How to enter the Coventry Festival of Speech and Drama

The Coventry Festival of Speech and Drama is open to all amateur performers. It does not matter if you have a teacher or not, or whether you have entered a festival before. This is the festival for you.

If you require a syllabus, which lists all the classes at the festival and includes an entry form, you can browse or download one from this site.

The classes fall into five key categories: Prose, Verse, Solo Acting, Writing and Public speaking. Often work that is done in school is performed at the festival.

Once you have decided which classes to enter then all you need to do is to complete the entry form which is found on the last page of the syllabus and send it - with appropriate payment - to the Treasurer to arrive before the 1st October closing date.

On the form you will need:

• The name of the competitor
• The contact address. This is used by the festival to send out details of class dates/times 2-3 weeks before the festival takes place. Where a teacher enters a number of pupils in the festival it is usual for the teacher to put their address.
• The Class Code – This is the two/three letter code written in the syllabus by the side of each class e.g. SA for Solo Acting.
• The Age Code of each competitor – Age codes are A to H and can be found in the rules or on the Age Group page. Note: If you have any problem identifying the age code then you can either supply the date of birth of the competitor or the age of the competitor on the 1 st September in the year of the festival.
• The title and author of the piece you plan to perform. If you have not made your mind up don’t worry you can let us know on the day of the festival.
• The cost: See the syllabus or Rules page for details.
• The type of entry – This is either C for Competitor or S for Seedbed which is non-competitive.
• Note: If there is not sufficient space on the entry form please continue of a separate sheet.

About three weeks before the festival you will receive your entry ticket(s) which lets you know the date/time that the class will take place and any other important information.

The festival takes place at Bablake School in Coventry in a purpose built auditorium.

When the entrant performs it will be in the presence of an audience, which typically comprises friends and family of the competitors, and a qualified adjudicator. Please note when choosing pieces that a Festival audience typically includes children.

It is the role of the adjudicator to provide a written and oral critique of the performance. The oral feedback is provided at the end of the class when all performers have been seen.

Everyone who enters receives a certificate which states their level of achievement. For details of the nationally moderated, British & International Federation of Festivals' mark scheme, see the Rules page.

1 st place in each age group receives a medal, and many classes have trophies which are awarded to the best performance in the class.

After the Festival - find a place to perform again - and start thinking about next year!

The Coventry Festival syllabus doesn't change much and includes lots of own choice - updates are posted on the website.

We look forward to seeing you at the next festival.