Over 100 students from Queen’s College entered the 111th Taunton Festival of Arts – Drama Festival last week, making a remarkable impression with their performances. With over 300 entrants in the community, Queen’s pupils took home as astonishing 16 cups and 14 overall First Prizes, in addition to countless second and third prizes.

A particularly poignant moment came with Evan’s receipt of the Margaret Way Adjudicator’s Cup, named in honour of Margaret Way, a former teacher at Queen’s College who was a cherished figure in the Taunton community. Known for her inspiring work, Margaret taught until the age of 92, leaving a lasting legacy at Queen’s and beyond. The judges were “blown away” by Evan’s performance, in addition to several Queen’s pupils receiving recognition for their ‘Outstanding’ performances, with many being awarded the newly introduced ‘Exceptional’ class.

Reflecting on the students’ success, Laura Sewell, Teacher of Drama at Queen’s College, emphasised the power of Performing Arts. She noted, “It is incredibly important for all Queen’s students to be able to experience what it is like to stand before an audience and feel the thrill of completion and appreciation of their performance in order to develop inner self-assurance for all aspects of their life. At times, the buzz of electricity coming off the children as they descended from the stage could be felt resounding around Temple Methodist auditorium.”

Huge congratulations to all:

CUPS  (Overall Class winners)

Haitham – Leyland Shield – Verse Speaking (Yr3 & Under)

Oliver & Tom – Duo Verse Speaking (Yr5 & Under)

Emily & Lucy – Duo Verse Speaking (Yr3 & Under – Tempest Cup)

Rebekah – Quantock Cup – Spoken Prose (Memorised)

Francesca – West Cup – Verse Speaking (Yr 8 & Under)

Charlie – Spoken Prose Gent Cup (Yr 7 & 8) Outstanding

Lily & Ellie – Walsh Cup – Group Spoken Word – Outstanding

Lily – Performance Poetry Prize – Oscar

Charlie – Religious text (Yr 7,8,9 Chislett Cup)

Ellie (Yr 10 +) – Senior Bible Cup Prize

Evan – (Yr 9+) News Reading – Lucy Pinnock Cup

 

Drama focus

Evan – Margaret Way Adjudicator’s Cup – Overall performer

Ian – Filgett Cup – Solo Acting (Yr 4 & Under)

Evan – Robin Bush Young Performer – Shakespeare 

Mary-Tess & Makanaka – David Stroud  Cup – Duo Shakespeare

Mollie – Thorne Cup – Solo Acting (Sixth Form)

 

1st Prizes 

Minty & Cora – Duo Verse Speaking – Outstanding 

Charlie – Prepared Reading – Outstanding

Isla – Solo Performance – Sight Reading  – Outstanding

Charlie – Spoken Prose (Yr 7 & 8) Outstanding

Amy – Sight Reading (Year 5 & Under)

Timisayo – Sight Reading (Year 6 & Under)

Lily – Sight Reading (Year 10+)

Henry – Prepared Reading

Minty – Solo Acting (Yr 7&8)

Mollie – Sight Reading

Cora & Minty – Improv

Hannah – Sight Reading (Yr 9 Under)

Mary-Tess & Makanaka – Duo Sight Reading

Hannah & Finn – Duo Shakespeare (Yr 9 & Under)

 

2nd Prizes

Charlotte – Verse speaking (Yr3 & Under)

Scarlett & Frida – Duo Verse 

Timisayo – Spoken Prose (Memorised)

Tom – Prepared Reading

Olivia – Solo Acting (Year 5 & 6)

Albie & Teddy – Duo Acting (Yr 4 & Under)

Amy – Solo Acting (Yr4 & Under)

Isla – Solo Acting (Yr 7&8)

Alex – Improv

Isabella – Solo Shakespeare (Yr 9 & Under)

Ellie – Solo Shakespeare  (Yr 10 & 11)

 

3rd Prizes

Raphael – Verse Speaking

Lucy Davies – Verse Speaking Solo

Amy – Prepared reading

Ian – Verse Speaking (Yr 3 & Under)

Imogen – Spoken Prose (Memorised)

Rocco – Prepared Reading

Sophia – Solo Acting (Yr 7&8)

Nicholas – Solo Acting (Yr 7&8)

Finn – Solo Shakespeare

Jakob – Solo Acting (Years 9,10,11)

Teniore – Solo Acting (Years 9,10,11)