SPEECH ARTS & DRAMA

Refer to the General Rules and Information section at the front of this syllabus for more information.

PROCEDURE

By choosing selections in the Provincial categories, participants should be better prepared, in the event that they are recommended to compete at the Provincial level.

Performers should be on site at least 15 minutes before the class starts.

A warm-up room is generally not provided.  Please do not make use of any room at the venue without consulting the on-site Festival representative.

Only one selection is to be performed from each category.

Clip the registration slips to the pages of the selections to be performed and place them at the Adjudicator’s table as you go to the front. Please pick up material from the Adjudicator’s Secretary after adjudication.

SPEECH ARTS & DRAMA CATEGORIES

Select entries from the following list:

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT STUDENTS IN VARIOUS GRADE CLASSES CHOOSE A VARIETY OF CATEGORIES.

Canadian Poetry - A poem written by a Canadian poet. Either lyric or narrative may be chosen. (For presentation style, refer to category description).

Time limit…l3 yrs & under (3 min)…..16 yrs & under (4 min)…..17 yrs & over (5 min)

Humorous Poem - Any form of verse.

Time limit ...13 yrs & under (3 min)…..16 yrs & under (4 min)…..17 yrs & over (5 min)

Lyric Poem - A short, unified poem expressing the poet’s own experience and emotion in a relaxed stance with no movement. The speaker interprets but should not identify himself/herself

with it: e.g. Solitude by Bliss Carman; To Autumn by Keats; Sonnets of Shakespeare and

Wordsworth.

Time limit…..13 yrs & under (3 min)…..16 yrs & under (4 min)….17 yrs & over (5 min)

Narrative Poem - A poem which tells a story and usually has dialogue. The telling of a story is the primary concern of the speaker: e.g. Hiding by Dorothy Aldis; The King’s Breakfast by

A.A.Milne; The Raven by E.A.Poe; The Cattle by Pauline Johnson.

Time limit…..13 yrs & under (3 min)…16 yrs  & under (4 min)…17 yrs & over (5 min)

Original Poem (OPEN TO ALL AGE GROUPS) - Written and performed by the participant.

Sonnet (Solo) – Jr - A lyric poem of 14 lines with only one leading idea, thought or feeling.

Sonnet (Sequence) – Int/Sr - 2 sonnets joined by a work or theme that is common to both.

DuO Poetry - A poem recited by two people. Poems that are conversations, dialogues or have twodistinct moods work well.

Time limit…..13 yrs & under (3 min)….16 yrs & under (4 min)….17 yrs & over (5 min)

Prose - A selection or excerpt taken from a novel, short story or essay: e.g. Treasure Island, Lord

of the Flies, essays by William Hazlitt, Charles Lamb, George Orwell, short stories by

Stephen Leacock, Katherine Mansfield. The focus should be on the voice. Vocal

characterization is encouraged but the quality of prose must be maintained. The selection

should include narration, description and dialogue. It should be spoken in the storytelling

style, but should not be performed as a dramatic scene, i.e. there is to be no acting.

Participants may stand or be seated.

Time limit…..13 yrs & under (3 min)…..16 & under (4 min)….17 yrs & over (5 min)

Solo Drama - An excerpt from a published play intended to be presented on stage by an actor assuming language, movement and dress of original character. The scene should be stated. Selections from published anthologies of individual monologues are acceptable if they portray a character and not a narrator. For examples, refer to:

Scenes for Young Actors C. Perry, Encore Performances, Publisher

Scenes for Young Actors L. Cohen, Avon Publisher

Great Monologues for Young Actors vol. I & II Craig, Slaight, Smith & Krauss Inc., Publisher.

Stand-alone monologues (not from longer plays) are unacceptable at the Provincial level.

DUO DRAMA - A scene for two players from any play. May be adapted from a story. Scenes should be staged as though taken from the complete performance. Simple costumes and props may be used.

GROUP DRAMA - 3 to 7 actors – An excerpt from a published play or a dramatization of a story. Simple costumes or props may be used.

Time limit.(Solo/Duo/Group…..14 yrs & under (5 min)…..15yrs & over (8 min)

SOLO SHAKESPEARE - A monologue of one character from a play by William Shakespeare. Lines of other characters may be cut, and a series of speeches performed as a monologue if the sense of the passage can be maintained. Limited use of costumes and props.

Time limit………14 yrs. & under (4 min)…………15 years and over (6 min)

DUO SHAKESPEARE - A scene for two from any of Shakespeare’s plays. To be performed as if from the play in its entirety. Limited use of costumes and props.

Time limit……..14 yrs & under (5 min)…..15 yrs & over (8 min)

MIME – DUO MIME – GROUP MIME - A performance of a brief story without words. The title may be announced out loud or displayed on a card before the performance begins. Music background is permitted. A chair or a single prop may be used.

Time limit…………..14 yrs & under (3 min)…………..15 yrs & over (4 min)

PUBLIC SPEAKING - Must be the participant’s original prepared speech. Selections need not be memorized. Note cards may be used. Participants will be judged on details such as research,

organization and presentation.   Time limit……14 yrs & under (3 min)……..15 yrs & over (4 min)

IMPROMPTU PUBLIC SPEAKING - Participants speak on a subject assigned by the Adjudicator, (10 min. preparation time).  Time limit…….14 yrs & under (3 min)…….15 yrs & over (4 min)

STORYTELLING - May be an original story or the retelling of a known story, using good storytelling sounds. It should appear spontaneous rather than memorized. The storyteller should differentiate between characters and should have eye contact with the audience.

Time limit …..13 yrs & under (3 min)….16 yrs & under (4 min)…17 yrs & over (5 min)

CREATIVE STORYTELLING - Five minutes prior to the class, the Adjudicator will show the participants an illustration. Participants are expected to create a story based on the picture.

Time limit…….(all ages)…….3 minutes

SIGHT READING - Participants read a passage selected by the Adjudicator.

Time limit………..14 yrs & under (2 min)………….15 yrs & over (3 min)

BIBLE READING - Participants read a selection from the King James Bible (either Old or New Testament).  Eye contact with the audience is required.

Time limit……..(all ages)……3 minutes

REGISTRATION FEES

11 and under                                                                                        $15.00

12 to14                                                                                                $17.00

15 to17                                                                                                $19.00

18 and over                                                                                          $21.00

Open 29 and over                                                                                $21.00

Duo                                                                                                      $21.00

Small Groups (3 to 6 performers)                                                          $10.00/person

Schools/Large Groups                                                              $50.00