Success for Next Stage Youth at The Mid-Somerset Drama Festival

The Mid-Somerset Festival is running its Speech and Drama classes this week at venues across the city, showcasing the best of young talent in categories ranging from verse speaking and acting, to public speaking. The Festival will conclude on Friday 10th March, with a concert of "The Best of The Best" hosted at The Mission Theatre havinge worked hard since December 2022 on their entries for the festival, and their performances this week were met with great praise.

One of our two entries in Group Acting (19 years & Under) took home the Crisp Cowley trophy having won the class with distinction and 89 marks. The group had performed scenes from The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime by Simon Stephens.  The adjudicator applauded the young actors for their contrasting roles, their reactions to each other and their ability to convey the emotional impact of the piece – flowing smoothly from scenes of humour, to those of pathos.

Our other entry in this class came second place with a scene from The Crucible by Arthur Miller. This group also received high praise for their portrayal of different emotions and their ability to adapt their body language to fit the time period of the play. This group gained 88 marks and a Distinction grade.

NEXT STAGE YOUTH 19 YEARS AND UNDER GROUPS WITH aRTISTIC DIRECTOR, aNN eLLISON

Our younger actors were in the class: Group Acting (Year 9 and Under) and came second with 87 – just 2 marks behind the winners. They performed the opening of The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe by Glyn Robbins, again receiving a distinction grade and lovely feedback which commented of their great use of space, their focus and their reactions to each other.

nEXT sTAGE YOUTH YEAR 9 AND UNDER GROUP WITH THEIR TUTOR, TIANA JAMES

Overall the adjudicator complemented all of NSY for their great teamwork and for bringing to the Festival such fine examples of Group Acting. He commented that memories of the evening would stay with him for a long time.

WELL DONE TO ALL OUR TALENTED ACTORS!

On Sunday March 12th 4.30-5.30 at The Mission Theatre, Next Stage Youth will be putting on a Showcase of their MSDF work for parents, family members and friends, new members and the public to watch. Entry is free.