Who runs the Festival?
The Festival is a Charitable Trust (Charity No 1058822) and is run by a committee of teachers, competitors and other interested people. We have seven Trustees - the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer of the Committee and three others who may or may not be members of the Committee. We are keen to keep the Festival lively and developing so anyone who would like to join the committee shouldmake themselves known to existing committee members.

What should I wear?
Firstly you need to feel comfortable and good about how you look, this helps you perform, but remember don’t wear something that will detract or hinder your performance. Low heals or flat shoes are good. Heavy trainers or high heels don’t help you move. Long hair is fine as long as it does not keep falling in front of your face, if it does tie it back.

Do I need to bring a copy of my poem/scene to the Festival?
Yes, this is so that the adjudicator can see the form the writing is in, and also help prompting if you go blank.

How big is the audience?
This will depend on the age and numbers in each class.

Will people laugh at me?
Only if you are acting a comedy! Everyone at the Festival, whether it is the audience or the stewards, want to be entertained but also want to encourage. If you make a mistake, no-one will laugh, they will wait for you to continue. Many of the audience have either been on stage at some point of their lives, or are there to support their children and friends and so know what it is like.

What if I make a mistake?
In the main if you can, you should carry on as if it never happened (this is particularly true if it is a missed word or phrase, or a mis-pronunciation of a word). This lessens the effect of the mistake. If you make a large mistake, you can ask to start again, if it does not take too long. Remember, don’t rush/speak too fast, you need to let the audience catch up with what you are saying/acting.

What if I cough during a performance?
Don’t worry, start that line or phrase again.

Can my family watch me?
Yes, as many as you want. Audience have to pay a small entrance fee, currently £1 per day, but you can bring the entire family if you want.

What if my piece is too long?
When you decide on what to act/speak, make a note of the time limit and then time yourself on it. Remember to speak/act slow when timing yourself, as this will give a better indication of how much time you will take performing it on stage. If what you have chosen is too long, you can either choose another piece or edit it.

What if my piece is too short?
Read it to someone and see if you are speaking too fast first. This may sound silly, but you need to give the listener time to take in what you have said, so slow it down to allow for this. If you aren’t you will need to consider making it longer (prose) or chose another piece.

Am I too old to enter?
No-one is too old, any age is welcome to compete at the Festival. We now have a separate session for adult entries - see the syllabus.

Can I swear?
Generally no. What you have to remember is that there may be little children in the audience, and swearing is not acceptable for them. Some adults don’t like it either. The actual material needs to be considered to ensure that its theme is suitable for all age groups.

Got a question? Contact us! covfsd@hotmail.co.uk