetableAny queries contact the Section Secretary, Deirdre Goodger at dgoodger46@gmail.com
Classes
Creative Performance - Ensemble
CREATIVE PERFORMANCE - ENSEMBLE
4205 Improvisation Duologue (School Year 6 and Under)
From a subject provided by the Adjudicator, an improvised performance of between 2 minutes (minimum) and 3 minutes (maximum). The performers will be given 5 minutes to prepare the piece. During the performance, a bell will be rung after 2 and 2.5 minutes to assist the duo in concluding the presentation.
Fee ₤13.00 per group
Group of 2 people
Up to 3 mins
4206 Improvisation Duologue (School Years 7 and 8)
From a subject provided by the Adjudicator, an improvised performance of between 3 minutes (minimum) and 4 minutes (maximum). The performers will be given 5 minutes to prepare the piece. During the performance, a bell will be rung after 3 and 3.5 minutes to assist the duo in concluding the presentation.
Fee ₤13.00 per group
Group of 2 people
Up to 4 mins
4207 Improvisation Duologue (School Years 9, 10 and 11)
From a subject provided by the Adjudicator, an improvised performance of between 3 minutes (minimum) and 4 minutes (maximum). The performers will be given 5 minutes to prepare the piece. During the performance, a bell will be rung after 3 and 3.5 minutes to assist the duo in concluding the presentation.
Fee ₤13.00 per group
Group of 2 people
Up to 4 mins
4208 Devised Performance/Improvisation Group (School Year 11 and Under)
From a subject provided by the Adjudicator, an improvised performance of between 5 minutes (minimum) and 10 minutes (maximum). 5 minutes set up allowed. The performers will be given 1 hour to prepare the piece.
Award: HILARY CLULOW TROPHY
Fee ₤16.00 per group
Group of 4 to 6 people
Up to 10 mins
4210 Devised Performance/Improvisation Group (Any Age)
From a subject provided by the Adjudicator, an improvised performance of between 5 minutes (minimum) and 10 minutes (maximum). 5 minutes set up allowed. The performers will be given 1 hour to prepare the piece.
Fee ₤16.00 per group
Group of 4 to 6 people
Up to 10 mins
4212 Creative Performance - Devised Physical Theatre (School Year 11 and Under)
This class may include elements of physical theatre, dance drama, street theatre, stage combat, comedy sketch, mask work, choral speaking and group mime, based on a theme of your own choice.
Modern dress only but a suggestion of costume is allowed. Significant hand props may be used. Live or recorded music may be used. There is no sound desk, but groups may use recorded music on their own CD/Cassette players or laptop.
Award: THE HASTINGS MUSICAL FESTIVAL DRAMA AWARD
Fee ₤16.00 per group
Group of 2 to 20 people
Up to 15 mins
4214 Creative Performance - Devised Physical Theatre (Any Age)
This class may include elements of physical theatre, dance drama, street theatre, stage combat, comedy sketch, mask work, choral speaking and group mime, based on a theme of your own choice.
Modern dress only but a suggestion of costume is allowed. Significant hand props may be used. Live or recorded music may be used. There is no sound desk, but groups may use recorded music on their own CD/Cassette players or laptop.
Fee ₤16.00 per group
Group of 2 to 20 people
Up to 15 mins
Modern dress only but a suggestion of costume is allowed. Significant hand props may be used. Live or recorded music may be used. There is no sound desk, but groups may use recorded music on their own CD/Cassette players or laptop.
Modern dress only but a suggestion of costume is allowed. Significant hand props may be used. Live or recorded music may be used. There is no sound desk, but groups may use recorded music on their own CD/Cassette players or laptop.
Creative Performance - Solo
CREATIVE PERFORMANCE - SOLO
4148 Speech Original Verse (School Year 6 and Under)
Own Choice: As written and spoken or read by the author.
Award: THE CHALLENGE TROPHY presented by Philip Thrupp
Fee ₤8.00
Up to 2 mins
4152 Speech Original Verse (School Years 7 and 8)
Own Choice: As written and spoken or read by the author.
Award: THE GWENDOLYN CRANE MEMORIAL CUP
Fee ₤8.00
Up to 3 mins
4154 Speech Original Verse (School Years 9, 10 and 11)
Own Choice: As written and spoken or read by the author.
Award: THE 247 SPEECH TROPHY presented by 247247 Taxis
Fee ₤8.00
Up to 3 mins
4156 Speech Original Verse (Age 16 and Under 19)
Own Choice: As written and spoken or read by the author.
