SPEECH & DRAMA

SATURDAY & SUNDAY, 23 & 24 MARCH 2024

CLOSING DATE:  31 JANUARY 2024

Redmaids’ High School, Westbury Road, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS9 3AW


SPEECH & DRAMA SECTION INFORMATION

CALLY FOSTER
LLAM, FSTSD

Since her first appearance in a festival at the age of five, Cally has been committed to the festival movement and has pursued a career as a speech and drama specialist.

Cally was the principal of her Buckinghamshire-based drama studio for more than twenty years, combining that role with travelling extensively in the UK, Europe and internationally as an examiner for LAMDA and as an adjudicator. She also delivers workshops on all aspects of communication and performance.

Cally is an adjudicator member of the British and International Federation of Festivals, a Speech and Drama Representative on the Adjudicators Council, and is a former Chairman of the Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama.

Cally believes performing in festivals not only encourages an appreciation of the Arts, but also develops the communication and presentation skills so important in today’s world. She is delighted to be returning to the Bristol Festival of Music, Speech and Drama in 2024 and wishes everyone an enjoyable as well as a positive experience.


JEAN-MARC PERRET

Jean-Marc trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. His main theatre credits include Royal Shakespeare Company, Birmingham Rep, Derby Playhouse and West Yorkshire Playhouse. He has numerous TV and film appearances including playing Prince Caspian in the successful BBC BAFTA-nominated series The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, and Revelation (Romulus Films) with Terence Stamp and Ron Moody.

Jean-Marc made appearances in This Is Us (Season 2) for NBC as well as the US series American Woman (Warner Bros). Whilst working in Los Angeles, he was fortunate to attend the Oscars 2017 ceremony at The Dolby Theatre.

Jean-Marc’s examining experience includes London College of Music in Drama/Communication/Musical Theatre subjects (5 years), LAMDA (10 years) and Trinity College London (2 years). He gained a Licenciate Acting/Teaching diploma in 1996 and is a Guest Adjudicator for the British International Federation of Festivals (BIFF). During the COVID lockdown, Jean-Marc set up an association with Dreamaker Drama Academy in Beijing and Shanghai preparing pupils online in Speech Writing and Public Speaking and these classes are growing from strength to strength.

Further to these commitments, Jean-Marc trained as a certified British Academy of Dramatic Combat fight instructor helping to choreograph and perform in sword fights for projects such as Disney’s blockbuster film Cinderella (2015). He played D’Artagnan for the London red carpet film premiere event for The Three Musketeers (2011) which starred Orlando Bloom and Christoph Waltz. Jean-Marc was also the guest performer at a World Cup and Commonwealth Fencing Champions Exhibition event in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics 2020 held at the prestigious King’s School, Canterbury. He has held numerous external workshops in the art of stage fighting for leading national and international venues. Bookings and enquiries can be made through his website: www.cutandthrust.co.uk

  1. The Festival is open to all who do not make their living wholly or in part from the discipline entered.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. No trophy will be awarded with a mark that falls below the Commended category.

  5. 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.

  6. Substitutions are not permitted, except in exceptional circumstances. This must be discussed with the Speech & Drama Committee.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. There is to be no conferring with the Adjudicator on any matter. The Adjudicator’s decision is final.

  11. Gesture and movement are not permitted in verse speaking classes.

  12. 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.

  13. 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.

  14. A neat appearance is expected at all times. Hair should preferably be tied back with no obstruction to the face.

  15. 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.

  16. A group performance must consist of at least 3 speaking parts.
MARGARET HOBBS

The Brambles
Duck Lane
Kenn
Clevedon
BS21 6TP

[t] 01275 876277
[e] speechdrama@bristolfestival.co.uk