REFERENCE BOOKS
A Puffin Book of Fantastic Poems
B The Works Key Stage 1
C I Like This Poem
D Another Very First Poetry Book pub Oxford
E Poems to Perform by Julia Donaldson
F A Puffin Quartet of Poets
G Read Me 2
H A Sextet of Poets
I Fourth Oxford book of Poems
J The Works 5
K Words Aloud
L First Oxford book of Poetry
M Read Me
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: The Pancake by Christina Rossetti A/54 £3.00
Class 2
Verse Speaking Year 1 (March– August Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece: The Barn Owl by Richard Jane B195 £3.00
Class 3
Verse Speaking Year 1 (September-February Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece: Acorn Bill by Ruth Ainsworth n A/28 £3.00
Class 4
Verse Speaking Year 2 (March-August Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece Elf Man Copy from the Secretary £3.00
Class 5
Verse Speaking Year 2 (September-February Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece: The Caterpillar by Christina Rossetti C/30 £3.00
Class 6
Verse Speaking Year 3 (March– August Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece: It’s Dark in Here by Shel Silverstein M/291 £3.00
Class 7
Verse Speaking Year 3 (Sept-February Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece: It’s Only the Storm by Dave Wood D/76 £3.00
Class 8
Verse Speaking Year 4 (March-August Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece: Nut Tree by Julia Donaldson E/27 £3.00
Class 9
Verse Speaking Year 4 (Sept-February Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece: History by Catherine Benson K7 £3.00
Class 10
Verse Speaking Year 5 (March-August Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece: Fireworks by James Reeves F/59 £3.00
Class 11
Verse Speaking Year 5 (Sept-February Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece: The Pines by Margaret Mahy L/78 £3.00
Class 12
Verse Speaking Year 6 (March-August Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece The Paint Box by E V Rieu G 106 £3.00
Class 13
Verse Speaking Year 6 (Sept-February Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece: Mouse in the Wainscot by Ian Serraillier G/154 £3.00
Class 14
Verse Speaking Year 7
Test Piece: The Bookworm by Walter De La Mare G/224 £3.00
Class 15
Verse Speaking Year 8
Test Piece: Parrott by Alan Brownjohn JI/78/79 £3.00
Class 16
Verse Speaking Year 9
Test Piece August Ends by Leonard Clark H100 £3.00
Test Piece: War Photographer by Carol Ann Duffy F172 £2.00
Copy available from the Secretary
Class 17 Book ref./page Entry fee
Verse Speaking Year 10
Test Piece: Prince Kano by Edward Lowbury I/86 £.3.00
Class 18
Verse Speaking Year 11
Test Piece: Sea Fever by John Masefield J/496 £3.00
Class 19
Verse Speaking Year 12 and over
Test Piece: The President by Leonard Clark H06/7 £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 Time Limit: 1½ minutes
Test Piece: The following Extract from To Be A Cat by Matt Haig
Beginning at “Before he even opened his eyes… to he had woken up
unquestionably, unimaginably cat” £3.00
Class 27
Prose Speaking Years 7 and 8 Time Limit: 2 minutes £3.00
Test Piece: the following extract from When the Sky Falls by Phil Earle
Beginning at When the executioner came … to in this city is absolutely nothing to do with Adonis
Class 28
Prose Speaking Years 9, 10 and 11 Time Limit: 3 minutes £3.00
Test Piece: the following extract from Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett
Beginning at Silence again filled the makeshift theatre to He done it with
a dagger
Class 29
Prose Speaking Years 12 and 13 Time Limit: 4 minutes £3.00
Test Piece: the following extract from Dracula by Bram Stoker from
Outside the Harkers’ door we paused to we saw nothing but faint vapour.
BIBLE READING
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 32-50
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 : 16th January 2023 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 £3.00
Test Piece: First Day at School or The Referee
Time Limit: 2 minutes
Class 39
Solo Mime Secondary
Test Piece: The Knock or Caught Out £3.00
Time Limit: 3 minutes
Class 40
Duo Mime Primary No Music
Test Piece: The Photograph 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: At the Fashion Show or The Beach
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: Chinese New Year Dragon by John Foster or Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me by Shel Silverstein or Cat by Eleanor Farjeon
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: Monster by Richard Edwards or Football Mad by Benjamin Zephaniah
or The Blind Dog by Clare Bevan
AND Own Choice of one contrasting poem. Time limit: 5 minutes £6.50
Class 56
Choral Speaking Secondary
Test Piece: The Tortoise and the Hare by Brain Pattern or Floradora Doe by Jack Prelutsky or Fuss Fuss Fuss or The Goldilocks Rap by James Carter
AND Own Choice of one contrasting poem Time Limit: 8 minutes £6.50
Copies of these poems are available from the Secretary
Junior Theme Class 11 years and under (not less than 5 people)
Test Piece: A programme devised by the group illustrating one of the following:
i A Celebration ii. A Strange Encounter iii. The Sea
The theme must include at least three of the following skills:
a. Solo Verse b. Prose
c. Choral Speaking d. Recorded Music
e. Live Music f. Mime & Music
Time Limit: 8 minutes £3.85
Class 57
Choral Speaking (Adults)
Test Piece A Satrical Elergy on the Death of a Late Famous General by Jonathan Swift
Or The Moon’s Monolugue(Act 111 from Blind Weddings by FedericoGarcia Lorca
Beginning I’m around swan on the river …”and ending “With a feverish diamond light.”
Or Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
AND Own Choice of one contrasting poem Time Limit 10 minutes £6.00
Copies of Set Poems available from the Secretary
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
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 the 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 £7.00
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 2023 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