In addition, the following section rules apply;

• Copyright: Entrants do not have to seek copyright permission for any poetry, prose or solo dramatic items performed, to a time limit of 10 minutes. Duologues and group dramatic activity are not covered by this agreement, and copyright for these items should be sought by performers at the time of entry;
• Performing Rights: For “Own Choice” pieces, entrants must provide the Desk Steward with the following information for Performing Rights purposes: Title; Author; Publisher; ISBN number (if available);
• Solo dramatic items must be announced with title and author at the time of performance to qualify for copyright indemnity, and the performer must not change the words or gender of the character;
• All poetry and drama to be performed from memory.

Solo Verse

000 Solo Verse (REC)
“Seagulls” by Wes Magee from The Works by Paul Cookson, published by Macmillan Children’s Books

or

“At the Seaside” by Jo Peters from The Works by Paul Cookson, published by Macmillan Children’s Books.
Set piece”Seagulls” or “At the Seaside”
Fee ₤5.00
Reception only

001 Solo Verse (Year 1)
“Mice” by Rose Fyleman from “Read Me A Poem For Everyday of the Year”, published by Macmillan Children’s Books

Or

“The Wind” by James Reeves from “The Young Puffin Book of Verse”, compiled for Puffin Books by Barbara Ireson.
Set piece”Mice” or “The Wind”
Fee ₤5.00
Year 1 only

002 Solo Verse (Year 2)
“Somersaults” by Jack Prelutsky, from “Sensational”, compiled by Roger McGough

Or

“Tea with Me” by Alison Winn, from “The Young Puffin Book of Verse”, compiled for Puffin Books by Barbara Ireson.
Set piece”Somersaults” or “Tea with Me”
Fee ₤5.00
Year 2 only

003 Solo Verse (Year 3)
“This is the Day” by June Crebbin, from “The Works Key Stage 1”, published by Macmillan Children’s Books

Or

“Sammy Spook (The Curse of Teachers)” by Peter Dixon, from “Peter Dixon’s Grand Prix of Poetry”, published by Macmillan’s Children’s Books.
Set piece”This is the Day” or “Sammy Spook”
Fee ₤5.00
Year 3 only

004 Solo Verse (Year 4)
“My Mum” by Kevin McCann, from “The Poetry Store” compiled by Paul Cookson and published by Hodder Children’s Books

Or

“Moving Away” by Peter Dixon, from “The Works Key Stage 1″ published by Macmillan Children’s Books.
Set piece”My Mum” or “Moving Away”
Fee ₤5.00
Year 4 only

005 Solo Verse (Year 5)
“The Painting Lesson” by Trevor Harvey, from “Read Me a Poem Everyday of the Year” published by Macmillan Children’s Books

Or

“Frost on the Flower” by Charles Causley from “The Poetry Store” compiled by Paul Cookson, published by Hodder Children’s Books.
Set piece”The Painting Lesson” or “Frost on the Flower”
Fee ₤5.00
Year 5 only

006 Solo Verse (Year 6)
“A Hot Time in the Supermarket” by David Harmer, from “The Works 4” published by Macmillan Children’s Books

Or

“Morwenstow” by Charles Causley, from “Collins Treasury of Poetry” selected by Stephanie Nettell, published by HarperCollins.
Set piece”A Hot Time in the Supermarket” or “Morwenstow”
Fee ₤5.00
Year 6 only

007 Solo Verse (Year 7)
“Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll, from “The Puffin Book of Nonsense Verse” selected by Quentin Blake and published by the Penguin Group

Or

“Lone Dog” by Irene Mcleod, from “The Puffin Book of Verse” published by the Penguin Group.
Set piece”Jabberwocky” or “Lone Dog”
Fee ₤5.00
Year 7 only

008 Solo Verse (Year 8)
“Walking the Dog Seems Like Fun to Me” by Roger Stevens, from “The Works 4” published by Macmillan Children’s Books

Or

“Ozymandias of Egypt” by Percy Bysshe Shelley, from “The Nation’s Favourite Poems” selected by Griff Rhys Jones and published by BBC Books.
Set piece”Walking the Dog Seems Like Fun to Me” or “Ozymandias of Egypt”
Fee ₤5.00
Year 8 only

009 Solo Verse (Years 9 to 11)
“Watch Your French” by Kit Wright, from “Because a Fire Was in My Head”, edited by Michael Mopurgo and published by Faber and Faber

Or

“The Listeners” by Walter de la Mare, from “The Nation’s Favourite Poems” selected by Griff Rhys Jones and published by BBC Books and “Because a Fire Was in My Head” published by Faber and Faber.
Set piece”Watch Your French” or “The Listeners”
Fee ₤5.00
Year 9 to Year 11

