Creative Writing Results

Here is a list of the winners in the 2011 Creative Writing Competition. The Adjudication, to which all entrants were invited, was held on 12th November. It is well worth coming along to discuss your work with the Adjudicator, meet other writers and learn from their experiences.

Poetry 12 & under 15 years – Tensi Beautyman, 85

Poetry, 15 & under 19 – Julia Smith, 83

Sonnet, open to all ages – Alice Palmer-Ross, Commended

Short Story, 9 years & under – Liberty Shirnia, 76

Short Story, 10 & under 13 years – Niamh Taylor, 90

Short Story, 13 & under 15 years – Emma Bessent, 87

Short Story 19 & over – Tony Clark, 92

Report Writing, 11 & under – Orla Smith, 81

Journalism, 19 years & over – Jane Wade-Scarlet, 85

Speech & Drama Results

What a great Festival, what wonderful performances and what great results! Here they all are for you to look through:

CLASS SD2 POEM 8 & 9 years

JESSICA MARTIN – 83

LIBERTY SHIRNIA – 84

HARRIET SIMMONS – 83

ELOISE STOKES – 85, CLASS WINNER

ELOISE STOKES received THE PATRICIA READ TROPHY for gaining the Highest Mark out of classes SD1 and SD2

CLASS SD3 POEM 10 & 11 years

ALICE CAVEY – 84

AQIL JANNATY -  85, CLASS WINNER

FREDDIE ROBB – 84

JULIAN SHIRNIA – 84

ALEXANDRA SIMMONS – 84

CLASS SD4 POEM 12 & 13 years

LUCY BATHER – 83

ISABELLE MARTIN – 83

NOORISHAH MOLEDINA – 84

FLORENCE SHIRNIA – 88, CLASS WINNER

AUGUSTA TRUSSELL – 84

FLORENCE SHIRNIA received THE JACQUIE DE CREED MEMORIAL TROPHY for gaining the Highest Mark out of Classes SD3 and SD4

CLASS SD5 POEM 14, 15 & 16 years

OLIVIA BROWN – 86

ELLIOT SHIRNIA – 88, CLASS WINNER

CLASS SD6 POEM 17 years and over – OPEN

MARGARET WILLIAMS – 87, CLASS WINNER

ELLIOT SHIRNIA received THE ANDREW McDOWELL CUP for the Highest Mark out of Classes SD5 and SD6.