Award: THE ANNELIESE DANN CHALLENGE TROPHY presented by Michael and Audrey Dann
Fee ₤8.00
Up to 3 mins
4158 Speech Original Verse (Age 19 and Over)
Own Choice: As written and spoken or read by the author.
Fee ₤11.00
Up to 4 mins
Dramatic Duologues
DRAMATIC DUOLOGUES
Modern dress only but a suggestion of costume is allowed. A small table and chairs are available for performers to use in dramatic items. A small hand held prop is allowed.
In Duologues, any minimum age limit applies only to the elder partner, but the younger must not perform in any other age group of an exactly similar class.
4172 Dramatic Duologue - Shakespeare (School Year 11 and Under)
Own Choice: Any duologue from Shakespeare.
Award: THE CONVENT OF OUR LADY CUP
Fee ₤13.00 per group
Group of 2 people
Up to 5 mins
4176 Dramatic Duologue - Shakespeare (Age 16 and Under 19)
Own Choice: any duologue from Shakespeare.
Award: THE GWENDOLINE CRANE CHALLENGE CUP presented by Mrs J Spurr
Fee ₤13.00 per group
Group of 2 people
Up to 5 mins
4178 Dramatic Duologue - Shakespeare (Age 19 and Over)
Own Choice: any duologue from Shakespeare.
Fee ₤16.00 per group
Group of 2 people
Up to 5 mins
4179 Dramatic Duologue (Parent and Child)
Own Choice: Duologue from any play (other than Shakespeare) or adaptation from a novel.
Award: THE 247 SPEECH TROPHY presented by 247247 Taxis
Fee ₤13.00 per group
Group of 2 people
Up to 5 mins
4180 Dramatic Duologue (School Year 6 and Under)
Own Choice: Duologue from any play (other than Shakespeare) or adaptation from a novel .
Award: THE SOPHIE LOUISE DANN TROPHY "B" presented by Audrey and Michael Dann
Fee ₤13.00 per group
Group of 2 people
Up to 4 mins
4184 Dramatic Duologue (School Years 7 and 8)
Own Choice: Duologue from any play (other than Shakespeare) or adaptation from a novel.
Award: THE RADCLYFFE GROUP SILVER CHALLENGE CUP
Fee ₤13.00 per group
Group of 2 people
Up to 4 mins
4188 Dramatic Duologue (School Years 9, 10 and 11)
Own Choice: Duologue from any play (other than Shakespeare) or adaptation from a novel.
Award: THE 247 DRAMA TROPHY presented by 247247 Taxis
Fee ₤13.00 per group
Group of 2 people
Up to 5 mins
4192 Dramatic Duologue (Age 16 and Under 19)
Own Choice: Duologue from any play (other than Shakespeare) or adaptation from a novel.
Award: THE GWEN WATFORD SILVER CHALLENGE CUP
Fee ₤13.00 per group
Group of 2 people
Up to 5 mins
4196 Dramatic Duologue (Age 19 and Over)
Own Choice: Duologue from any play (other than Shakespeare) or adaptation from a novel.
Fee ₤16.00 per group
Group of 2 people
Up to 5 mins
In Duologues, any minimum age limit applies only to the elder partner, but the younger must not perform in any other age group of an exactly similar class.
Dramatic Monologue
DRAMATIC MONOLOGUES
A Monologue is an acted speech for one from a play but not a song or poem from a musical.
Modern dress only but a suggestion of costume is allowed. A small table and chairs are available for performers to use in dramatic items. A small hand held prop is allowed.
Up to 5 mins
Dramatic Shakespeare
DRAMATIC SHAKESPEARE
Modern dress only but a suggestion of costume is allowed. A small table and chairs are available for performers to use in dramatic items. Small hand held props are allowed.
4200 Dramatic Shakespeare Scene (School Year 11 and Under)
Own Choice: an enactment of any scene from Shakespeare. No fewer than three speaking parts.
Award: THE ARTHUR CHEVALIER SILVER MEMORIAL CUP presented by Mr Paul Chevalier
Fee ₤16.00 per group
Group of 3 to 20 people
Up to 10 mins
4204 Dramatic Shakespeare Scene (Any Age)
Own Choice: an enactment of any scene from Shakespeare. No fewer than three speaking parts.
Award: THE AGNES CLELAND CHALLENGE CUP presented by Mrs P Barnett and Miss Cleland
Fee ₤16.00 per group
Group of 3 to 20 people
Up to 10 mins
Modern dress only but a suggestion of costume is allowed. A small table and chairs are available for performers to use in dramatic items. Small hand held props are allowed.
Humorous Verse
HUMOROUS VERSE
The rule stating 'Not to be acted' indicates that there can be moderate use of gesture and body language but no movement of the feet.
