The annual Speech and Drama Teachers’ Association of Victoria Performance Festival was held at Loreto Mandeville Hall on Sunday 28 August. This event provided a wonderful opportunity for our students to perform and compete in a range of categories, with trophies or cash prizes for first, second and third places. 

St Catherine’s School contingent, led by our Speech and Drama Teacher Ms Lucy Mason, had a wonderful afternoon, with many students placing and gaining honourable mentions from the adjudicators. 

Speech and Drama lessons are a weekly co-curricular offering for students at St Catherine’s in Years 5 to 12. Our expert tutor, Ms Mason, guides our students through the requirements of the Trinity College London Syllabus to support their preparation for graded exams at the end of each year.  

The Speech and Drama syllabus specifications are designed for students who want to develop their skills by engaging with a variety of forms including poetry, prose and play extracts in a range of styles from different periods.  

Students find value in developing their skills in speaking and understanding text and communication by bringing text to life through performance, and integrating learning from wider subjects such as English, Literature, Theatre Studies, Media, and History. 

Congratulations to every performer who took to the stage to present their dramatic works. 

Section M: 12 to 14 years
Time limit: four minutes
Prizes: First – $75, Second – $50, Third – $25 

Candidates will be required to present a memorised recitation of both a poem and a character monologue. Costume is optional. Time limit is a combined total.  

This was particularly exciting as Erena was the youngest in the category and she was competing against 12 other students. 

Poetry
Section C:
Prizes: First – Gold Trophy, Second – Silver Trophy, Third – Bronze Trophy
Adjudicator: Katie Macleish   

Storytelling/Prose Recitation 

Section G: Group 1, 12 to 14 years
Time limit: three minutes
Prizes: First – Gold Trophy, Second – Silver Trophy, Third – Bronze Trophy   

Storytelling/Prose Recitation
Section F: 11 years and under
Prizes: First – Gold Trophy, Second – Silver Trophy, Third – Bronze Trophy   

Duologues
Section P: 11 years and under
Time limit: three minutes
Prizes: First – Gold Trophy, Second – Silver Trophy, Third – Bronze Trophy   

Duologues
Section Q: 12 to 14 years
Prizes: First – Gold Trophy, Second – Silver Trophy, Third – Bronze Trophy