010 Solo Verse (Years 12 and 13)
“The Ruined Maid” by Thomas Hardy from “The Nation’s Favourite Poems”, published by BBC Books

Or

“To My Nine Year Old Self” by Helen Dunmore from “Glad of These Times” by Helen Dunmore, published by Bloodaxe Books.
Set piece”The Ruined Maid” or “To My Nine Year Old Self”
Fee ₤5.00
Year 12 to Year 13
Up to 5 mins

011 Humorous Verse NON COMPETITIVE
Own choice of a published humorous poem.
Open to all ages.
Fee ₤5.00

Paired, Shared and Group Performance

Please note: In paired, shared or group performances pupils must be entered into the class that corresponds with the age of the eldest performer. Simple props and costume may be used.

012 Own choice group presentation (Years 1 – 3) (3 to 12 performers)
Suggestions – Story Telling, Acted scene, Choral Verse Speaking. Or own choice of any other presentation. Simple costume and props are encouraged.

Time limit 4 minutes.
Fee ₤9.00 per group
Group of 3 to 12 people
Year 1 to Year 3
Up to 4 mins

013 Own choice group presentation (Years 4 – 6) (3 to 12 performers)
Suggestions – Story Telling, Acted Scene, Choral Verse Speaking. Or own choice of any other presentation. Simple costume and props are encouraged.

Time limit 5 minutes.
Fee ₤10.00 per group
Group of 3 to 12 people
Year 4 to Year 6
Up to 5 mins

014 Shared Poetry (acted or not acted) for 2/3 performers (Years 3 – 6)
Own choice.
Recited from memory
A copy must be provided for the adjudicator.
Fee ₤3.00 per person
Group of 2 to 3 people
Year 3 to Year 6
Up to 5 mins

Writing and Speaking

015 Write and Speak a Poem (Years 1 – 3)
The entrant to write a poem on a subject of their own choice which they will recite. A signature of a parent or guardian is required to verify that it is the student’s unaided work which must be submitted to the Section Secretary by Friday 27th March 2026.
Fee ₤5.00
Year 1 to Year 3
Up to 4 mins

016 Write and Speak a Poem (Years 4 – 6)
The entrant to write a poem on a subject of their own choice which they will recite. A signature of a parent or guardian is required to verify that it is the student’s unaided work which must be submitted to the Section Secretary by Friday 27th March 2026.
Fee ₤5.00
Year 4 to Year 6
Up to 5 mins

017 Write and Speak a Poem (Years 7 – 9)
The entrants to write a poem on a subject of their own choice which they will recite. A signature of a parent or guardian is required to verify that it is the student’s unaided work, which must be submitted to the Section Secretary by Friday 27th March 2026.
Fee ₤5.00
Year 7 to Year 9
Up to 5 mins

018 Write & Read your own Story (Years 3 – 6)
The entrants to write a story on a subject of their own choice with a limit of 500 words. A copy to be provided for the Adjudicator with an accurate word count.
Fee ₤5.00
Year 3 to Year 6

019 Write and Present a Speech (Years 5 – 8)
Write and present a short speech on a subject which are you are passionate about. Notes may be used; time limit 2 minutes.
Fee ₤5.00
Year 5 to Year 8
Up to 2 mins

Prose Reading

020 Prose Reading (Years 1 – 2)
Own choice from the following collections:- Usborne Young Reader Series, Usborne Forgotten Fairy Tales, Ladybird Tales and Early Readers Orion Children’s Books (RED series).

Must be read from the book, not learnt. Time limit 1 minute (this must be strictly observed). A photocopy of the passage to be provided for the adjudicator.

Fee ₤5.00
Year 1 to Year 2
Up to 1 min

021 Prose Reading (Years 3 – 4)
Own choice from books by the following authors a) Michael Morpurgo, b) Roald Dahl or c) Holly Webb. Must be read from the book, not learnt. Time limit 2 minutes (this must be strictly observed). A photocopy of the passage to be provided for the adjudicator.
Fee ₤5.00
Year 3 to Year 4
Up to 2 mins

022 Prose Reading (Years 5 – 6)
Own choice from any book written by the following authors a) Katherine Rundell, b) C. S. Lewis or c) Anthony Horowitz. Must be read from the book, not learnt. Time limit 2 minutes (this must be strictly observed). A photocopy of the passage to be provided for the adjudicator.
Fee ₤5.00
Year 5 to Year 6
Up to 2 mins

023 Prose Reading (Years 7 – 9)
Own choice of any book written by one of the following authors a) Philip Pullman, b) Charles Dickens or c) Gerald Durrell. Must be read from the book, not learnt. Time limit 2 minutes (this must be strictly observed). A photocopy of the passage to be provided for the adjudicator.
Fee ₤5.00
Year 7 to Year 9
Up to 2 mins