4065 Speech Humorous Verse (School Year 2 and Under)
Own Choice: Speech not to be acted.
Award: THE RALPH CUP
Fee ₤8.00
Up to 2 mins
4068 Speech Humorous Verse (School Years 3 and 4)
Own Choice: Speech not to be acted.
Award: THE ELITE TROPHY 'A' presented by Janet Slacke
Fee ₤8.00
Up to 2 mins
4072 Speech Humorous Verse (School Years 5 and 6)
Own Choice: Speech not to be acted.
Award: THE ELITE TROPHY 'B' presented by Janet Slacke
Fee ₤8.00
Up to 2 mins
4084 Speech Humorous Verse (School Years 7 and 8)
Own Choice: Speech not to be acted.
Award: THE ARTHUR CAVALIER MEMORIAL CUP
Fee ₤8.00
Up to 2.5 mins
4092 Speech Humorous Verse (School Years 9, 10 and 11)
Own Choice: Speech not to be acted.
Award: THE DI DAVIDSON MEMORIAL CUP
Fee ₤8.00
Up to 2.5 mins
4096 Speech Humorous Verse or Prose (Age 16 and Under 19)
Own Choice: Speech not to be acted.
Award: THE ADELE CUP
Fee ₤8.00
Up to 3 mins
4100 Speech Humorous Verse or Prose (Age 19 and Over)
Own Choice: Speech, not to be acted.
Fee ₤11.00
Up to 4 mins
The rule stating 'Not to be acted' indicates that there can be moderate use of gesture and body language but no movement of the feet.
Mime
MIME
Performers must mime a piece of their own choice without audible articulation. The subject of the mime must be descriptive and announced by the performer or by the Platform Steward. If the latter, performers should hand the Steward a card showing the mime title. Make-up is not permitted. Costume is not permitted for any mime class. No scenery other than curtains. No properties whatsoever, not even hand props. Chairs and tables as provided by the Festival may be used.
Up to 5 mins
Reading at Sight
READING AT SIGHT
Test: An extract of prose chosen by the adjudicator.
4000 Reading Prose at Sight (School Year 6 and Under)
Award: THE KEITH HARLING CUP
Fee ₤8.00
4004 Reading Prose at Sight (School Years 7 and 8)
Award: THE 247 SPEECH TROPHY presented by 247247 Taxis
Fee ₤8.00
4008 Reading Prose at Sight (School Years 9, 10 and 11)
Award: THE 247 SPEECH TROPHY presented by 247247 Taxis
Fee ₤8.00
Test: An extract of prose chosen by the adjudicator.
Short Plays
SHORT PLAYS
Any short original or published play or excerpt from a published play by any author - duration 30 minutes. Maximum 20 players.
10 minutes set up time will be allowed. Costumes and make-up are allowed but should be kept to a minimum. Small props such as a table, chairs etc. and hand props permitted.
The Short Play classes are held in the Sussex Hall at the White Rock Theatre. This venue is a flexible space, and performers are invited to make creative use of it.
The Stage is 10m wide and 4m deep. Tabs are situated 2/3rds from the front of the stage and should be operated by the entrant. Lighting is a basic wash. There is no sound desk, but groups may use recorded sound effects or incidental music on their own CD/Cassette players or laptop.
There is no need for performers to feel confined to the stage area. Other areas of the Hall may also be used. On request, it is possible to rearrange seating to modify the performance area(s), so that, for example, presentations could be made "in the round".
4236 Short Play (Age under 19)
Own Choice: a one act play or scene(s) from a play other than Shakespeare.
Award: THE BLACKMAN SUMMERFIELD SHIELD
Fee ₤21.50 per group
Group of 2 to 20 people
Up to 30 mins
4244 Short Play (Age 19 and Over)
Own Choice: a one act play or scene(s) from a play other than Shakespeare.
Award: THE RON GREGORY CUP
Fee ₤27.00 per group
Group of 2 to 20 people
Up to 30 mins
10 minutes set up time will be allowed. Costumes and make-up are allowed but should be kept to a minimum. Small props such as a table, chairs etc. and hand props permitted.
The Short Play classes are held in the Sussex Hall at the White Rock Theatre. This venue is a flexible space, and performers are invited to make creative use of it.
The Stage is 10m wide and 4m deep. Tabs are situated 2/3rds from the front of the stage and should be operated by the entrant. Lighting is a basic wash. There is no sound desk, but groups may use recorded sound effects or incidental music on their own CD/Cassette players or laptop.
