VERSE SPEAKING
REFERENCE BOOKS
A The Puffin Book of Fantastic First Poems
B Young Puffin Book of Verse
C Read Me Blue Book
D Oxford Book of Fantastic 1st Poems
E Is a Caterpillar Ticklish
F Poems for 7 years and Under
G Oxford 3rd Poetry Book
H I Like this Poem
I The Works 4
J Puffin Quintet of Poets
K Nations Favourite Poems
L A Picnic of Poetry
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: Awkward Child by Rose Fyleman A/90 £2.50
Class 2
Verse Speaking Year 1 ( March– August Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece My Puppy by Aleen Fisher B/84 £2.50
Class 3
Verse Speaking Year 1 ( September-February Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece: Mice by Rose Fyleman C/392 £2.50
Class 4
Verse Speaking Year 2 ( March-August Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece: New Shoes Anon C/222 £2.50
Class 5
Verse Speaking Year 2 (September-February Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece Sounds Good by Judith Nicholls A/50 £2.50
Class 6
Verse Speaking Year 3 (March– August Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece: The Twitcherty Witch by William Boucher E/20 £2.50
Book ref/page Entry Fee
Class 7
Verse Speaking Year 3 (Sept-February Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece Mice and Cat by Clive Sansom B/172 £2.50
Class 8
Verse Speaking Year 4 (March-August Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece: Flying by J M Westrop F/91 £2.50
Class 9
Verse Speaking Year 4 (Sept-February Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece: Witches Ride by Karla Kushkin F/ £2.50
Class 10
Verse Speaking Year 5 (March-August Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece Magic Cat by Peter Dixon C/53 £2.50
Class 11
Verse Speaking Year 5 (Sept-February Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece Silver by Walter de La Mare C/445 £2.50
Class 12
Verse Speaking Year 6 (March-August Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece: The Troll by Jack Prelutsky G/47 £2.50
Class 13
Verse Speaking Year 6 (Sept-February Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece Stopping by Woods on a Summer Evening by Robert Frost H/ 67 £2.50
Class 14
Verse Speaking Year 7
Test Piece Moonlit Apples by Leonard Clark L/30 £2.50
Class 15
Verse Speaking Year 8
Test Piece: The Bogeyman by Jack Prelutsky G/46 £2.50
Class 16
Verse Speaking Year 9
Test Piece: It’s Behind you by David Harmer I/ 250 £2.50
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 : The Moths Plea by Elizabeth Jennings J/125 £2.50
Class 18
Verse Speaking Year 11
Test Piece: The Road not Taken by Robert Frost K/77 £2.50
Class 19
Verse Speaking Year 12 and over
Test Piece The Animal Chorus by Elizabeth Jennings J/135 £2.50
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 £2.50
Class 21
Humorous Verse Speaking Years 3 and 4
Test Piece: Own Choice Time Limit : 2 minutes £2.50
Class 22
Humorous Verse Speaking Year 5
Test Piece: Own Choice Time Limit: 3 minutes £2.50
Class 23
Humorous Verse Speaking Year 6
Test Piece: Own Choice Time Limit: 3 minutes £2.50
Class 24
Humorous Verse Speaking Years 7 and 8
Test Piece : Own Choice Time Limit : 4 minutes £2.50
Class 25
Humorous Verse Speaking Years 9, 10 and 11
Test Piece : Own Choice Time Limit : 4 minutes £2.50
Class 26
Prose Speaking Year 6 and under Time Limit : 1½ minutes
Test Piece: An Extract from The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde £2.50
Class 27
Prose Speaking Years 7 and 8 Time Limit : 2 minutes £2.50
Test Piece : An Extract from Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry by
Mildred D. Taylor
Class 28
Prose Speaking Years 9, 10 and 11 Time Limit : 3 minutes £2.50
Test Piece : An Extract from Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Class 29
Prose Speaking Years 12 and 13 Time Limit : 4 minutes £2.50
Test Piece : An Extract from Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
BIBLE READING
Class 30
Bible Reading Year 6 and under (Primary)
Test Piece: St. Matthew Chapter 14 verses 22 to 33 £2.50
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)
Test Piece: St. Matthew Chapter 5 Verses 1 to 12 £2.50
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
Test Piece: from one of the following
A) The Donkey by G K Chesterton B) 4th October St. Francis Day by
Eleanor Farjeon Or C) The Riding of the Kings by Eleanor Farjeon
£2.50
Class 33
Religious Verse Year 7 and over
Test Piece: Own Choice
Time Limit: 3 minutes £2.50
ORIGINAL WRITING
The poem MUST be sent to the Secretary at the time of entry : 16th January 2019. For Classes 34 & 35 please include your date of birth.
