The Speech & Drama Section

The Speech & Drama section is the largest section of the Festival, and usually runs over a period of two weeks and three weekends. Please refer to the links above and to the right for more information.

Speech and Drama set poems are available here.

Updates for 2026

1. The Festival will run from Sunday 1^st March 2026 through to Sunday 22^nd March 2026 for the Solo and Duologue classes, with the Group section likely taking place on the first day.
2. For all Group classes, we have increased the maximum number to 10 persons (3 - 10 person groups). Starting from the 2027 festival, the minimum will be increased to 5 persons (5 - 10 person groups).
3. Whilst every attempt will be made to allow entrants to perform, for any class where there are 3 or fewer entrants, the Festival reserves the right to cancel the class and refund any entry fees for it.
4. Please note for Junior Solo and Duologue Acting classes (S50, S51, S54 and S55) the pieces can include Shakespearean texts.
5. For performances of Verse and Prose, please refer to guidelines provided by LAMDA under Teacher Support Materials (particularly pages 11 and 12) - https://www.lamda.ac.uk/sites/default/files/Teacher_Support_Materials_Communications_2024_v1.pdf.
6. The Finale (for all gold medal winners) is scheduled to take place on Sunday the 29^th of March 2026.
7. For Juniors and Seniors, in the event that a gold medal winner is not able to attend the Finale, we will invite the second place winner(s) to perform for the trophy.

Script Requirements

As per Section 4.2 of the Speech & Drama Regulations, in all "Own Choice" classes the verse and prose or acting script selected must be by a published writer other than the competitor and not set elsewhere in the syllabus. ONE CLEAN, LEGIBLE COPY (BOOKS and PHOTOCOPIES are not permitted) of the piece to be performed must be provided for the Adjudicator. Marks will be deducted for poor scripts. Please hand in your script at the Reception Desk on arrival. Failure to do so may result in the entry being graded without a mark.

The following table shows the types of classes which do need and don't need scripts to be provided for the adjudicator.

Scripts Needed From You	Scripts Not Needed
Verse Speaking (Own Choice) - classes S11 through S20 Prose Reading (Own Choice) - classes S23 through S31 Solo and Duologue Acting - classes S46 through S57 and class S74 Group Acting and Anthology - classes S58 through S61	Verse Speaking (Set Poems) - classes S0 through S10 Public Speaking - classes S33 through S35 Sight Reading - classes S36 through S39 Mime - classes S40 through S45 Devised Scene - classes S62 through S65