There is no need for performers to feel confined to the stage area. Other areas of the Hall may also be used. On request, it is possible to rearrange seating to modify the performance area(s), so that, for example, presentations could be made "in the round".
Speech Medals
SPEECH MEDALS
The winner of a Bronze Medal may enter for the Silver Medal and the winner of a Silver Medal may enter for the Gold Medal even if under the minimum age for the class, but not in the same year.
Fee ₤20.00
Speech Solos
SPEECH SOLOS
4016 Speech (Age 4 and Under)
Own Choice: Verse.
No time limit.
Award: THE SANDRA NOBLE CHALLENGE CUP
Fee ₤8.00
4020 Speech (School Years 1 and 2)
Set piece: 'The Christening' by A.A. Milne from: I Like This Poem, Puffin Books.
Award: THE CAROL RALLINGS CUP presented by Frank Rallings
Fee ₤8.00
4024 Speech (School Years 3 and 4)
Set piece: 'Waking' by Lilian Moore from: Rhyme Time, Beaver Books.
Award: THE MICHAEL GOODGER SPEECH CUP presented by his family
Fee ₤8.00
4028 Speech (School Years 5 and 6)
Set piece: 'Five Eyes' by Walter de la Mare from: I Like This Poem, Puffin Books.
Award: THE BOSWORTH CUP
Fee ₤8.00
4032 Speech (School Years 7 and 8)
Set piece: 'Clowns' by Margaret Mahy from: I Like This Poem, Puffin Books.
Award: THE ERNEST HILLS MEMORIAL CUP
Fee ₤8.00
4036 Speech (School Years 9, 10 and 11)
Set piece: 'What I Love About School' by Roger McGough from: Poems to Perform, Macmillan Children's Books.
Award: THE LENA COPPING CHALLENGE CUP
Fee ₤8.00
4038 Speech Sonnet (Any Age)
A class in Memory of Molly Townson who loved to write poetry, including sonnets.
Own Choice of Sonnet in the traditional Italian or English style.
No time limit.
Award: THE 247 SPEECH TROPHY presented by 247247 Taxis
Fee ₤8.00
4040 Speech Share-a-Poem 2 persons (Any age)
Own Choice.
Some movement allowed. No costumes.
Award: THE ROBERT CLELAND CHALLENGE CUP
Fee ₤13.00 per group
Group of 2 people
Up to 2.5 mins
4042 NEW Performance Class (Any Age)
Own choice of poetry or prose.
A non-competitive class for performers with additional needs. All entrants will receive feedback and a performance cerificate and medal.
Fee ₤8.00
Up to 5 mins
4044 Speech Prose Speaking (School Year 2 and Under)
Own Choice.
Award: BARTON SCHOOL AWARD
Fee ₤8.00
Up to 2 mins
4048 Speech Prose Speaking (School Years 3 and 4)
Set piece: An extract from any book by Berlie Doherty.
Award: THE 247 SPEECH TROPHY presented by 247247 Taxis
Fee ₤8.00
Up to 2.5 mins
4050 Speech Prose Speaking (School Years 5 and 6)
Set piece: An extract from any book by E Nesbit.
Fee ₤8.00
Up to 2.5 mins
4052 Speech Prose Speaking (School Years 7 and 8)
Set piece: An extract from any book from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.
Award: HASTINGS MUSICAL FESTIVAL SPEECH CUP
Fee ₤8.00
Up to 3 mins
4056 Speech Prose Speaking (School Years 9, 10 and 11)
Set piece: An extract from any book by Gerald Durrell.
Award: THE MOLLIE & BASIL NORTHEN CUP
Fee ₤8.00
Up to 3 mins
4058 Speech Prose Speaking (Age 16 and Under 19)
Set piece: An extract from any book by Charlotte Bronte.
Award: THE 247 SPEECH TROPHY presented by 247247 Taxis
Fee ₤8.00
Up to 3 mins
4060 Speech Prose Speaking (Age 19 and Over)
Set piece: An extract from any book by David Mitchell.
Fee ₤11.00
Up to 4 mins
No time limit.
Own Choice of Sonnet in the traditional Italian or English style.
No time limit.
Some movement allowed. No costumes.
A non-competitive class for performers with additional needs. All entrants will receive feedback and a performance cerificate and medal.
Adjudicators
Adjudicator
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, creativity 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.
In addition, Ann works in consultancy, advocacy, and writing in Special Educational Needs, she has, for many years, been a specialist teacher in this field.
In her spare time Ann still attends ballet and tap classes, a lifelong passion, enjoys theatre going, precious time with her family, and walking: shorter distances as well as long distance back-packing treks.