REFERENCE BOOKS
A Blow a Kiss, Catch a Kiss pub
B Caribbean Dozen
C Another First Poetry Book pub Oxford
D New Puffin Book of Funny Verse
E Is a Caterpillar Ticklish
F Poems by Eleanor MacLoed
G Shades of Green Pub
H The Works 5
I Nations Favourite Poems
J Puffin Fantastic Poems
K A Picnic of Poetry
L Quintet of Poets Puffin
Copies of all the set poems are available from the Secretary.
AGE TO ACCORD WITH THE RELEVANT SCHOOL YEAR
Book ref./Page Entry fee
Class 1A
Pre Reception Children
Test Piece : Own Choice of a traditional Nursery Rhyme £2.50
Class 1
Verse Speaking Reception Class
Test Piece: Blow a Kiss by Joseph Coelho A £3.00
Class 2
Verse Speaking Year 1 ( March– August Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece Walk like a Crocodile by Joseph Coelho A £3.00
Class 3
Verse Speaking Year 1 ( September-February Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece Water Everywhere B £3.00
Class 4
Verse Speaking Year 2 (March-August Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece The Storm by Dorothy Aldis C/77 £3.00
Class 5
Verse Speaking Year 2 (September-February Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece No Body by Eric Finney C/61 £3.00
Class 6
Verse Speaking Year 3 (March– August Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece: Down- Hearted by Janeen Bryan D/80 £3.00
Book ref/page Entry Fee
Class 7
Verse Speaking Year 3 (Sept-February Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece Summer Thoughts by Eleanor McLeod F/42 £3.00
Class 8
Verse Speaking Year 4 (March-August Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece: Cobweb Morning by June Cribben J/34 £3.00
Class 9
Verse Speaking Year 4 (Sept-February Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece: Being a Tree by Opal Palmer Adisa B/44 £3.00
ark Class 10
Verse Speaking Year 5 (March-August Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece Stars by Eleanor McLeod F/14 £3.00
Class 11
Verse Speaking Year 5 (Sept-February Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece The Beech Tree by Conor Carson G/37 £3.00
Class 12
Verse Speaking Year 6 (March-August Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece Night Owl by Andrew Collet H/ 56 £3.00 Class 13
Verse Speaking Year 6 (Sept-February Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece Sweet Chestnuts by John Walsh K/24 £3.00
Class 14
Verse Speaking Year 7
Test Piece Blessing by Imtiaz Dharker AQA Exam Syllabus £3.00
Class 15
Verse Speaking Year 8
Test Piece: Who’s for the Game by Jessica Pope
from the AQA Exam Syllabus £3.00
Class 16
Verse Speaking Year 9
Test Piece Ozymandios by Shelley I/58 £3.00
Copy available from the Secretary
Class 17 Book ref./page Entry fee
Verse Speaking Year 10
Test Piece: Home Thoughts from Abroad by Robert Browning I/71 £.3.00
Class 18
Verse Speaking Year 11
Test Piece Green Man in the Garden by Charles Causley L/20 £3.00
Class 19
Verse Speaking Year 12 and over
Test Piece The President by Leonard Clark £3.00
HUMOROUS VERSE
A Copy of Own Choice Poems to be submitted at time of entry please.
Class 20
Humorous Verse Speaking Year 2 and under
Test Piece: Own Choice Time Limit: 2 minutes £3.00
Class 21
Humorous Verse Speaking Years 3 and 4
Test Piece: Own Choice Time Limit: 2 minutes £3.00
Class 22
Humorous Verse Speaking Year 5
Test Piece: Own Choice Time Limit: 3 minutes £3.00
Class 23
Humorous Verse Speaking Year 6
Test Piece: Own Choice Time Limit: 3 minutes £3.00
Class 24
Humorous Verse Speaking Years 7 and 8
Test Piece: Own Choice Time Limit: 4 minutes £3.00
Class 25
Humorous Verse Speaking Years 9, 10 and 11
Test Piece : Own Choice Time Limit : 4 minutes £3.00
Class 26
Prose Speaking Year 6 and under
Test Piece: an Extract from Kasper, Prince of Cats by Micheal Morpurgo Pub By Harper Collins Time Limit: 1½ minutes £3.00
Class 27
Prose Speaking Years 7 and 8
Test Piece: An Extract from Once by Morris Gleitman pub Puffin
Time Limit 2 minutes £3.00
Class 28
Prose Speaking Years 9, 10 and 11
Test Piece: An extract from Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman
Pub by Random House Time Limit 3 minutes £3.00
Class 29
Prose Speaking Years 12 and 13
Test Piece: An Extract from the Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald
Time Limit 3 minutes £3.00
Class 30
Bible Reading Year 6 and under (Primary)
Test Piece: St Mark Chapter 5 verses 21-34 £3.00
Any version of the Bible may be used, but a copy must be provided
for the adjudicator
Class 31
Bible Reading Year 7 and over (Secondary) £3.00
Test Piece: St Mark Chapter 14 verses 32 to 50
Any version of the Bible may be used, but a copy must be provided
for the adjudicator
Class 32
Religious Verse Year 6 and under £3.00
Test Piece: Own Choice Time Limit up to 3 minutes
Class 33
Religious Verse Year 7 and over
Test Piece: Own Choice Time Limit 3 minutes £3.00
ORIGINAL WRITING
The poem MUST be sent to the Secretary at the time of entry 20th
January 2025 For Classes 34 & 35 please include your date of birth.