CLASS SD7 SONNET – OPEN

FIONA NEILL – 86

MARGARET WILLIAMS – 87, CLASS WINNER

CLASS SD8 CHORAL/GROUP SPEAKING 11 years & under

PATRICIA READ’S FRIDAY GROUP – 85, CLASS WINNERS

CLASS SD9 CHORAL/GROUP SPEAKING 14 years & under

PATRICIA READ’S MONDAY GROUP – 84, CLASS WINNERS

CLASS SD10 SOLO ACTING 9 years and under

THOMAS BEATTIE – 87

JOEL FRANKLIN – 82

ANNABELLE MARTIN – 84

SOPHIE MORGAN-RODDA – 83

LIBERTY SHIRNIA – 90, CLASS WINNER

ANDRE STAMP – 89

CLASS SD11 SOLO ACTING 10 & 11 years

REBECCA ABINGDON – 84

FLORENCE EVANS – 84

ROSE FAWCETT – 84

ALICE HALL – 84

OSCAR HENRY – 84

AQIL JANNATY – 84

LARA KUROPATWA – 87

DAISY MITFORD-SLADE – 87

WILLIAM PERRETT – 84

FREDDIE ROBB – 85

FREYA SAXTON – 84

JULIAN SHIRNIA – 86, CLASS WINNER

CLASS SD12 SOLO ACTING 12 & 13 years

LUCY BATHER – 88

ALIYA JANNATY – 85

FLORENCE SHIRNIA – 86

AUGUSTA TRUSSELL – 85

SHAUNA WARREN-GRACE – 89, CLASS WINNER

CLASS SD13 SOLO ACTING 14, 15 & 16 years

RUBY BEES – 85

LOUISE CATHERWOOD – 88

MAX CURTIS – 89

ELLA GREENWOOD – 86

RACHAEL KING – 85

THOMAS LOWDE – 90, CLASS WINNER

EDWARD MAYNARD – 88

ELLIOT SHIRNIA – 86

BRITTANY WARD – 84

CLASS SD14 SOLO ACTING 17 years and over – OPEN

PHIL COOK – 85

MEGAN PEACOCK – 84

MERVYN PENNY – 86

MARGARET WILLIAMS – 90, CLASS WINNER

CLASS SD15 SOLO SHAKESPEARE 14, 15 & 16 years

ELLIOT SHIRNIA – 84, CLASS WINNER

CLASS SD16 SOLO SHAKESPEARE 17 years & over – OPEN

RACHEL JOHNSON – 83

MEGAN PEACOCK – 87, CLASS WINNER

MARGARET WILLIAMS – 84

CLASS SD17 DUOLOGUE ACTING 9 years & under

ELOISE STOKES & JESSICA MARTIN – 84, CLASS WINNER

CLASS SD18 DUOLOGUE ACTING 11 years & under

TATIANA PARR & CATHARINE REID – 88, CLASS WINNERS

CASSIDY MORDAK & LEAHANN HORGAN – 82

EMILY FRANKLIN & FREYA MADELEY – 83

HENRY NEWMAN & FREDDIE HELLENS – 86

JULIAN SHIRNIA & LIBERTY SHIRNIA – 87

CLASS SD19 DUOLOGUE ACTING 13 years & under

ISABELLA BEES & ATALAYA ATHERTON – 85

ALICE HALL & OLIVIA ANNISS – 88, CLASS WINNERS

ALICE CAVEY & ISABELLE MARTIN – 84

MEGAN TOOP-ROSE & LANI BOND – 84

ANASTASIA PIATEK & FRANCIS NUNNERY – 84

DANIELLE BEVAN & JENSON STOKES-DINE – 84

CLASS SD20 DUOLOGUE ACTING 16 years & under

WILLIAM HAYWOOD & OLIVER MacKENZIE – 86

SHAUNA WARREN-GRACE & BRITTANY WARD – 83

JACK COOK & GRIFFIN MORDAK – 82

ELLA GREENWOOD & HARLEY BUNCE – 86

ELLIOT SHIRNIA & FLORENCE SHIRNIA – 84

KENNEDY GALLAGHER & CALLUM ASLANTEPE – 88, CLASS WINNERS

CLASS SD21 : DUOLOGUE ACTING – OPEN

BENJAMIN McMAHON & SAM STAFFORD – 85

PAULA CLIFFORD & SALLY HOPKINS – 87, CLASS WINNERS

CHARLOTTE TILLEHY & ABI TAYLOR – 84

CLASS SD22 GROUP ACTING 11 years & under

SWINDON YOUNG ACTORS – 84, CLASS WINNERS

CLASS SD23 GROUP ACTING 14 years and under

THE ENTHUSIASTS – 88

CALNE BOYS GROUP – 89, CLASS WINNERS

CLASS SD25 GROUP ACTING – Senior OPEN

