Moreton Hall celebrates the spoken word

Over 60 pupils from across Shropshire, Cheshire and Wrexham took part in Moreton Hall’s inaugural Spoken Word Festival, held in the school’s Holroyd Community Theatre.

Participants aged from Year 2 to Year 13, from 7 different schools across the region came together to celebrate the spoken word through a variety of different classes from poetry speaking, prose reading and drama performances to debate speeches.

Sarah Pritchard, organiser of the Spoken Word Festival, and Head of Spoken English at Moreton Hall said: “It was a privilege to watch so many young performers take to the stage.”

Students selected their own performance material, showcasing the great breadth of the spoken word. The debate classes included topics such as the ‘Right to Protest Should Never be Restricted’ to ‘Fast Fashion Should be Banned’.

Sarah added: “All the students who participated acquitted themselves with poise and performed to their very best.”

Special mention should be made to the winner of the Booka Award, sponsored by Booka Book Shop awarded to Darcey Morris from Terra Nova, the Face2Face sponsored trophy awarded to Hannah Macphail from Moreton Hall, and the Poetry Shield presented to Hattie Reynolds, Moreton Hall.

Phil, a parent, commented: “It was a joyful morning”.

Sarah concluded: “For me, as their teacher, the greatest success was to see students, some of whom had only been receiving lessons for 3 or 4 weeks, stand up, with confidence, performing to an audience and, afterwards, saying they can’t wait to do it again!”

Adjudicator Sue Mackay, added: “Thank you for inviting me to be part of the inaugural festival at Moreton. The day went very smoothly and it was a delight to work with you. I thoroughly enjoyed engaging with the performers who really gave their best and helped make the day so successful and special.”

Next year’s festival will take place on Saturday 12th October 2024.