Welcome

The RWB Arts Festival is a competitive arts festival for both children and adults that takes place annually. The Festival covers music, speech, drama, musical theatre, classical guitar, and dance. We are affiliated to the British and International Federation of Festivals (BIFF) which is the umbrella body for performing arts festivals throughout the UK and beyond.

Dance

Dance takes place across two weekends with a wide range of classes. We also
have a Novice section, open to those who have never been placed 1 st , 2 nd or 3 rd
with a mark of 82 or above at any festival before. A great opportunity for newly
fledged dancers! Once achieved, successful performers must return to the Open
section.

Music

The Music Festival  concentrates on many different styles: including competitive classes in woodwind, brass, strings, vocal (choirs, songs from shows, modern pop songs, sacred songs and operetta), a specialist classical guitar section, piano, ensemble and junior accompanist. There are also various musical genres to be enjoyed ranging from Jazz, Folk, Blues to Rock and Musical Theatre. In addition this year they have:

Electronic Keyboard Classes, Traditional Music from any country using traditional instruments for solo, duet and groups. There are now Recital Classes in the Instrumental Section; Piano have introduced new German Composer Classes and a new Pupil Class, supported by their Teacher (who will not be adjudicated), and in Singing the Disney Section, by popular request, now has three new classes for Years 10 – Adults.

Composition Classes

Do look at our Solo Composition Classes for Guitar, Voice or for any instrument
and enjoy composing your own music!

Classical Guitar

This section now has classes for the ukulele and the mandolin and a new Plucked Strings Family Ensemble Class.

Speech and Drama

The Speech and Drama section covers a wide variety of classes, from: solo acting, verse speaking, prose reading, group acting, mime, prose recitation, public speaking and Shakespeare performances. We have a new Duo-Mime Class for Year 4 & under.

Musical Theatre

Taking place alongside Speech & Drama we offer Solo, Duo and Group Classes.
Entrants can share their musical skills combining singing, acting and
choreography.

Competitions

If you enjoy composing, do enter our Poetry Competition for all ages and our
Radio Script Writing Competition. The winning play will be performed and
broadcast on local radio. Entries via our Online Entry System. Deadline 30th October!

Highlights Concert

The festival culminates with a Highlights Concert, which will take place the February following the Festival and will showcase outstanding performers who are invited to return and perform their work with an audience of family, friends and local dignitaries.

Festival History

Music began in 2005 on a bi-annual basis. In 2007 it ran for the second time with 20 entries. Speech & Drama were invited to join and began in 2009. At the same time, we were vetted by The British and International Federation of Festivals (BIFF) and accepted the same year. Also, in 2009 we were awarded Charity Status. Art and Creative Writing were introduced in 2010 but have since ceased because of dwindling numbers, and Classical Guitar joined in 2012. In 2019 Musical Theatre joined the festival and Dance followed in 2020. We are delighted that the festival is flourishing, thanks to teachers, G4S and the Academy Sixth Form who host us, our volunteer helpers and those who support us in many other ways.