VERSE SPEAKING
REFERENCE BOOKS
- The Puffin Book of Fantastic First Poems
- Is A Caterpillar Ticklish pub. Puffin
- I Like this Poem Edited by Kaye Webb pub Puffin
- Read Me (Blue Book)
- Another Very First Poetry Book pub Oxford
- Read Me 2
- 100 years of Poetry
- A First Poetry Book by Puffin
- A Quartet of Poets pub 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: The Tickle Poem by Ian Serraillier A/3 £2.75
Class 2
Verse Speaking Year 1 (March– August Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece Kite Anon A/27 £2.75
Class 3
Verse Speaking Year 1 (September-February Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece: The Dragon by Daphne Lister B/133 £2.75
Class 4
Verse Speaking Year 2 (March-August Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece: Upside Down by Aileen Fisher C/19 £2.75
Class 5
Verse Speaking Year 2 (September-February Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece: It’s Dark in Here by Shel Silverstein D/451 £2.75
Class 6
Verse Speaking Year 3 (March– August Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece: There are Big Waves by Eleanor Farjeon A/75 £2.75
Book ref/page Entry Fee
Class 7
Verse Speaking Year 3 (Sept-February Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece: Autumn Woods by James S Trippett A/77 £2.75
Class 8
Verse Speaking Year 4 (March-August Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece: It’s Only a Storm by Dave Ward E/76 £2.75
Class 9
Verse Speaking Year 4 (Sept-February Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece: The Owl and the Astronaut by Gareth Owen D298 £2.75
Class 10
Verse Speaking Year 5 (March-August Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece: Where the Boats Go by Robert Louis Stevenson C/49 £2.75
Class 11
Verse Speaking Year 5 (Sept-February Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece Windy Nights by Robert Louis Stevenson F/340 £2.75
Class 12
Verse Speaking Year 6 (March-August Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece: Something told the Wild Geese by Rachel Field G/37 £2.75
Class 13
Verse Speaking Year 6 (Sept-February Birthdays inclusive)
Test Piece The Marrog by R C Scriven H/108 £2.75
Class 14
Verse Speaking Year 7
Test Piece: The Lament of the White Mouse by E V Rieu I/129 £2.75
Class 15
Verse Speaking Year 8
Test Piece: Boy at the Window by Richard Wilbur D/ 161 £2.75
Class 16
Verse Speaking Year 9
Test Piece: Awake in the Siesta by Elizabeth Jennings E/ 446 £2.75
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 Soldier by Rupert Brook J/16 £2.75
Class 18
Verse Speaking Year 11
Test Piece: If by Rudyard Kipling C/165 £2.75
Class 19
Verse Speaking Year 12 and over
Test Piece: To Autumn by John Keats C/174/5 £2.75
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 £2.75
Class 21
Humorous Verse Speaking Years 3 and 4
Test Piece: Own Choice Time Limit: 2 minutes £2.75
Class 22
Humorous Verse Speaking Year 5
Test Piece: Own Choice Time Limit: 3 minutes £2.75
Class 23
Humorous Verse Speaking Year 6
Test Piece: Own Choice Time Limit: 3 minutes £2.75
Class 24
Humorous Verse Speaking Years 7 and 8
Test Piece : Own Choice Time Limit : 4 minutes £2.75
Class 25
Humorous Verse Speaking Years 9, 10 and 11
Test Piece: Own Choice Time Limit : 4 minutes £2.75
Class 29
Prose Speaking 13 to 16 years Time Limit: 3 minutes
An Extract from “Eragon” by Christopher Paolini
Or “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte £2.00
Class 26
Prose Speaking Year 6 and under Time Limit: 1½ minutes
Test Piece: An Extract from The Railway Children by E Nesbit or
The Lost Magician by Piers Torday £2.75
Class 27
Prose Speaking Years 7 and 8 Time Limit: 2 minutes £2.75
Test Piece: An extract from The Boy in the Stripped Pyjamas by John Boyne or Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
Class 28
Prose Speaking Years 9, 10 and 11 Time Limit: 3 minutes £2.75
Test Piece: An Extract from Naughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman
Or Jayne Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Class 29
Prose Speaking Years 12 and 13 Time Limit: 4 minutes £2.75
Test Piece : An Extract from “Game of Thrones” by George R.R. Martin
BIBLE READING
Class 30
Bible Reading Year 6 and under (Primary)
Test Piece: St. Mark Chapter 4 verses 1-8 £2.75
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 verse 1-12 £2.75
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: Own Choice
Time Limit: 2 minutes £2.75
Class 33
Religious Verse Year 7 and over
Test Piece: Own Choice
Time Limit: 3 minutes £2.75
ORIGINAL WRITING
The poem MUST be sent to the Secretary at the time of entry: 16th January 2020. For Classes 34 & 35 please include your date of birth.