024 Bible or other Religious Text Reading (Years 3 – 6)
A prepared reading from the Bible or other religion’s Holy Book.
Time limit 2 minutes. Must be read from the book.
A photocopy of the passage to be provided for the adjudicator.
Fee ₤5.00
Year 3 to Year 6
Up to 2 mins

Solo, Duo and Group Drama

Suitability of choice is taken into account. Material can be taken from modern or classical works. Simple costume and props are encouraged.Own choice material may be taken from GCSE/A level syllabuses & may therefore not be suitable for younger audiences. Copies of scripts to be provided for the adjudicator.

See rules on copyright material.

025 Solo Drama (Years 3 – 4)
Own choice. A photocopy to be provided for the adjudicator.
Simple costume and props are encouraged.
Fee ₤5.00
Year 3 to Year 4
Up to 3 mins

026 Solo Drama (Years 5 – 6)
Own choice. A photocopy to be provided for the adjudicator.
Simple costumes and props are encouraged.
Fee ₤5.00
Year 5 to Year 6
Up to 4 mins

027 Solo Drama (Years 7 – 11)
Own choice. A photocopy to be provided for the adjudicator. Simple costumes and props are encouraged.
Fee ₤5.00
Year 7 to Year 11
Up to 4 mins

028 Solo Drama (Years 12 and 13)
Own choice. A photocopy to be provided for the adjudicator. Simple costumes and props are encouraged.
Fee ₤5.00
Year 12 to Year 13
Up to 5 mins

029 Shakespeare Solo, Duo and Group Class (Years 6 – 13)
Own choice of speech from one of the plays.
Clean neat copy to be provided for the adjudicator.
Simple props and costumes may be used.
Fee Solo: ₤5.00 Group: ₤3.00 per person
Solo or Group of 2 to 4 people
Year 6 to Year 13
Up to 4 mins

030 Duologues (Years 4 – 6)
Own choice. A photocopy to be provided for the adjudicator.
Simple costumes and props may be used.
Fee ₤8.00 per duo
Group of 2 people
Year 4 to Year 6
Up to 4 mins

031 Duologues (Years 7 – 13)
Own choice. A photocopy to be provided for the adjudicator.
Simple costumes and props may be used.
Fee ₤8.00 per duo
Group of 2 people
Year 7 to Year 13
Up to 4 mins

032 Group Drama (Years 3 – 6) (Groups of 3 – 10)
Own choice from published play. A copy or photocopy must be provided. Simple costumes and props may be used.
Time – Between 5 and 10 minutes
Fee ₤12.00 per group
Group of 3 to 10 people
Year 3 to Year 6
Up to 10 mins

033 Group Drama (Years 7 – 13) (Groups 3 – 10)
Own choice from a published play. A clean copy or photocopy must be provided. Simple costumes and props may be used.
Time – Between 5 and 10 minutes.
Fee ₤12.00 per group
Group of 3 to 10 people
Year 7 to Year 13
Up to 10 mins

Television News Reader

034 Television News Reader, Solo or Paired (Not acted) (Years 5 – 6)
Solo or in pairs, competitors are to read from their own prepared news bulletin on 2 or more topics of their choice, from the past, present or future covering e.g. local news, current affairs, sport celebrities etc. Time limit 2½ minutes. No costumes or props.
Fee Solo: ₤8.00 Duo: ₤5.00 per person
Solo or Group of 2 people
Year 5 to Year 6
Up to 2.5 mins

035 Television News Reader, Solo or Paired (Not acted) (Years 7 – 9)
Solo or in pairs, competitors are to read from their own prepared news bulletin on 2 or more topics of their choice from the past, present or future, covering e.g. local news, current affairs, sport, celebrities etc. Time limit 2½ minutes No costumes or props.
Fee Solo: ₤8.00 Duo: ₤5.00 per person
Solo or Group of 2 people
Year 7 to Year 9
Up to 2.5 mins

Other Classes

036 Senior Championship (Years 7 – 13)
Award: Cup
Within a time limit of 15 mins, present:-

a) Sight reading (chosen by the adjudicator)

and 2 out of the following 3 categories:-

b) Sonnet (modern writer preferred)
c) Solo drama
d) A short talk on a subject of your choice.
Fee ₤10.00
Year 7 to Year 13
Up to 15 mins

Footnote
Cups may be awarded for some classes.
The following cups will be presented at the Festival;

• Best overall performer in the Speech and Drama Section;
• Best effort across several classes;
• Senior Championship.