FAQ's: Speech and Drama Festivals

Entering the festivals 

As Festivals approach you will be asked to complete a form and pay the  festival fee. Upon receipt of form and fees, your child will be entered into  the festivals. 

On the Day 

Each class will last approximately 60-90 minutes. Once your class begins,  each child will be called up to the stage one at a time. Once everyone has  finished, the adjudicator will make some general comments and award  some children with the top prizes. After the class is dismissed, you can collect your child’s certificate and feedback sheet. 

A Word of Warning 

We cannot request specific dates and times for your children. If you cannot make the time your child is given, the organisers will not rearrange  it and cannot refund your entry fee. Please be aware of this before you  enter your children. 

Pieces to Perform 

• For children in Reception, Year One and Year Two, we recommend  learning a poem (or two) for each festival. It is possible to perform a book reading instead of a poem, and your teacher can advise on this. 

• For children in Year 3+, they can perform their exam pieces at the festivals. There are a few exceptions, where your child would need to  learn an additional piece. Again your teacher can advise on this. You can also choose to perform a new piece, separate from the exams, but do discuss this with your teacher as we are always mindful of ensuring there is enough class time to fully prepare. 

FAQ’s 

Are festivals compulsory? 

No! But we do recommend children take part in at least one. They are a great opportunity to gain experience in public speaking, and gain valuable  feedback.  

Do the festivals count towards anything? 

The experience is valuable for the children and the certificates can be added to the file, and mentioned on CVs/school applications etc - but it isn’t like the LAMDA UCAS points - the festivals are a standalone event.  The festivals are also not connected to the LAMDA exams - so if for example your child doesn’t take part in a festival performance, this does not affect their grade or preparation for their exam. 

Can my child enter more than one class at the festivals? Yes in some cases. This is generally only recommended if your child has private one-to-one lessons though, as time is limited in shared classes.  Please do speak to your teacher to see if they would advise taking more  than one class.