SATURDAY & SUNDAY, 20 & 21 MARCH 2027
CLOSING DATE: 31 JANUARY 2027
Performing Arts Centre, Redmaids’ High School, Westbury Road, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS9 3AW
SPEECH & DRAMA SECTION INFORMATION
REBECCA THOMPSON
BA (Hons) LLAM
It is a pleasure to welcome Rebecca Thompson to The Bristol Festival.
On graduating from Bristol University with a degree in Drama and English, Rebecca worked for BBC Radio 4’s Drama Department. After further journalism and corporate work, Rebecca studied for her Licentiate Teacher’s Diploma and has been teaching Speech and Drama privately and in schools for over twenty-five years. Additionally a voice and presentation skills coach in the region, she has taught in private and state schools, colleges and businesses; in addition, she facilitates communication training in schools across the country. Rebecca has been actively involved in theatre in the South West, both performing and directing, and is also an adjudicator for the Rose Bowl Awards for Amateur Drama and Music. Rebecca is also a LAMDA examiner.
Rebecca is passionate about helping young people to develop their communication and performance skills through festivals, and she is delighted to be adjudicating at the Bristol Festival of Music, Speech and Drama.
REBECCA VINES
MA, BA, FRSA, FVCM, LLAM, LALAM, LGSMD ALAM, ATCL, ANEA, Cert. G
We are delighted to welcome Rebecca Vines back to The Bristol Festival.
Rebecca read journalism at Cardiff University, during which time she wrote a weekly column for The Guardian newspaper. She continues to work for a range of publications as a features writer, ghost writer, and theatre critic.
Rebecca then studied as an actor at the London Centre for Theatre Studies; and her theatre credits include off-West End, Fringe, tour, educational theatre and voiceover.
Rebecca trained as a specialist drama teacher at The Guildhall. She has taught in a range of primary, secondary and tertiary educational institutions for the last twenty years; and is the Principal of her own drama school, which operates internationally.
Rebecca sits on the Adjudicator’s Council for the British and International Federation of Festivals; on the Awards Panel for the UKPA; and is a LAMDA, GCSE and A level examiner.
In 2014, Rebecca was awarded the prestigious Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts in recognition of her work in the youth theatre sector. Rebecca is passionate about helping performers take their first professional steps, and helps emerging talents to form and manage their own theatre companies.
Rebecca’s productions have played to critical acclaim and commercial success at the Edinburgh Fringe since 2023. In addition to directing and producing over thirty sell-out shows at the Fringe; Rebecca has adapted classics such as 1984, Jane Eyre, Emma, and Pride and Prejudice for the stage; and has written the original works More Myself Than I Am, Torn, Coward Conscience, and OTMA.
Rebecca is passionate about inclusivity and diversity in the Arts, spending her free time ‘making things happen’ for people who would otherwise have no agency within the creative sector.
BA (Hons) LLAM
It is a pleasure to welcome Rebecca Thompson to The Bristol Festival.
On graduating from Bristol University with a degree in Drama and English, Rebecca worked for BBC Radio 4’s Drama Department. After further journalism and corporate work, Rebecca studied for her Licentiate Teacher’s Diploma and has been teaching Speech and Drama privately and in schools for over twenty-five years. Additionally a voice and presentation skills coach in the region, she has taught in private and state schools, colleges and businesses; in addition, she facilitates communication training in schools across the country. Rebecca has been actively involved in theatre in the South West, both performing and directing, and is also an adjudicator for the Rose Bowl Awards for Amateur Drama and Music. Rebecca is also a LAMDA examiner.
Rebecca is passionate about helping young people to develop their communication and performance skills through festivals, and she is delighted to be adjudicating at the Bristol Festival of Music, Speech and Drama.
REBECCA VINES
MA, BA, FRSA, FVCM, LLAM, LALAM, LGSMD ALAM, ATCL, ANEA, Cert. G
We are delighted to welcome Rebecca Vines back to The Bristol Festival.