THE CLARENDON PLAYERS – 84, CLASS WINNERS

SD27 GROUP DEVISED 16 YEARS & UNDER

SWINDON YOUNG ACTORS – 90, CLASS WINNERS

CLASS SD29 PREPARED PROSE READING 9 years & under

LIBERTY SHIRNIA – 86, CLASS WINNER

CLASS SD30 PREPARED PROSE READING 11 years & under

AQIL JANNATY – 86

JULIAN SHIRNIA – 87, CLASS WINNER

CLASS SD31 PREPARED PROSE READING 14 years & under

ANEELA AHMED – 83

BHAVISHA DESAI – 83

NOORISHAH MOLEDINA – COMMENDED

ELLIOT SHIRNIA – 84

AUGUSTA TRUSSELL – 85, CLASS WINNER

CLASS SD33 PREPARED PROSE READING 17 years & over – OPEN

MARGARET WILLIAMS – 87, CLASS WINNER

CLASS SD34 MEMORISED PROSE 9 – 11 years

LIBERTY SHIRNIA – 89, CLASS WINNER

JULIAN SHIRNIA – 88

CLASS SD35 MEMORISED PROSE 12 – 15 years

OLIVIA BROWN – 85

BHAVISHA DESAI – 85

FLORENCE SHIRNIA – 86

ELLIOT SHIRNIA – 88, CLASS WINNER

GUYON TRUSSELL – 87

CLASS SD36 MEMORISED PROSE 16 YEARS & OVER – OPEN

RACHAEL KING – 87

FIONA NEILL – 88, CLASS WINNER

CLASS SD37 PREPARED BIBLE READING 11 years & under

JULIAN SHIRNIA – 88

LIBERTY SHIRNIA – 89, CLASS WINNER

GREGORY STRANGWARD-PRYCE – 88

CLASS SD38 PREPARED BIBLE READING 15 years & under

ELLIOT SHIRNIA – 90, CLASS WINNER

CLASS SD39 PREPARED BIBLE READING – OPEN

MARGARET WILLIAMS – 88, CLASS WINNER

ELLIOT SHIRNIA received the BIBLE SOCIETY CUP for the Highest Mark out of Classes SD37, SD38 and SD39

CLASS SD40 T.V. NEWS READING 11 years & under

FREDDIE ROBB – 86, CLASS WINNER

CLASS SD41 T.V. NEWS READING 14 years & under

BHAVISHA DESAI – 87, CLASS WINNER

ALIYA JANNATY – 86

CLASS SD42 SOLO MIME 9 – 11 years

FREDDIE ROBB – 86, CLASS WINNER

JULIAN SHIRNIA – 85

CLASS SD43 SOLO MIME 12 – 14 years

ALIYA JANNATY – 85

FLORENCE SHIRNIA – 84

ELLIOT SHIRNIA – 86, CLASS WINNER

GUYON TRUSSELL – 83

AUGUSTA TRUSSELL – 84

CLASS SD45 DUO MIME 9 – 11 years

ELOISE STOKES & JESSICA MARTIN – 84, CLASS WINNERS

CLASS SD46 DUO MIME 15 YEARS & UNDER

ISABELLE MARTIN & ALICE CAVEY – 84

BEN GREEN & GUYON TRUSSELL – 85, CLASS WINNERS

JAMES VEALE & PETER COOPER – 84

CLASS SD49 SOLO PUBLIC SPEAKING 11 years & under

JULIAN SHIRNIA – 87, CLASS WINNER

CLASS SD50 SOLO PUBLIC SPEAKING 15 years & under

ANEELA AHMED – 89, CLASS WINNER

NOORISHAH MOLEDINA – 88

ELLIOT SHIRNIA – 88

CLASS SD51 SOLO PUBLIC SPEAKING – 16 YEARS & OVER – OPEN

SAARIA AHMED – 85, CLASS WINNER

ANEELA AHMED received the XPRESS TRAIN TROPHY for the Highest Mark out of Classes SD43 SD44 SD45 SD46 & SD47

THE DOREEN ROOM MEMORIAL ROSE BOWL awarded to the most outstanding Solo Acting piece was awarded to THOMAS LOWDE at the Highlights Concert on Sunday 13th November 2011

THE CHAIRMAN’S TROPHY FOR ENTERPRISE for best overall performance, was awarded to SWINDON YOUNG ACTORS DEVISED GROUP 16 & UNDER at the Highlights Concert on Sunday 13th November 2011.

