Is your child taking part in the Mansfield Music and Drama Festival?

Youngsters are tingling with excitement as they prepare for Mansfield's coming music and drama festival.
Do you recognise your little stars of the stage in our pictures form the Mansfield Music and Drama Festival, of years gone by?  Here Meryl Chambers is presented with a Trophy by chairman Paul Bacon and Coun. Kate Allsopin 2012.Do you recognise your little stars of the stage in our pictures form the Mansfield Music and Drama Festival, of years gone by?  Here Meryl Chambers is presented with a Trophy by chairman Paul Bacon and Coun. Kate Allsopin 2012.
Do you recognise your little stars of the stage in our pictures form the Mansfield Music and Drama Festival, of years gone by? Here Meryl Chambers is presented with a Trophy by chairman Paul Bacon and Coun. Kate Allsopin 2012.

Hundreds of performers from schools around the area are set to perform in the five-day festival celebrating young talent across a number of venues.

From Saturday, April 23 until Wednesday 27 between 600 and 800 keen singers, actors, poetry readers and musicians are to take part in the showcase, participating in both competitive and non-competitive classes, with a wealth of awards and bursaries up for grabs in the 93rd annual event.

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Ann Jones, drama coordinator for the festival, said: “We run sessions in all aspects of music, choir singing, individual singing, musical instruments and we’re also part of the John Ogden scholarship which awards bursaries to music students with exceptional technical ability and are interested in furthering their classical education.” John Ogden, born in Mansfield Woodhouse in 1937, was the premier classical pianist of his generation.

St. Peter's KS1 receive the St. Peter's Trophy for best Choral Verse (2012).St. Peter's KS1 receive the St. Peter's Trophy for best Choral Verse (2012).
St. Peter's KS1 receive the St. Peter's Trophy for best Choral Verse (2012).

Children from six years old up to over 18s will be taking part at the Create Theatre at West Notts College as well a the Crescent Theatre, St Mark’s Church Hall and the Palace Theatre. Classes include

Ann added: “It’s a wonderful opportunity for young people to stand on a stage and entertain an audience. It gives them a chance to develop their confidence and it’s a wonderful help for the future.

“With cuts in funding it’s very difficult for schools these days - unfortunately drama is coming out of the curriculum which is a great pity because. When you think of all the people who go to see the Theatre in London - we’re denying our young people the opportunity to learn and it means there’s little chance of getting into drama schools if you come from deprived areas.

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“The simple skill speaking and communicating is being lost very quickly as people are texting and emailing these days - we cant even speak face to face anymore.”

Coun. Kate Allsop and Paul Bacon, chairman of the Mansfield Music and Drama Festival, present the Jubilee Trophy for best Individual Performance to Lydia Ward (2012).Coun. Kate Allsop and Paul Bacon, chairman of the Mansfield Music and Drama Festival, present the Jubilee Trophy for best Individual Performance to Lydia Ward (2012).
Coun. Kate Allsop and Paul Bacon, chairman of the Mansfield Music and Drama Festival, present the Jubilee Trophy for best Individual Performance to Lydia Ward (2012).

For full listings visit the Mansfield Music and Drama Festival Facebook page.

Is your son our daughter looking forward to taking part in the festival? Get in touch and tell us what they’ll be performing at 01623 450 301 or [email protected].

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