Ryton and District Festival of Music, Speech and Drama
Education & Skills
Now in our seventy fourth year, we want to be able to continue providing a platform for local performers to develop skills in the arts.
About this cause
Ryton Festival is affiliated to the British Federation of Festivals. It aims to provide a platform, whereby amateur performers, from under 9's to adults, gain experience and receive professional adjudication and assessment which enables them to progress. The performers take part, in various venues in Ryton, in a solo or group class in front of the adjudicator and a public audience. The range of competitive classes include singing, piano, instrumental, choral, verse speaking, acting, public speaking, mime, sight reading, plays . After each class they receive a written adjudication, showing ways the performer can improve. All performers benefit from this and from meeting and listening to others. The festival helps to improve self confidence and promotes a life long love of the arts.
How this cause brings people in the community together
The festival gives local young people, adults and school choirs the opportunity to perform. They then develop skills by learning from a professional adjudicator, learning from hearing others and thus increasing their confidence. It gives entertainment to the public audience. We hire a local hall and church where the fifteen 3 hour sessions take place annually. The festival also brings people into Ryton and has a very good, longstanding reputation within the national organisation. It is organised by 35 local volunteers, mostly from Ryton. It involves the performers, their teachers, family and friends, patrons and a paying audience. Everyone involved develops an interest and love of the performing arts. The running of all this takes a lot if money and funds would help meet the costs.