Speech and drama at the Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts covers a lot more than reciting a poem. There are classes for verse and prose, acting and mime, public speaking and stand-up comedy, plus a few for work written or filmed at home. Every performer gets feedback from an experienced adjudicator. Most also go home with a mark and a clearer idea of what to work on next.
The festival runs from 6 to 15 May 2027 at Cheltenham Town Hall. Entries open on 1 December 2026 and close on 1 February 2027.
What you can enter
Classes are grouped by school year, from Reception to Year 13, and some are open to adults.
- Verse speaking, sonnets, slam poetry and poems spoken to music
- Prose speaking and prose reading, including readings from the Bible or another holy book
- Reading at sight, with a text you see for the first time on the day
- Solo acting, duologues, Shakespeare and scenes from musical theatre
- Solo, duo and group mime
- Public speaking, informative speeches and a business pitch
- Devised scenes and improvisation
- Choral speaking, group drama and radio plays
- Stand-up comedy
- Your own poems, stories, short films and TikTok routines
Most classes are for one performer. Duos and groups have plenty of their own.
Starting out
The Welcome class is for children in Reception and younger. It isn’t competitive. Each child says a short poem or rhyme and gets feedback, and a parent can come on stage if that helps.
Accessible classes
Some classes are for children and adults with special educational needs. There are poetry, drama and communication classes for individuals or pairs, and a group class for up to 35 performers, support assistants included. Performers choose their own material.
The Lyric Championships
Two classes are by invitation only, so you can’t enter them directly. The twelve highest-scoring performers in the Year 5 and Year 6 verse speaking classes are invited to the Junior Lyric Championship. The top four in each verse speaking class from Year 7 to Year 13 are invited to the Lyric Championship, the closest thing the section has to a final.
Poems, stories and films
Original poems, stories and short films are entered like any other class, then sent in by 1 April 2027. Written work must be typed and titled, with no name on it. The syllabus has the details.
On the day
Class times are in the timetable, published on 1 March 2027. Classes can start up to 15 minutes early, so arrive in good time and sign in. Performers go on in class order, then the adjudicator gives results and feedback for the whole class.
Nobody can coach from the audience, and that includes mouthing the words. If a performer might forget their lines, bring a prompter who isn’t their teacher. In own choice classes, give the adjudicator a copy of the script before you perform.
Full stage costume isn’t allowed. A few items that suggest the character are fine, and so are hand props such as a fan or a scarf. The Speech and Drama rules have the detail.
Family and friends are welcome in the audience. A day ticket costs £7. On the day has more on what to expect.
Next steps
Questions about speech and drama entries? Email info@cfpa.org.uk.