New festival highlights importance of speech (From Thurrock Gazette)
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New festival highlights importance of speech
7:20am Monday 11th February 2013 in News
A FESTIVAL celebrating amateur performing arts will be launched this summer.
The first ever Thurrock Speech and Drama Festival will give thespians and performers the chance to showcase their talent and win awards.
Acts will perform in front of a judge on Sunday, June 9, at the Thameside Theatre in Grays, who will offer tips and advice as well as giving awards for different categories, including solo acting, verse speaking, duologues and Shakespeare.
Organiser Sue MacPherson said the festival is to highlight the importance of good speech, as well as giving youngsters the chance to perform on the big stage.
She said: “It is so important for children to be able to speak properly. If they can’t speak properly they can’t learn how to spell.
“If you look at people at the top of their profession, they speak properly.
“I want to give children the opportunity to show us what they can do.”
The competition is open to all children in Thurrock aged between six and 16. Schools, drama and community groups are all welcome to enter.
Mrs MacPherson, who runs the Super Trouper Theatre School at William Edwards School on a Saturday, is also looking for businesses to donate a trophy or shield to be awarded at the event.
She added: “This will give children the opportunity of performing on the Thameside stage without going to a drama school.
“It is free to come and watch so people will be able to see how lucky we are to have all this talent.”
E-mail sue@thurrockfestival.com