Class 34
Original Verse Primary £2.50
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 Secondary £2.50
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 £3.50
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 £2.50
Test Piece The Photograph or The Goal
Time Limit: 2 minutes
Class 39
Solo Mime Secondary
Test Piece: The Unexpected Visitor or Trapped £2.50
Time Limit: 3 minutes
Class 45
Solo Dramatic Primary
Test Piece: Own Choice of an extract from a play or novel spoken by a character
Time Limit: 3 minutes £1.80
Class 46
Solo Dramatic 11 to 16 years
Test Piece: Own Choice of an extract from a play or novel spoken by a character
Time Limit: 4 minutes £1.80
Class 40
Duo Mime Primary No Music
Test Piece : The Rescue or Noises in the Night
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 : Own Choice
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 £2.50
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 £2.50
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 £2.50
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 £2.50
DUOLOGUE CLASSES
Class 48
Duologue Primary
Test Piece: Own Choice
Time Limit: 5 minutes (including any prop setting) £3.50
Class 49
Duologue 11 to 14 years
Test Piece: Own Choice
Time Limit: 6 minutes (including any prop setting) £2.10
Class 50
Duologue 14 to 18 years
Test Piece: Own Choice
Time Limit: 6 minutes (including any prop setting) £2.20
Class 51
Dramatic Quartet (Primary)
Test Piece: The Letter or The Mysterious Box
Time Limit: 4 minutes £3.25
Class 52
Dramatic Quartet (Secondary)
Test Piece: Better Late than Never or Storm in a Teacup
Time Limit: 4 minutes £3.25
Class 53
Dramatic Ensemble 18 years and under
Test Piece: Own Choice – An extract from a play or a complete one act play.
These must have been published by a known publisher and not a piece of original writing .
A licence must be produced with the entry.
Time Limit: 45 minutes (to include setting and striking) £5.00
Class 54
Choral Speaking (Infants)
Test Piece: “Witch, Witch” by Rose Fyleman (A Very First Poetry Book—Oxford)
OR “You were the mother last time” by Mary Ann Hoberman
From (A Very First Poetry Book—Oxford)
AND Own choice for which the time limit is 3 minutes £3.80
Class 49
Duologue Years 7 and 8
Test Piece : Own Choice
Time Limit : 6 minutes (including any prop setting) £3.50
Class 50
Duologue Years 9-12
Test Piece : Own Choice
Time Limit : 6 minutes (including any prop setting) £3.50
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: “Queue for the Zoo by Clare Bevan or The Pirates are Walking the Plank
By Wes Magee
AND Own Choice of one contrasting poem. Time limit : 4 minutes £5.00
Class 55
Choral Speaking Years 3, 4, 5 and 6
Test Piece: “Crocodile Farm” by Roger McGough or “The Day the Telly
Broke Down” by Lindsay McCrae
AND Own Choice of one contrasting poem. Time limit : 4 minutes £5.00
Class 56
Choral Speaking Secondary
Test Piece: “Colonel Fazackerley” by Charles Causley
OR “The Song of the Jellicles” by T. S. Eliot
AND Own Choice of one contrasting poem Time Limit: 10 minutes £5.00
Copies of these poems are available from the Secretary
Class 57
Choral Speaking (Adults)
Test Piece “United States flies in Hamburgers” by Roger McGough or 2Sarah Cynthia
Sylvia Stout “ by Shel Silverstein or “The Stones” by Brendan Kennelly
AND Own Choice of one contrasting poem Copies of Set Poems available from the Secretary
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 Summer 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 £2.50
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 £2.50
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 £2.50
Class 67
Verse Speaking Years 3 , 4, 5 and 6 £2.50
Test Piece : Own Choice of any poem from What are we Fighting For?
edited by Brain Moses & Roger Stevens pub Macmillian or In Time of War
Edited by Anne Harvey pub by Puffin
A copy must be provided for the adjudicator.
Class 68 £2.50
Verse Speaking Years 7 — 12
Test Piece : Own Choice of any poem from Penguin Book of First World War Poetry
A copy must be provided for the adjudicator. This class may be divided.
Class 69 £2.50
Sonnet Class (Secondary)
Test Piece : Own Choice of two contrasting sonnets
Class 70 £2.50
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 2019 The adjudicator will assess both content and presentation. £2.50
Class 73
Radio News Reading Years 7 and 8
Test Piece: As above, but a bulletin of up to 3 minutes duration. £2.50
Class 74
Radio News Reading Years 9 and 10
Test Piece: As above, but a bulletin of up to 4 minutes duration £2.50
Class75
Radio News Reading Years 11 and 12
Test Piece : As above, but a bulletin of up to 5 minutes duration. £2.50
Class 76
Musical Theatre 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. £2.50
Class 77
Open Theme Class £2.50
Test Piece : A programme devised by the group illustrating any one of the options listed in Classes 58—60. Time Limit : 12 minutes
New for 2019
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
Humorous Verse Year 12 & 13
Own Choice Time Limit 5 minutes £3.00
Class 80
Bible Reading Year 12 & 13
Test Piece Mark Chapter 10 Vs 17-27 £3.00
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