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To all the performers and their families, thank you for being part of our festival.
We hope that this experience has inspired you to continue pursuing your passion for the performing arts.
Our warmest wishes for future success and happiness in your performing endeavours.

Speech and Drame Timetable 2026

Saturday 14th, & Sunday 15th March

Saturday 21st, & Sunday 22nd March

(Dates may vary according to entry levels)

Main Venue – The Oakwood Centre, Headley Rd, Woodley, Berks, RG5 4JZ. Map
Group Verse Speaking The Bulmershe School, Woodlands Avenue, Woodley RG5 3EU

Entries open on 7th November 2025 and close on 14th January 2026.

You can enter Speech and Drama section here

Guidance for Speech and Drama Performers & Parents

You can download the Speech and Drama 2026 Syllabus here.

Chairman: Jacquie Newport
Assistant: Celia Thatcher
email: speech.drama@woodleyfestival.org.uk

Please do follow us on our social media platforms – Facebook and Instagram for all updates

Conditions of Entry Speech and Drama

1. ANNOUNCING PIECES. Dramatic items should be announced with title and author at the time of performance to qualify for copyright indemnity and the performer must not change the words or gender of the character.

2. ACTING — a copy of the script must be presented to the Adjudicator prior to the commencement of the performance.

 

See Also General Conditions of Entry Below.

General Conditions of Entry
Please note special Conditions of Entry for each section above

1. A COPY OF PIECES FOR THE USE OF THE ADJUDICATOR must be handed in prior to your performance, and be collected at the end of the class. Please make sure your name is on the copy.

2. LATE ENTRIES are not normally accepted. Where feasible, the Section Chair may possibly exercise discretion to accept a late entry shortly after the closing date. Time is of the essence, so make any such request by phone or email, not post. Fees for unaccepted late entries will be returned.

Speech and Drama Section Adjudicators 2026
Jenny Thornton

AGSM (teaching), ALAM (Acting and Public Speaking), Certificate in Education, LISTD, CDE (Dance), Adjudicator for British and International Federation of Festivals.

Jenny trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama gaining awards for Character Acting and for Most Promising Teacher. Jenny has led the Performing Arts Teams in large Comprehensives, been an Assistant Principal for Edexcel and now enjoys running her own Performance Centre with ages from 4 years to adults delivering drama, dance and musical theatre and also writing. Her play called “Gone” gained a Commended when performed at The Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond as did her most recent play “Young Love”. She is pleased to be part of the LAMDA examining team and has two pieces in their new acting anthology.

Jenny is looking forward to re- visiting the drama section of The Woodley Festival and making it a very positive experience for all concerned. The standard is always so very high, atmosphere electric and organisation superb.

“Drama is a life skill that changed me from a stuttering introvert to a confident individual. We can give our children no better opportunity.” Jenny Thornton

Ginny Avery

MA, PGDipVoice, LLAM

Ginny trained in Theatre Arts at Italia Conti, studied Classical and Contemporary Mime at the Adam Darius Mime Centre, and achieved a Masters in Voice at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Her performance career spans the full breadth of ‘the business’, including television, film and radio, but especially relishing performing as an Immersive Theatre Character!

With nearly four decades of experience teaching speech and drama, Ginny enjoyed running Encore Youth Theatre in Wallingford, where she wrote and directed numerous productions. Many of these toured local festivals, culminating in her original musical composition Odyssey!

As a voice coach, Ginny has presented her work to the British Voice Association and spoken at the Speech Communication Association Conference in New Zealand. She has served as a Voice Specialist for institutions such as South Thames College and the Oxford School of Drama and spent eight years on the Voice Faculty at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).

Ginny’s highly sought-after “Speaking with Confidence” courses cover presentation skills, motivational speaking, telesales training, and vocal health. Her extensive client list includes Mars, Coty, SD Worx, Expand Research, and Heathrow Air Traffic Control, as well as schools, colleges and Universities, including St Annes, St Johns and the University of West England. 

Ginny also enjoyed 8 years as a musical theatre examiner for the London College of Music and Media and continues as a regular speech and drama adjudicator, sharing her experience and expertise to festivals throughout the UK.

Since 2000, Ginny has brought diverse and exciting arts and cultural events to the villages of South Oxfordshire through her role as Artistic Director for The GAP Festival.

Speech and Drama Trophies

 

 

Trophy Description 2025 Winner
St. Joseph’s Cup Best Performance in Prose Reading Malaika Jallo Jamboria, Kanzy Elfoudeh (Shared)
Choral Verse Speaking – Year 2 and Under Choral Verse Speaking – Year 2 and Under Holme Grange School
Choral Verse Speaking – Year 4 and Under Choral Verse Speaking – Year 4 and Under Reddam House School
Choral Verse Speaking – Year 6 and Under Choral Verse Speaking – Year 6 and Under Eton End School
The Waverley Cup Best Performance in Verse Speaking Ella Povey
Woodley and Earley Times Cup Duologue Acting Sofia Edmonds and Chrissie Wray
Write a Verse Write a Verse Trinity McLeod
Write a Story Write a Story Phoebe Streets
The Crosfields School Cup Most Versatile Performer in the Speech and Drama Section Up to Year 8 Cataleya Rademan and Eleanor Payne
News Reel Trophy Best Performance in the Television Presenter Classes Reddam House School
Betty Titcombe Memorial Shield Best Performance in Sight Reading Trinity McLeod
Group Mime Best Performance in Group Mime Fusion of Art
Mime Cup Best Performance in Solo Mime Ella Hanson
Woodley Town Council Cup Best Performance in Solo Acting Mia Audu
Margaret Paterson Cup Public Speaking Year 7 Upwards Ethan Ang
Edna Grace Trophy An outstanding performance from a young performer Zihan Ou
Joan Ellis Memorial Cup Best Performance in Shakespeare to Year 8 Henry Rollason
Gillian Reid Cup Public Speaking Year 7 and upwards Trinity McLeod
Improvisation Cup Best Performance in Duo Improvisation Henry Rollason and Vijay Dhanjal
The Queen Anne Star Year 9 – 11 (Small) Most promising performance in Solo Acting  Poppy Neil and Scarlett Lynch
The Queen Anne Star up to Year 8 (Large) Most promising performance in Solo Acting  Pippa Coghill and Molly Kearton
Musical Theatre Trophy Best performance in Musical Theatre Sonya Apert
Public Speaking Best Performance in Public Speaking Year 6 and under Alyssa Chan
Duologue Verse Speaking Most memorable performance in Duologue Verse Speaking Teddy Cartwright and Max Wheeler
Maclean-Hobkirk Trophy Own Composition – overall winner Eve Fisher
Sonning Village Players Cup Senior Drama Award Amelie Holt and Sasha Silvester