Class 34
Original Verse Primary £2.75
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 £2.75
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 £5.00
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. MUSIC IS PERMITTED. IF POSSIBLE PERFORM IN BLACK CLOTHING.
Class 38
Solo Mime Primary £2.75
Test Piece: The Bus Stop or The Waiting Room
Time Limit: 2 minutes
Class 39
Solo Mime Secondary
Test Piece: The Bank or Shopping £2.75
Time Limit: 3 minutes
Class 40
Duo Mime Primary
Test Piece: The Shoe Shop or The Interview
Time Limit: 3 minutes £3.75
Class 41
Duo Mime Secondary
Test Piece: Own Choice
Time Limit: 3 minutes £3.75
Class 42
Group Mime Primary (not less than 4 people)
Test Piece: Own Choice
Time Limit: 5 minutes £6.00
Class 43
Group Mime Secondary (not less than 4 people)
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 £2.75
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 £2.75
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 £2.75
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 £2.75
DUOLOGUE CLASSES
Class 48
Duologue Primary
Test Piece: Own Choice
Time Limit: 5 minutes (including any prop setting) £3.75
Class 49
Duologue Years 7 and 8
Test Piece: Own Choice
Time Limit: 6 minutes (including any prop setting) £3.75
Class 50
Duologue Years 9-12
Test Piece: Own Choice
Time Limit: 6 minutes (including any prop setting) £3.75
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: “The e-mail” 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 Crocodile by Roald Dahl or Extremely Naught Children by Dorothy Edwards or First Day at School by Roger McGough
AND Own Choice of one contrasting poem. Time limit: 4 minutes £6.00
Class 55
Choral Speaking Years 3, 4, 5 and 6
Test Piece: Colonel Fazackerley by Charles Causley or Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll
Or The Teacher by Gevase Phinn
AND Own Choice of one contrasting poem. Time limit: 5 minutes £6.00
Class 56
Choral Speaking Secondary
Test Piece: “The Song of the Jellicles” by T. S. Eliot
AND Own Choice of one contrasting poem
Time Limit: 10 minutes £6.00
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:
- Solo Verse b. Prose
- Choral Speaking d. Recorded Music
- Live Music f. Mime & Music
Time Limit: 8 minutes £3.85
Class 57
Choral Speaking (Adults)
Test Piece: The Lion and Albert or Stately as a Galleon by joyce grenfell or Blackberry Picking by Seamus Heaney.
AND Own Choice of one contrasting poem
Time Limit: 10 minutes £7.00
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 Fire ii Water iii Dreams
The theme must include at least three of the following skills:
- Solo Verse d. Recorded Music
- Prose e. Live Music
- Choral Speaking f. Mime and Movement
Time Limit: 8 minutes £7.00
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 Flight ii Time and Space iii Family Occasions
The theme must include at least three of the skills listed above.
Time Limit: 10 minutes £7.00
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 £7.00
Class 61
Shakespeare Character Study Years 6, 7 and 8 £2.75
The piece selected must be acted Time Limit: 2 minutes
Test Piece: Own Choice of a speech from one of the following plays
- Much Ado About Nothing ii. Romeo & Juliet iii. Midsummer Night’s Dream
Class 62
Shakespeare Character Study Years 9, 10, and 11 £2.75
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 £2.75
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 Diary of Anne Frank £2.75
Class 66
Diary Reading Years 9, 10 and 11 Time Limit: 3 minutes £2.75
Test Piece: Own Choice of an extract from The Diary of An Edwardian Lady
Class 67
Verse Speaking Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 £2.75
Test Piece: Own Choice of any poem by James Reeves
A copy must be provided for the adjudicator.
Class 68 £2.75
Verse Speaking Years 7 — 12
Test Piece: Own Choice of any poem by Charles Causley
A copy must be provided for the adjudicator. This class may be divided.
Class 69 £2.75
Sonnet Class (Secondary)
Test Piece: Own Choice of two contrasting sonnets
Class 70 £2.75
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 2020. 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. £2.75
Class 74
Radio News Reading Years 9 and 10
Test Piece: As above, but a bulletin of up to 4 minutes duration £2.75
Class75
Radio News Reading Years 11 and 12
Test Piece : As above, but a bulletin of up to 5 minutes duration. £2.75
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. £2.75
Class 77
Open Theme Class £2.75
Test Piece: A programme devised by the group illustrating any one of the options listed in Classes 58—60. Time Limit: 12 minutes