Record number of entries
There was a record number of entries for the 15th Wolfit Festival of Drama and Verse Speaking. Run by the Wolfit Endowment Fund, it was held from Friday to Sunday at Bowbridge Primary School, Newark.
The adjudicator was Priscilla Morris on her second visit to the festival. She has directed and acted in more than 40 productions. She gives one-woman recitals and is a professional speaker. She is the author of Introducing Shakespeare To Young People.
The festival was opened by Joanna Parlby, a patron of the Wolfit Endowment Fund.
Organiser Sheila Mumby said there was a feast of entertainment on offer with everyone putting in good quality performances.
“We had seven local schools taking part this year and hope to have even more next year,” she said.
Certificates were presented by the adjudicator. Trophies and book tokens, donated by Stray’s, were presented by Newark Town Mayor, Irene Brown.
Winners were: dramatic solo up to year five, Jamie Staunton, Highfields School, Newark; dramatic solo up to year six, William Chesters-Thompson, Highfields School; adult verse and prose speaking, Yvonne Cockayne, Argent Theatre; dramatic solo up to year ten, Anastasia O’Connell, Sutton-on-Trent; dramatic duologue under 17: Anastasia O’Connell and Siena James, Averham.
Verse speaking up to year four, Georgina McKeon, Barnby Road Academy, Newark; dramatic groups aged five to 11: Lowes Wong Junior School, Southwell; dramatic groups aged 12 to 20: Explorers Group; verse speaking up to year two, Harvey Ward, Norwell; verse speaking up to year four: Tiana Ward, Farndon; verse speaking up to year six: Sofia Jones, Lowes Wong Junior School; verse speaking up to year three: Haydn Meadows, Bowbridge Primary School, Newark.
Verse speaking up to year six: Olivia Parkinson, Little Carlton; verse speaking up to year five: Jasmine Jones, Bowbridge Primary School; verse speaking up to year six: Jack Kellas, Barnby Road Academy; verse speaking up to year five: Olivia Wharam-Lewis, Coddington Primary School; dramatic solo aged 16 and over: Siena James, Averham; verse speaking up to year three: Felix Kitchen, Newark.
Shakespeare solo up to year ten: Lucy Kitchen, Newark; Shakespeare solo aged 16 and over: Kimberley Hudspeth, Holme; verse speaking up to year eight: Georgina Vasey, Navenby; dramatic solo up to year eight: Georgina Vasey.
Dramatic duologue up to year five: Isabelle Chambers and Emily Thompson, Coddington Primary School; dramatic duologue up to year seven: Olivia Parkinson, Little Carlton, and Alexandra Ward, Norwell; dramatic duologue up to year nine: Rosie Fryer and Emma Stephenson, Farndon; most promising: Olivia Parkinson; highest mark: Georgina Vasey.
