SATURDAY & SUNDAY, 21 & 22 MARCH 2026
CLOSING DATE: 31 JANUARY 2026
Performing Arts Centre, Redmaids’ High School, Westbury Road, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS9 3AW
SPEECH & DRAMA SECTION INFORMATION
ANITA DOWNEY
PhD, PGCE, ADVS, LGSM, FVCM, PGCA
Anita began her career as an academic studying at Oxford and Nottingham Universities. After qualifying as a teacher, she worked in both primary and secondary schools.
She happily combined her academic teaching with her love of the arts. She trained as a Drama Teacher at Guildhall School of Speech and Drama and Central School of Speech & Drama, taking the Advanced Diploma in Voice. Anita often runs workshops in this specialism. Winning the International Professor Van Lawrence Award for research into voice sounds led her to research further into the cultural rhythms of the world through literature.
Anita is head of Speech and Drama at a large, flourishing secondary school. This involves work to diploma level in speech, acting and public speaking. School productions and workshops are also engaged in.
Anita is a busy examiner and a an adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals adjudicator both in the UK and abroad. Anita is a member of STSD (The Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama).
We cannot wait to welcome Anita in March and look forward to learning from her.
ROSALIND TAYLOR
BEd(Hons), LRWCMD (Dist), Laban Diploma (Dist), Cert Ed (Dist)
Rosalind trained at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and at The Laban Centre of Movement and Dance, London.
Rosalind has taught Speech and Drama for over thirty years and held Director level positions at a number of leading performing arts departments across South Wales. She continues to deliver workshops at leading vocational schools and universities, both in the United Kingdom and internationally. In addition to her teaching credits, Rosalind has extensive experience in directing and creating original devised material for vocational and community outreach projects.
Rosalind is currently collaborating with The National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company as their Creative Consultant - developing their youth-community outreach programmes.
Rosalind has spent over twenty years working alongside award-winning choreographers with the National Youth Ballet of Great Britain as drama coach and répétiteur. She continues to support their Beyond Ballet initiative for new and aspiring young choreographers.
Rosalind is an adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals, as well as being a Senior Examiner and Team Leader for The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).
We look forward to welcoming Rosalind to Bristol Festival.
PhD, PGCE, ADVS, LGSM, FVCM, PGCA
Anita began her career as an academic studying at Oxford and Nottingham Universities. After qualifying as a teacher, she worked in both primary and secondary schools.
She happily combined her academic teaching with her love of the arts. She trained as a Drama Teacher at Guildhall School of Speech and Drama and Central School of Speech & Drama, taking the Advanced Diploma in Voice. Anita often runs workshops in this specialism. Winning the International Professor Van Lawrence Award for research into voice sounds led her to research further into the cultural rhythms of the world through literature.
Anita is head of Speech and Drama at a large, flourishing secondary school. This involves work to diploma level in speech, acting and public speaking. School productions and workshops are also engaged in.
Anita is a busy examiner and a an adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals adjudicator both in the UK and abroad. Anita is a member of STSD (The Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama).
We cannot wait to welcome Anita in March and look forward to learning from her.
ROSALIND TAYLOR
BEd(Hons), LRWCMD (Dist), Laban Diploma (Dist), Cert Ed (Dist)
Rosalind trained at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and at The Laban Centre of Movement and Dance, London.
Rosalind has taught Speech and Drama for over thirty years and held Director level positions at a number of leading performing arts departments across South Wales. She continues to deliver workshops at leading vocational schools and universities, both in the United Kingdom and internationally. In addition to her teaching credits, Rosalind has extensive experience in directing and creating original devised material for vocational and community outreach projects.
Rosalind is currently collaborating with The National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company as their Creative Consultant - developing their youth-community outreach programmes.
Rosalind has spent over twenty years working alongside award-winning choreographers with the National Youth Ballet of Great Britain as drama coach and répétiteur. She continues to support their Beyond Ballet initiative for new and aspiring young choreographers.
Rosalind is an adjudicator for the British and International Federation of Festivals, as well as being a Senior Examiner and Team Leader for The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).
We look forward to welcoming Rosalind to Bristol Festival.
- 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.
MARGARET HOBBS
The Brambles
Duck Lane
Kenn
Clevedon
BS21 6TP
[t] 01275 876277
[e] speechdrama@bristolfestival.co.uk
The Brambles
Duck Lane
Kenn
Clevedon
BS21 6TP
[t] 01275 876277
[e] speechdrama@bristolfestival.co.uk
Bristol Festival Syllabus 2026