Class 34
Original Verse written by Primary School Students £3.00
Test Piece: Performers are required to submit their own choice composition which may be either rhyming or free verse. The poem may be either spoken by the writer or another person chosen by the writer.
Class 35
Original Verse written by Secondary School Students £3.00
Test Piece: Performers are required to submit their own choice composition which may be either rhyming or free verse. The poem may be either spoken by the writer or another person chosen by the writer.
Class 36
Original Verse Adult £4.00
Test Piece: Performers are required to submit their own choice composition which may be either rhyming or free verse. The poem may be either spoken by the writer or another person chosen by the writer.
MIME CLASSES
IN ALL MIME CLASSES NO PROPS, OTHER THAN CHAIRS, MAY BE USED. IF POSSIBLE, PERFORM IN BLACK CLOTHING.
Class 38
Solo Mime Primary
Test Piece: Fishing or At the Beach
Time Limit: 2 minutes £3.00
Class 39
Solo Mime Secondary
Test Piece: The Intruder or The Wallet
Time Limit: 3 minutes £3.00
Class 40
Duo Mime Primary No Music
Test Piece The Artist or The Interview or The Rescue
Time Limit: 3 minutes £3.50
Class 41
Duo Mime Secondary No Music
Test Piece: Own Choice
Time Limit: 3 minutes £3.50
Class 42
Group Mime Primary (not less than 4 people) No Music
Test Piece: Decorating Disaster or A Visit to the Farm
Time Limit: 5 minutes £6.00
Class 43
Group Mime Secondary (not less than 4 people) No Music
Test Piece: Own Choice
Time Limit: 6 minutes £6.00
DRAMATIC CLASSES
Class 44
Solo Dramatic Primary
Test Piece: Own Choice of an extract from a play or novel spoken by a character
Time Limit: 3 minutes £3.50
Class 45
Solo Dramatic Years 7 and 8
Test Piece: Own Choice of an extract from a play or novel spoken by a character
Time Limit: 3 minutes £3.50
Class 46
Solo Dramatic Years 9, 10 and 11
Test Piece: Own Choice of an extract from a play or novel spoken by a character
Time Limit: 5 minutes £3.50
Class 47
Solo Dramatic 16 years and over
Test Piece: Own Choice of an extract from a play or novel spoken by a character
Time Limit: 5 minutes £4.00
DUOLOGUE CLASSES
Class 48
Duologue Primary
Test Piece: Own Choice
Time Limit: 5 minutes (including any prop setting) £4.00
Class 49
Duologue Years 7 and 8
Test Piece: Own Choice
Time Limit: 6 minutes (including any prop setting) £4.00
Class 50
Duologue Years 9-12
Test Piece: Own Choice
Time Limit: 6 minutes (including any prop setting) £4.00
Class 51
Dramatic Quartet Years 1 and 2
Test Piece: “Holiday” or “The Strange Visit”
Time Limit: 3 minutes £5.00
Class 52
Dramatic Quartet Years 3, 4, 5 and 6
Test Piece: “Where did that come from?” or “Oh, what a mess!”
Time Limit: 4 minutes £5.00
Class 53
Dramatic Quartet (Secondary)
Test Piece: “Shock Result” or “Eureka”
Time Limit: 4 minutes £5.00
Choral Speaking Choirs Are Not To Be Conducted
Class 54
Choral Speaking Years 1 and 2
Test Piece: The Spangled Pandemonium by Palmer Brown or
The Reluctant Ghost by Jacqueline Emery
AND Own Choice of one contrasting poem. Time limit: 4 minutes £6.50
Class 55
Choral Speaking Years 3, 4, 5 and 6
Test Piece: We are going see the Rabbit by Alan Brownjohn or
Jabberwocky by Lewis Carol
AND Own Choice of one contrasting poem. Time limit: 5 minutes £6.50
Class 56
Choral Speaking Secondary
Test Piece: The Visitor by Ian Serraillier or
Anthem for Doomed Youth by Wilfred Owen
AND Own Choice of one contrasting poem Time Limit: 8 minutes £6.50
Copies of these poems are available from the Secretary
Class 57
Choral Speaking (Adults)
Test Piece Either The Journey of the Magi by T S Eliot or
Tarantella by Hilaire Belloc Own Choice of one contrasting poem
Time Limit 10 minutes £6.00
Performers in Classes 58 to 60 must provide copies of Solo Verse, Prose and
Choral Speaking which they may be including in their performance.
