Speech and drama adjudicator praises local Eisteddfod
GUERNSEY Eisteddfod is thriving, a UK adjudicator has said as the speech and drama section gets under way.
Speech and drama specialist Vivienne Redford, who is adjudicating the section, gave her credit to the organisers of the event.
‘It’s been a very happy festival so far, beautifully organised and all of the children are very well prepared and know exactly what they are doing,’ she said.
‘In the UK, these types of festivals are dying a death, simply after Covid they’ve never reopened and they’re suffering hugely.
‘So I take my hat off to the organisers here who have got it back up to where it was pre-Covid and it’s a festival that is absolutely thriving, which is really encouraging to see.’
Ms Redford is an adjudicator member of the British and International Federation of Festivals and travels throughout the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands to judge various competitions.
She attended the Guernsey Eisteddfod for the first time about eight years ago, but is still yet to explore the island.
Despite having only seen half a day of young competitors so far, she said it was going really well.
‘I think there is a tremendous feeling of support within themselves. They’re keen to support each other and so it really doesn’t feel like a competition – it’s a celebration of the work they’ve been doing,’ she said.
‘They’re all at different stages of their training and I think that’s really important to stress – it’s not about the winning, although that is a lovely thing, but it’s about the sharing of the experience and pacing themselves on the way to excellence.’
Ms Redford also credited the parents of the children competing, stating that communication is a life skill and the parents are incredibly supportive, involving their children.
‘These children are up on their feet communicating and speaking in public, and there is no other subject or job where they stand up in public and share something and then they receive a critique in public,’ she said.
‘That’s a very brave thing to do to receive criticism in public.’
The speech and drama section runs until Saturday 18 March at Beau Sejour.
