Patricia Hammond has been a teacher of speech, drama and theatre studies since 1968. Many of her students have worked professionally in theatre, television, film and radio appearing in numerous productions in Europe, London and the provinces including The London City Ballet, The National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

She has been examining and adjudicating for very many years and has travelled frequently for The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (Lamda). Her work has taken her to all parts of the British Isles, Kenya, California, Singapore, Ireland, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong. She is an adjudicator member of the British and International Federation of Festivals. She has provided demonstration classes and Master Classes in Verse Speaking and devised performance at LAMDA’s McCowan Theatre and has co-written with Alison Muir a book entitled 'Mime and Improvisation' published by Lamda/Oberon Books. She is actively involved in community arts and serves on a number of consultative panels relating to conservation, arts projects and animal welfare serving also as Drama Officer for Bromley Arts Council.

She is very much looking forward to her first visit to Watford Festival.

SPEECH SECTION

• All verse speaking to be performed from memory
• All entrants are expected to dress appropriately (See Speech & Drama Regulation 6)
• Entrants who disregard these regulations are liable to be penalised
• Entries and enquiries to the Speech & Drama Secretary.

VERSE SPEAKING (SET POEMS) chosen by Anna Farmer

VERSE SPEAKING (OWN CHOICE — But NOT a set poem listed above)

SONNET (OWN CHOICE)

HUMOROUS VERSE (OWN CHOICE — But NOT a set poem listed above)

PROSE READING (OWN CHOICE)

• The chosen piece of prose must be read from the book

STORYTELLING

• Competitors to tell a story (known or invented) in their own words
• No costumes
• Props permitted

PUBLIC SPEAKING

• Prepared speech/talk on any topic
• Notes and visual aids permitted

SIGHT READING

• Competitors are given a short prose passage to read aloud
• 2 minutes are allowed for preparation

DRAMA SECTION

MIME

• Own choice of subject
• Practice clothes only to be worn (white or black shirt, blouse or T-shirt; black trousers or tights)
• No music, costumes or hand props to be used
• One stage block or one chair is permitted
• A title should be announced but no introduction or verbal explanation given
• Bare feet or soft footwear to be worn

Solo Mime

Duologue Mime

DRAMA

• All “Own choice” with the exception of Prepared Group Improvisation (Classes 74-77)
• All classes must be performed from memory – no script reading
• Costume or Practice clothes (white or black shirt, blouse or T-shirt; black trousers or black skirt) should be worn. NB : No extra marks will be awarded for costume
• Appropriate footwear should be worn to suit the character
• Hand props and music may be used
• Chairs and tables (also stage blocks at the Pump House) are provided

ELIZABETHAN, JACOBEAN OR RESTORATION

Solo Acting

Duologue Acting

SCENE FROM A PLAY, SCREENPLAY OR ADAPTED PROSE

Solo Acting (excluding Elizabethan, Jacobean or Restoration)

 Duologue Acting (excluding Elizabethan, Jacobean or Restoration)

 SCENE FROM A CONTEMPORARY PLAY, SCREENPLAY OR ADAPTED PROSE (Published after 1980)

Solo Acting

Duologue Acting

MONOLOGUE ACTING

(A standalone dramatic composition for one performer & not from a play, screenplay or novel)

GROUP ACTING

(Scene from a play, screenplay or novel)

• Minimum of three competitors
• Script required for the adjudicator

GROUP ANTHOLOGY

• Minimum of three competitors
• Must use a combination of at least three of the following: music, dance, drama, mime, movement and verse
• A script of running order/notes must be provided for the adjudicator

PREPARED GROUP IMPROVISATION

• To prepare an original improvisation inspired by one of the set titles
• Groups of 3 – 8 persons
• If an original script evolves through the rehearsal process this is permissible

MUSICAL THEATRE

• Minimum of three competitors
• To perform a musical scene from a published work of musical theatre, or from a film or screenplay
• The scene should include a balance between song, movement and dialogue
• One copy of the libretto must be provided for the adjudicator and adhere to copyright laws
• It is the responsibility of the group to provide the necessary recorded musical accompaniment on a CD-R (audio track) - not CD-RW or MP3 - if they wish to use the theatre playback system which will be operated by the theatre technician
• One Copy of the recorded CD containing all tracks must be sent to Helen Thorpe, 4 Oxhey Road, Watford WD19 4QE by 8th February to enable the theatre technician to make the necessary check to ensure compatibility with the theatre playback system. It will be retained by the festival and available on the day of the performance
• Each group will be allocated a ten minutes technical rehearsal prior to the beginning of the class