Class 58
Junior Theme Class Years 6 and under (not less than 5 people)
Test Piece: A programme devised by the group illustrating one of the following:
i Summer ii Danger iii Family Occasions
The theme must include at least three of the following skills:
a. Solo Verse d. Recorded Music
b. Prose e. Live Music
c. Choral Speaking f. Mime and Movement
Time Limit: 8 minutes £6.00
Class 59
Intermediate Theme Class Years 7 and 8 (not less than 5 people)
Test Piece: A programme devised by the group illustrating one of the following:
i Winter ii Out and About iii Escape
The theme must include at least three of the skills listed above.
Time Limit: 10 minutes £6.00
Class 60
Senior Theme Class Years 9 to 11 (not less than 5 people)
Test Piece: A programme devised by the group illustrating one of the following:
i Disguise ii Phobias iii Happy Days
The theme must include at least three of the skills listed above.
Time Limit: 12 minutes £6.00
Class 61
Shakespeare Character Study Years 6, 7 and 8 £2.50
The piece selected must be acted Time Limit: 2 minutes
Test Piece: Own Choice of a speech from one of the following plays
I. Much Ado About Nothing ii. Romeo & Juliet iii. Midsummer Night’s Dream
Class 62
Shakespeare Character Study Years 9, 10, and 11 £2.50
The piece selected must be acted. Time limit: 4 minutes
Test Piece: Own Choice of a speech from any play by William Shakespeare
Diary Reading 11 to 14 years Time Limit : 3 minutes
Test Piece: An extract from: The Diary of Anne Frank £2.00
Class 63
Shakespeare Character Study Years 12 and 13
The piece selected must be acted Time Limit: 4 minutes £3.00
Test Piece: Own Choice of a speech from any play by William Shakespeare
Class 64
Shakespeare Character Study Adult £5.00
The piece selected must be acted Time Limit: 4 minutes
Test Piece: Own Choice of a speech from any play by William Shakespeare
Class 65
Diary Reading Years 7 and 8 Time Limit: 3 minutes
Test Piece: Own Choice of an extract from thee Diary of Anne Frank £3.00
Class 66
Diary Reading Years 9, 10 and 11 Time Limit: 3 minutes
Test Piece: Own Choice of an extract from
The Diary of an Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden £3.00
Class 67
Verse Speaking Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 £3.00
Test Piece: Own Choice of any poem from Read Me Series of Books
A copy must be provided for the adjudicator.
Class 68 £3.00
Verse Speaking Years 7 — 12
Test Piece: The Nations Favourite Poems except any poem already set for the Festival
Class 69 £3.00
Sonnet Class (Secondary)
Test Piece: Own Choice of two contrasting sonnets
Class 70 £3.00
Prepared Prose Reading Time Limit: 3 minutes
Test Piece: An extract from any novel by Charles Dickens
Class 71
Musical Theatre Group (not less than 4 people)
Test Piece: To perform an extract from a Musical which must include spoken word
and 1 musical piece accompanied by either recorded or live music.
Time Limit: 15 minutes £8.00
Please note: Should entries be received from both Primary and Secondary ages, this class will be divided.
Class 72
Radio News Reading Years 5 and 6
Test Piece: Performers should prepare a news script which they will read as a radio news bulletin of 2 minutes duration. The script, which should be in the performer’s own words, should comprise news items which have been reported on radio, television or in the newspapers during January and February 2025 The adjudicator will assess both content and presentation. £3,00
Class 73
Radio News Reading Years 7 and 8
Test Piece: As above, but a bulletin of up to 3 minutes duration. £3.00
Class 74
Radio News Reading Years 9 and 10
Test Piece: As above, but a bulletin of up to 4 minutes duration £3.00
Class75
Radio News Reading Years 11 and 12
Test Piece: As above, but a bulletin of up to 5 minutes duration. £3.00
Class 76
Musical Theatre Solo Open
Test Piece: To introduce a character from a musical and perform one song.
Time Limit: 4 minutes
Accompanist will be provided if necessary. CDs not allowed.
Music must be included with entry please. £3.00
Class 77
Open Theme Class £6.00
Test Piece: A programme devised by the group illustrating any one of the options listed in Classes 58—60. Time Limit: 12 minutes
Class 78 £3.00
Duologue Open
Test Piece Own Choice of a Piece written for two Characters or an
Extract from a Book
Time Limit 8 Minutes including setting.
Class 79 £3.00
Humorous Verse Year 12 & 13
Own Choice Time Limit 5 minutes
Class 80 £3.00
Bible Reading Year 12 & 13
Test Piece St Luke Chapter 2 verses 1 to 20
Class 81
Solo Dramatic Years 12 & 13
Test Piece Own Choice of a speech by a Character from either a Play or Novel
Time Limit 6 minutes £3.00