Festival Live – Saturday 12th November

Saturday 12th November at The Wootton Bassett Arts Festival will be a long day starting at 9.30am going all the way through to 7.30pm. There will be a HUGE variety of performances throughout the day in the following disciplines:

Drama

  • Devised Group Drama
  • Duologue Acting
  • Group Acting
  • Duologue Mime
  • Shakespeare Acting
  • Solo Acting
  • Verse Speaking
  • Memorised Prose
  • Sonnet
  • Prepared Bible Reading
  • Prepared Prose Reading
  • Television News Reading
  • Public Speaking

Creative Writing

  • Poetry
  • Sonnet
  • Short Story
  • Report Writing
  • Journalism

Classical Guitar

  • Solos by Grade
  • Duets by Grade
  • Ensemble
  • Duet accompanied by a teacher
  • Workshop

Full details are available in the Festival Programme which is on sale from Brian Taylor Music or at the Festival itself.

Guest Blog – Pulsar ‘Live-microphone’ Poetry Evening 6th July

Invitation

The next Pulsar ‘live-microphone’ performance poetry (and music) evening will be held at The Oxfam Bookshop, 29B High Street, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 1LW on Wednesday 6th July 2011, from 7.00 pm until approx. 09.00 ‘ish.  All persons invited are welcome to read their own poems, or poems of choice, to a friendly audience.  A P.A. system will be provided by Pulsar.   Note: you don’t have to read poems, why not come along to soak up the ambience. This is an excellent venue for Pulsar Poets in historic Marlborough, with funds to a good cause.

Participants / guests are encouraged to make donations to Oxfam at the event.

The evening will be reviewed for Pulsar Poetry Webzine, www.pulsarpoetry.com and will be featured in a coming edition.   If you wish you may bring your own musical instrument for accompaniment, (guitars / leads will not be lent). The evening will be photographed – photos for Pulsar Webzine.  Performing poets will also be filmed, for posting to You Tube, (with poets permission).

Interested poets / spectators should initially please contact either David Pike, via e-mail: puls...@btopenworld.com or Michelle (manager of Oxfam Bookshop), tel. 01672-515932 to confirm attendance, (so we may gauge numbers).

Look forward to seeing you at The Marlborough Oxfam Bookshop.

Guest Blog – Pulsar Poetry Live Microphone Poetry Evening

The next Pulsar ‘live-microphone’ performance poetry (and music) evening will be held at The Goddard Arms, Clyffe Pypard village, near Swindon, Wiltshire, SN4 7PY on Thursday 17th  March, 2011, from 8.00 pm until closing time. The telephone number for the landlords, Ray and Libby is 01793 731386.

All are welcome to attend this free of charge event and read their own poems, or poems of choice, to a friendly audience.   A P.A. system will be provided by Pulsar.   However, you don’t have to read poems, why not come along to soak up the ambience.   If you wish you may ring your own acoustic guitar for accompaniment, (guitars will not be lent).

The evening will be reviewed for Pulsar Poetry Webzine, www.pulsarpoetry.com Also, photographs of performing poets will be posted to Pulsar Webzine Photo Gallery.   Note: videos of poets reading / reciting will also be posted to You Tube, (but only with poets permission). To view videos of poets performing at previous Pulsar ‘Live’ events visit You Tube and search under the PulsarPoet channel.

To express interest and gain information about the event please phone 01793 875941 or e-mail: puls...@btopenworld.com or view Pulsar Poetry Webzine: www.pulsarpoetry.com

Look forward to seeing you at The Goddard Arms, Clyffe Pypard.  Please spread the word.

BlueGate Poets Poetry Evening 11th November

The Wootton Bassett Arts Festival is happy to promote arts related events taking place in and around Wootton Bassett. All of our Creative Writers might be interested to know about the BlueGate Poetry group and may even want to join them at the poetry reading event detailed below…

BlueGate Poets’ will be holding an open mic poetry evening on 11th November, starting at 7:30pm and ending at 10pm. The evening will be hosted by Hilda Sheehan at The New Studio, Swindon Arts Centre, Devizes Road, Swindon. SN 1 4BJ. If you would like to read your poetry or your favourite poems, please come along at 7pm to sign up. To book a slot in advance, email Hilda at: bluegatepoets@yahoo.co.uk and then buy your ticket available from the box office: 01793 614837
Bluegate Poets’ members £2, non-members £4.

