Regulations and General Information
Speech & Drama 2010

IMPORTANT

These Regulations should be read carefully. It is the responsibility of teachers to ensure that all entrants will be presumed to have read and accepted them before arriving at the theatre to perform.

1. DATES and VENUES
1.1 Sunday 6th December 2009 Closing dates for entries. No late entries will be accepted. See Regulation 2 for details.
1.2 Friday 29th January 2010 A Timetable and Competitors’ Schedule will be sent to teachers and private entrants. See Regulation 2 for details.
1.3 Sunday 31st January 2010
  • All "Own Choice" titles and authors must be submitted.
  • A copy of the recorded musical accompaniment for class F78 must be submitted.
  • All trophies to be returned.
1.4 Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th March Group drama classes will be held at Watersmeet Theatre, High Street, Rickmansworth, WD3 1EH.
  Monday 8th - Sunday 21th March Solo and duologue classes will be held at the Pump House Theatre and Arts Centre, Local Board Road, Watford, WD17 2JP.
  Sunday 21th March 2010 Speech and Drama Finale will be held at the Pump House Theatre.

 

2.

 

ENTRIES
2.1 Entries must be submitted by Sunday 6th December 2009. No late entries will be accepted. Entry forms can be downloaded or obtained from the Speech & Drama Section Secretary (tel. 020 8357 8304). Photocopies may be made of the entry form should extra be needed. Teachers are able to enter online.
2.2 Cheques and postal orders should be made payable to "Watford Festival".
2.3 Entry fees cannot be refunded if for any reason a competitor is unable to attend. A refund will be made if the Festival Committee finds it necessary to cancel any class. Neeta Sajip should be notified of any withdrawals as soon as possible (tel. 020 8357 8304).
2.4 A solo competitor may only enter a class once. Duologue competitors may perform in a class more than once provided their partner and the script is different. An entire group may not enter a class more than once, however, individuals may perform more than once with different groups.

 

3.

 

AGE LIMITS
3.1 Competitors must enter the class which corresponds to the Year they should be attending at School in accordance with their age. Guidelines for this are given below.
  5 years of age or less on August 31st 2010 should be entered in "Reception Year & under".
  6 years on August 31st 2010 enters School Year 1 13 years on August 31st 2010 enters School Year 8
  7 years on August 31st 2010 enters School Year 2 14 years on August 31st 2010 enters School Year 9
  8 years on August 31st 2010 enters School Year 3 15 years on August 31st 2010 enters School Year 10
  9 years on August 31st 2010 enters School Year 4 16 years on August 31st 2010 enters School Year 11
  10 years on August 31st 2010 enters School Year 5 17 years on August 31st 2010 enters School Year 12
  11 years on August 31st 2010 enters School Year 6 18 years on August 31st 2010 enters School Year 13
  12 years on August 31st 2010 enters School Year 7  

 

4.

 

CHOICE of MATERIAL
4.1 Set poems can be obtained from Neeta Sajip (Tel. 020 8357 8304).
4.2 In all "Own Choice" classes ONE CLEAN, LEGIBLE COPY (BOOKS and PHOTOCOPIES are not permitted) of the piece to be performed must be provided for the Adjudicator. The competitors name should be clearly marked and the sheet handed in at the Reception Desk on arrival. Failure to do so may result in the entry being graded without a mark.
4.3 The Festival audience is a captive one and usually includes children; the performance of material which may cause offence is not acceptable and will result in marks being withheld or disqualification with the exception of Classes F64 and 65. The winners of these classes will not be invited to perform at the Speech and Drama Finale. In all other classes it is permissible to substitute or drop bad language in a script and mark up the adjudicator’s copy to indicate any changes.
4.4 Copyright - The Watford Festival has entered into an agreement with the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society and pays a fee that enables authors to receive payment for the live performance of their work. It also means competitors do not have to seek copyright permission for any poetry, prose or solo dramatic items performed up to a time limit of 10 minutes provided they submit details of the title and author to the Festival by the due date (January 31st). Duologues and Group Dramatic activity are not covered by this agreement and copyright for these items should be sought by the performers.

 

5.

 

PERFORMANCE
5.1 Time limits set MUST NOT be exceeded. In all "Own choice" classes performances will be timed. If a performance overruns it will be drawn to the attention of the adjudicator. One mark will be deducted for every ten seconds, or part thereof. If the overrun is excessive the performer will be stopped and ineligible for any reward. Announcing the title or giving a brief introduction is not included in the timing.
5.2 A competitor must perform in the class in which his/her name appears in the programme. A competitor who has entered the wrong class will receive an adjudication, a certificate and a grade, but not a mark, medal or place.
5.3

Setting the stage. Tables and chairs are provided. At the Pump House stage boxes are available. Setting up and striking a set must be completed quickly and help can be given by members of the audience. Stage Stewards should not be expected to help with this.

 

6.

 DRESS and PERSONAL APPEARANCE
6.1 All candidates are expected to maintain a high standard of dress appropriate to a Festival. In the Speech Section (classes F0 - F45) school uniform is not compulsory but entrants must be smartly dressed. Shoes must be well polished. Trainers, running shoes and flip-flops should not be worn. In the Drama Section (classes F46 - F78) detailed requirements are stipulated in the syllabus.
6.2 Entrants who disregard these regulations are liable to be penalized.

 

7.

 

RECORDING
7.1 No video filming, flash photography or tape recording is permitted during a performance or adjudication. This is to avoid disturbance to performers and to comply with copyright regulations.

 

8.

 

AWARDS
8.1 Marking System. All competitors receive a remark sheet and certificate. For marks of 75-79 a certificate of Merit is awarded, 80-84 Special Merit, 85-89 Distinction and 90+ Honours. First, Second and Third Places are awarded in all classes with more than one competitor, provided at least a Merit has been attained. Remark Sheets and Certificates are usually ready for collection in the theatre foyer within 15 minutes of the conclusion of a class.
8.2 Medals are awarded in solo and duologue classes at the discretion of the Adjudicator when a mark of at least 80 has been achieved. Some trophies are presented at the end of classes, but the majority are competed for at the Speech and Drama Finale.
8.3 All trophies are the property of the Watford Festival. Winners must sign a receipt. Trophies must be returned at least four weeks before the next Festival. Holders are responsible for any loss or damage.

 

9.

 

ORGANISATION
9.1 Entry to or exit from the auditorium will not be permitted during performances or adjudications.
9.2 Competitors, teachers or members of the public may not communicate directly or indirectly with the Adjudicator for the duration of the Festival. The Adjudicator’s decision in all cases is final. He/she may stop or disqualify a performance, withhold an adjudication or award.
9.3 The Speech & Drama Committee reserves the right to change or add venues, class dates/times and adjudicators if necessary and refuse an entry or stop a performance. Classes can be withdrawn, re-arranged or joined together should the number of entries warrant this. Classes can be excluded from or added to the Finale as time permits.
9.4 The Festival Programme can be obtained for £5.00 including P&P, from the Speech & Drama Secretary, 93 Parkside Way, North Harrow, Middlesex HA2 6DB (cheques payable to "Watford Festival").
9.5 All complaints should be made in writing to the Section Leader, Helen Thorpe, 4 Oxhey Road, Watford WD19 4QE.

 

10.

 

SAFETY and SECURITY
10.1 A copy of our Child Protection Policy is available to download. It is important that all teachers circulate this to parents and guardians of children entering the Festival. A copy will be on display in the foyer of the theatres.
10.2 Parents and Teachers are reminded that it is their responsibility to maintain supervision of their children and pupils at all times whilst they are on Festival premises.