Rebecca read journalism at Cardiff University, during which time she wrote a weekly column for The Guardian newspaper. She continues to work for a range of publications as a features writer, ghost writer, and theatre critic.
Rebecca then studied as an actor at the London Centre for Theatre Studies; and her theatre credits include off-West End, Fringe, tour, educational theatre and voiceover.
Rebecca trained as a specialist drama teacher at The Guildhall. She has taught in a range of primary, secondary and tertiary educational institutions for the last twenty years; and is the Principal of her own drama school, which operates internationally.
Rebecca sits on the Adjudicator’s Council for the British and International Federation of Festivals; on the Awards Panel for the UKPA; and is a LAMDA, GCSE and A level examiner.
In 2014, Rebecca was awarded the prestigious Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts in recognition of her work in the youth theatre sector. Rebecca is passionate about helping performers take their first professional steps, and helps emerging talents to form and manage their own theatre companies.
Rebecca’s productions have played to critical acclaim and commercial success at the Edinburgh Fringe since 2023. In addition to directing and producing over thirty sell-out shows at the Fringe; Rebecca has adapted classics such as 1984, Jane Eyre, Emma, and Pride and Prejudice for the stage; and has written the original works More Myself Than I Am, Torn, Coward Conscience, and OTMA.
Rebecca is passionate about inclusivity and diversity in the Arts, spending her free time ‘making things happen’ for people who would otherwise have no agency within the creative sector.
- Teachers, parents and performers are advised to read the Festival Rules and the following Speech & Drama Rules carefully.
- The Festival is open to all who do not make their living wholly or in part from the discipline entered.
- The Festival operates a zero-tolerance policy towards any expression of racism, personal abuse, defamation of character, swearing and explicit sexual references or any other behaviour which may cause offence to others.
- All entry fees must be paid for in advance. A commitment to the Festival dates must be ensured prior to entering the Festival. No refunds will be given should a class not be attended. Performers cannot enter the same class more than once. The closing date will be strictly adhered to. Late entries will incur a penalty of £2 per entry.
- No trophy will be awarded with a mark that falls below the Commended category.
- Trophies should be returned in a clean condition. If you wish your trophy to be engraved, this will be at your own expense and should be carried out before the return date of 31 January the following year. All trophies remain the property of the Bristol Eisteddfod Association. Medals can be retained by the performer.
- Substitutions are not permitted, except in exceptional circumstances. This must be discussed with the Speech & Drama Committee.
- Performers and teachers should ensure that their selected pieces are of a suitable standard for the age group. Please be sensitive towards the audience regarding the content of scenes. Offensive language must not be included.
- Clean copies of all performance scripts must be available for the Adjudicator prior to the performance. Typed up copies of pieces are acceptable and can be collected after the performance. If they are not collected, they will be destroyed.
- No instruction, mouthing of words, or gestures by teachers or parents is allowed during the performance. This may incur a penalty. It is not the role of the Adjudicator or Steward to prompt. Performers are advised to provide their own prompter.
- There is to be no conferring with the Adjudicator on any matter. The Adjudicator’s decision is final.
- Gesture and movement are not permitted in verse speaking classes.
- Time limits must be strictly adhered to. Penalties can be put in place if the performer exceeds the given time limit. If the time limit is exceeded, the Adjudicator has the right to stop the performance. Introductions are not counted in the time limit.
- Full costume is not permitted apart from practice skirts, drama blacks, and small hand-held props, i.e. fans, sticks, shawls and scarfs. Basic furniture props will be provided by the Festival, i.e. tables and chairs.
- A neat appearance is expected at all times. Hair should preferably be tied back with no obstruction to the face.
- Music may be used as a background to mime, acting and group work. This must be provided by the performer and own equipment must be used. This should be operated by the teacher or fellow student.
- A group performance must consist of at least 3 speaking parts.
Bristol Festival Syllabus