Speech and Drama Eisteddfod 2023

A wonderful array of bright and well-articulated students presented for three days of the Speech and Drama Program at the Narrabri Arts Eisteddfod, which ran from May 30 to June 1.

Following a strong music and dance section, audiences were not disappointed as group speech categories from infant to high school age were presented across three days.

This year’s speech and drama adjudicator Pamela Cassidy, from the Gold Coast, travels extensively as an eisteddfod adjudicator and was impressed by the children’s performances.

She was delighted by the students and audiences, providing both encouraging and constructive comments for the entrant’s performances.

Competitors came from local Narrabri Schools, Wee Waa, Rowena, Pilliga, Burren Junction, and Moree for group, duo and solo performances.

A particularly captivating performance was provided by Barren Junction Public School’s Year 6 students Jamie Smith and Frederik Ferris who dressed as millennial ‘cultured’ girlfriends in their humorous short play titled ‘Selfies’ and elicited approving laughter for their witty modern commentary.

The alternate mime performance category was also well explored this year by four Year 6 students from Rowena and Burren Junction.

A brave solo mime entry from Wee Waa Public School Year 3 students called ‘The Camping Trip’ provided a touch of expressive silence on a big day two of speeches.

Set poems, Australian poems, humorous poems, poems for two, group speech, public speaking, mimes, own composition, sight reading and Bible readings were all included in the program and were well supported.

Moree’s Agnes-Xavier drama student Agnes Tighe displayed an impressive array of poetry and prose, gaining the adjudicator’s approval from her many entries in Australian poem, set poem, humorous poem, poem by poet other than Australian, and prose recital from memory.

Narrabri Arts Eisteddfod committee convenor for the event, Louise Stewart said: “All competitors were well practised with many entertaining performances, which the audience really enjoyed.”

Narrabri Public School’s Group Speech Infants: Back, Indie Jobson, Harry Cameron, Alaric Sault, Summer Fox, Mia Yates, Rhys Randall, and Leddy Brown, middle, Charlotte Bell, Matari Dennis, Jayden Jamieson, Shanyse Hobson, Tahlia Fox, Pyper-Grace Daley, Ryley Budden, Kane Bradford, Alexis Randall, and Elspeth Dennis, front, Kyle O’Connor, Ben Kinchela, Phoebe Poore, Linkyn Ridoux, Annabel Kennedy, Aleah Charles, Imogen Calsena and Finnigan Duncan. Narrabri Public School’s Group Speech Infants: Back, Indie Jobson, Harry Cameron, Alaric Sault, Summer Fox, Mia Yates, Rhys Randall, and Leddy Brown, middle, Charlotte Bell, Matari Dennis, Jayden Jamieson, Shanyse Hobson, Tahlia Fox, Pyper-Grace Daley, Ryley Budden, Kane Bradford, Alexis Randall, and Elspeth Dennis, front, Kyle O’Connor, Ben Kinchela, Phoebe Poore, Linkyn Ridoux, Annabel Kennedy, Aleah Charles, Imogen Calsena and Finnigan Duncan.

Narrabri West Public School’s Year 2 students Group Speech: Back, Linken Kelly, Bailey Kay, Shay Fernance, Ashtyn Todd, Levi Bailey, Ewan Vennell, Angus Booby, Bronte Lennox, Ella Field, Freya Astill, middle, Lawson Whan, Aleira Lucas, Hadley Thurston, Grace Thompson, Maddilyn O’Mara, Eli Warren, Emmett Alexander, Ahren Brooks, Maizee Clayton, Thomas Seccombe, Piper Kelly, Alexis Dick, Addison Cornell, Emmasen Wallace, front, Daphne McDonald, Dakotah Skinner-Smith, Ava McInnes, Alexander Keeffe, Grace Hatfield, Madison Bron, Bailey Thorne, Hazel Davis, Emma Keeler, Dana Allen, Armarnie Flett, and Jason Ross. Narrabri West Public School’s Year 2 students Group Speech: Back, Linken Kelly, Bailey Kay, Shay Fernance, Ashtyn Todd, Levi Bailey, Ewan Vennell, Angus Booby, Bronte Lennox, Ella Field, Freya Astill, middle, Lawson Whan, Aleira Lucas, Hadley Thurston, Grace Thompson, Maddilyn O’Mara, Eli Warren, Emmett Alexander, Ahren Brooks, Maizee Clayton, Thomas Seccombe, Piper Kelly, Alexis Dick, Addison Cornell, Emmasen Wallace, front, Daphne McDonald, Dakotah Skinner-Smith, Ava McInnes, Alexander Keeffe, Grace Hatfield, Madison Bron, Bailey Thorne, Hazel Davis, Emma Keeler, Dana Allen, Armarnie Flett, and Jason Ross.

Narrabri West Public School’s Year 3 students Group Speech: Heidi Stuart and Zara Warnock entered the Poem for Two section. Narrabri West Public School’s Year 3 students Group Speech: Heidi Stuart and Zara Warnock entered the Poem for Two section.

Wee Waa Public School Group Speech Infants: Oliver Brand, Charlotte Watling, Emma Small, Teliah Vallette and Josiah Green-Knight. Wee Waa Public School Group Speech Infants: Oliver Brand, Charlotte Watling, Emma Small, Teliah Vallette and Josiah Green-Knight.

Moree East Public School’s Year 6 student Holly Kelso. Moree East Public School’s Year 6 student Holly Kelso.

Narrabri Public School Group Speech: Back, Hunter Barrett, Catherine Gerdnoi, Montana Cowling, Dejana Gould, Hazel Woolford, Tykiesha Doolan, and Jaxon Smith, middle, Miss Henderson, Emily Atkins, Lucy-Ava Adams, Oliver O’Regan, Adalaide O’Meara, and Calliope Longstaff, front, Joe Brown, Leairah Smith, Cadence Anderson, Isabella MacBeth, Ellaouise Dewar, Elsie Barton, and Jackson Hayne. Narrabri Public School Group Speech: Back, Hunter Barrett, Catherine Gerdnoi, Montana Cowling, Dejana Gould, Hazel Woolford, Tykiesha Doolan, and Jaxon Smith, middle, Miss Henderson, Emily Atkins, Lucy-Ava Adams, Oliver O’Regan, Adalaide O’Meara, and Calliope Longstaff, front, Joe Brown, Leairah Smith, Cadence Anderson, Isabella MacBeth, Ellaouise Dewar, Elsie Barton, and Jackson Hayne.