The second Pāpāmoa Speech and Drama festival was held at Pāpāmoa College Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 June. This involved two full days of poetry recitals, individual characterisations and group drama.

After the success of our inaugural festival last year, we were thrilled to see nearly double the number of entries this year! With 70 competitors aged 8-16 years from the Tauranga area (mostly from Pāpāmoa), it was a vibrant and dynamic event.

These festivals provide a fun and supportive environment for youth to gain exposure in the performing arts and public speaking. They offer students a valuable opportunity to perform in front of an audience and receive constructive feedback from an adjudicator. This year's adjudicator, Glenda Pearce, traveled from Auckland, bringing her wealth of experience as an adjudicator, examiner, and director. She was highly impressed with the standard of performances and highlighted the supportive and encouraging atmosphere among the competitors. One competitor aptly described the experience as "such a vibe."

We were fortunate to have prize money sponsored by several families and are incredibly grateful to Pāpāmoa College for donating the space for the festival, allowing us to keep entry fees affordable and accessible.

It was exciting to see a range of confident and nervous students take part, gaining confidence while performing in front of an audience. Glenda Pearce's experienced and encouraging feedback was invaluable to all our performers. We look forward to seeing even more talent at next year's festival!

Pāpāmoa Speech and Drama Festival Results 2024

Pāpāmoa College Students

Class 401 Dramatic Characterisation, 14-16 Years

1st - Lucia Ehrler Y11
2nd - Biané Alberts Y10
3rd - Sian Liddle Y10

Class 402 Own Selection Poem, 14-16 Years

3rd - Lucia Ehrler Y11
Very Highly Commended - Sian Liddle Y10

Class 403 Light Verse, 14-16 Years

3rd - Biané Alberts Y10
Very Highly Commended  - Sian Liddle Y10

Class 611 Group Drama, over 14 Years

1st - Sian Liddle Y10 and Georgia Henzler Y9
2nd - Lucia Ehrler Y11 &  Layla Clarke 
3rd - Biané Alberts Y10 , Sophia Jabson Y8, and Sammy Aitken Y9

Class 201 Dramatic Characterisation, 10-12 Years 

Highly Commended - Harper Clarke Y7, Markus Heywood Y7,  Benji Sullivan Y7

Class 202A Own Selection Poem, 10-12 Years

1st - Sylvie McLeod Y7
2nd - Anika Paekau Y7
Commended - Noah Bloore Y7,  and Luara Pessoa Mariotti Y7

Class 202B  Own Selection Poem, 10-12 Years

1st - Pipiana Paekau Y7
2nd - Lani Addison Y7
3rd - Markus Heywood Y7
Very Highly Commended - Stevi-Lee Adamson Y7, and Ashlee Sheridan Y7

Class 203A Light Verse, 10-12 Years

1st - Lani Addison Y7
2nd - Harper Clarke Y7
Very Highly Commended - Ashlee Sheridan Y7
Highly Commended -Pipiana Paekau Y7, and Stevi-Lee Adamson Y7
Commended - Greta Fale Y7, and Neve Lynch Y7

Class 203B Light Verse, 10-12 Years

1st - Luara Pessoa Mariotti Y7
2nd - Sylvie McLeod Y7
3rd - Noah Bloore Y7
Very Highly Commended  - Markus Heywood Y7
Highly Commended  - Anika Paekau Y7, and Benji Sullivan Y7 

Class 610B Group Drama - Under 14 Years

1st - Stevi-Lee Adamson Y7 and Ashlee Sheridan Y7
2nd - Anika Paekau Y7, Greta Fale Y7 and Neve Lynch Y7
3rd - Markus Heywood Y7, Benji Sullivan Y7, and Harper Clarke Y7
Very Highly Commended  - Luara Pessoa Mariotti Y7,  Sylvie McLeod Y7, and Pipiana Paekau Y7
Highly Commended  - Pipiana Paekau Y7,  Lani Addison Y7, and Luara Pessoa Mariotti Y7

Class 301 Dramatic Characterisation, 12- 14 Years

2nd  - Layla Clarke Y9
3rd - Riley Davison Y9
Very Highly Commended - Georgia Henzler Y9,  and Sadie Willett Y8
Highly Commended - Jake Bailey Y8, and Emma Hunt Y9

Class 302 Own Section Poem, 12- 14 Years

1st - Jake Bailey Y8
2nd - Riley Davison Y9
Very Highly Commended  - Layla Clarke Y9
Highly Commended  - Emma Hunt Y9
Commended - Sadie Willett Y8, and Georgia Henzler Y9

Class 303A Light Verse, 12- 14 Years

1st - Layla Clarke Y9
2nd - Georgia Henzler Y9
3rd - Riley Davison Y9

Class 303B Light Verse, 12- 14 Years

1st - Sophia Jacobson Y8
2nd - Emma Hunt Y9
3rd - Sammy Aitken Y9
Very Highly Commended  - Sadie Willett Y8
Highly Commended  - Jake Bailey Y8, and Natasha Fleming Y8

Class 610C Group Drama Under 14 Years

1st  - Sadie Willett Y8
2nd  - Emma Hunt Y9, and Riley Davison Y9
3rd  - Jake Bailey Y8, and Noah Bloore Y7