Speech & Drama
Poetry
Prose & prepared reading
Drama Solos, Duologues and Public Speaking
Group Drama
Non-Competitive
All entries must be spoken from memory unless otherwise stated
Held at The Venue Walton High on 20th & 21st February 2027
Poetry
Solos
For each of the following categories:
-
Solo Verse (S)– Choose a poem of your own choice to recite
-
Humorous Verse (H)– Choose a poem of your own choice to recite
-
Write and Recite Your Own Poem (W)– An opportunity to write a poem on any subject and then recite it to the audience. Please email your poem to hello@miltonkeynesfestival.org by 10 February 2026 so that it can be sent to the adjudicator before the festival
7 Years and under
A(x)1
£7
1½ mins
8-9 years
A(x)2
£7
1½ mins
10-11 years
A(x)3
£8
2 minutes
12-13 years
A(x)4
£8
2 minutes
14-15 years
A(x)5
£8
2 minutes
16 years and over
A(x)6
£8
3 minutes
Replace the (X) with the letter for the appropriate period code to get the class code. i.e. 10—11 Years Solo Verse would be class AS3.
Memorised Verse or Prose for Two Speakers
Choose a poem or prose passage of your choice. Does not need to be spoken in unison
11 years and under
A7
£8
4 minutes
12 years and above
A8
£8
5 minutes
Spoken Prose
Spoken from memory, not read from the book. Choose a passage according to your age below:
7-9 years
R1
£7
Any book by Jill Murphy or Vivian French 1½ mins
10-11 years
R2
£8
Any book by Tom Fletcher or Megan Rix. 2 minutes
12-13 years
R3
£8
Any book. 2 minutes
14-15 years
R4
£8
Any book. 2 ½ minutes
16 years and over
R5
£8
Any book. 3 minutes
Prepared Reading
Please read from an actual copy of the book, not a device such as a Kindle or phone. Choose any passage as follows.
7-9 years
R6
£7
Any book by Gill Lewis or Philip Reeve. 1½ mins
10-11 years
R7
£8
Any book by Philip Pullman. 2 minutes
12-13 years
R8
£8
Any book by Michael Morpurgo. 2 minutes
16 years and over
R10
£8
Any book. 3 minutes
Sight Reading
Passages to be chosen by the adjudicator
9 years and under
R11
£6
10-11 years
R12
£6
12-13 years
R13
£6
14-15 years
R14
£6
16 years and over
R15
£6
Breakfast
Ideas
Solo Drama
Choose a passage from a drama piece to enact. Simple costuming and minimal props are acceptable.
9 years and under
3 mins
D1
£7
10-11 years
3 mins
D2
£7
12-13 years
4 mins
D3
£8
14-15 years
4 mins
D4
£8
16 years and over
5 mins
D5
£8
Dramatic Duologue
Choose a passage from a drama piece to enact. Simple costuming and minimal props are acceptable.
9 years and under
4 mins
D6
£11
10-11 years
4 mins
D7
£11
12-13 years
5 mins
D8
£11
14-15 years
5 mins
D9
£11
16 years and over
5 mins
D10
£11
Shakespeare Monologue
Choose a passage from a drama piece to enact. Simple costuming and minimal props are acceptable.
12 years and over
5 mins
D11
£8
Talk, with or without Visual Aids
Prepare and present a talk on a subject of your own choice. No PowerPoint presentations or use of other devices please.
9 years and under
3 mins
D12
£7
10-11 years
3 mins
D13
£7
12-13 years
3 mins
D14
£7
14-15 years
3 mins
D15
£7
16 years and over
3 mins
D16
£7
Group drama
-
Costumes, sound effects and music may be introduced at the teacher’s discretion.
-
As the audiences for these classes may contain very young children, we ask that the use of language and appropriate themes be carefully considered.
Creative Dramatic Performance - Festival Trophy
Original script. 3 or more characters – time limit to include setting and striking. These classes are designed to enable teachers and students to develop imaginative and structured dramatic scenes with the purpose of communicating original ideas and responses.
11 years and under
5 mins
D17
£16
12-14 years
8 mins
D18
£21
15 years and over
10 mins
D19
£26
Dramatic Scene from a Published Play - Festival Trophy
Own choice from a published play. 3 or more characters. Time limit to include setting and striking. Costumes, props, sound effects and music are acceptable where appropriate.
11 years and under
5 mins
D20
£16
12-14 years
8 mins
D21
£21
15 years and over
10 mins
D22
£26
English as a Second Language - Prepared Reading
For those whose normal spoken language is not English, this is an opportunity to read in front of an encouraging audience and receive feedback and a certificate. Choose a passage from a book of your choice.
All ages
R16
£7
3 minutes
Non-competitive
Poetry, drama or prepared reading of your own choice. Each entrant will receive a full adjudication, certificate and written feedback but no placing.
All ages
R16
£7
3 minutes