Our first guest poet is Alan Buckley. His poems have appeared in a wide range of magazines, including Magma, Smiths Knoll and Orbis. He is committed to exploring creative ways of engaging audiences with live poetry, and has performed his work in a bus, a science museum, and a high-security prison, as well as more conventional venues. His pamphlet ‘Shiver’ was a Poetry Book Society pamphlet choice for summer 2009.

Artist and musician Stevie Gilmore will also be playing music and exhibiting some of his work:www.steviegilmoresound.com

BlueGate Poets hope you will join us for this exciting new regular poetry event in Swindon.

Celebrating National Poetry Day – WBAF Winner Sonnet – Open

Winner Poetry Sonnet – Open

The Morning After The Staff Christmas Party

Woke up, head thumping, memories a blur
Vague recollection of things to regret
Acid indigestion, tongue lined with fur
Trying to recall the things to forget.

It had started at lunch, drinks in the pub
Slowly unwinding, caught up in the round
No intention to end up in a club
Sucked indoors by a Ministry of Sound.

I’d never noticed Suzanne from accounts
‘Til fizzing and buzzing in sultry dance
The department of discounts and amounts
Is the last place I’d be seeking romance.

She’s wife of the Boss, not one to accost
The jigsaw is complete, the line was crossed.

Celebrating National Poetry Day – WBAF Winner 19 years and over

Winner Poetry Junior 19 years and over

A Change in Lifestyle

I’m not well at all. The doctor said, “stop smoking and
drinking or soon you’ll be dead”.

“Eat lots of veg and don’t skimp on the fruit. It’s your
decadent lifestyle that’s really the root….”

“….of your health situation, that’s easy to tell. Oh, and
remember, won’t you, to exercise well”.

So here I am ladies) and gentlemen too), a month
down the line and I confess to you…

….I’m not finding this easy, not easy at all. The food
that I eat does not leave me enthralled.

It’s not that I hate it, it’s just that I feel, a sense of
dismay at the start of each meal.

Each portion of couscous I’d rather was chips, and I
dream that it’s Chablis, not water I sip

Dessert is not longer a Tiramisu. It’s goodness knows
what, but I think it’s tofu!

I’m paying, I think, a high price for my sins. I even
miss out on my post-dinner mints.

So, it’s goodbye to chocolates and biscuits and
cakes, to kebabs and burgers, to pizzas and steaks.

A farewell to whiskey (wish is was just au revoir). No
fly glass of Fosters, or Stella Artois.

I know that, come Christmas, it’ll be even worse.
Seeing others indulge while I’m under this curse.

Is it worth it, I’m thinking, enduring such strife. I have
one “existence”, but hanker for “life”.

If I can’t have the pleasures of things that I crave,
should I throw in the towel and just welcome the
grave?

Life has become just one heck of a drag, and I can’t
even go for a pint and a fag!

I’m sorry for whinging, but what can I say? Perhaps I
feel down, ‘cause it’s Monday today.

I’ll be fine in the morning, as it’ll be Tuesday, and I
can cheer myself up…with a nice bowl of muesli!

Celebrating National Poetry Day – WBAF Winner 15 and under 19 years

Winner Poetry Junior 15 and under 19 years

Shared Waters

Taken on a simple pine
you stay a while
Held the grasp of those
electric blue eyes
piercing
comforting
the silence is no bridge between us.
You sing a song; I listen
Each rise and fall
each crescendo, diminuendo
I mark the notes like one would carve a tree
Endless messages, spewed through the wood.

The music ends; soft lullaby is this pause
not the melody of your voice.
Moments pass
The conflict arrives.
Yet again, peace is snatched from our filmy grasp.

Celebrating National Poetry Day – WBAF Winner 12 and under 15 years

Winner Poetry Junior 12 and under 15 years

War

His head was in a bloody mess.
Yesterday a friend of mine,
Now another dead soldier
Lying in the grey, lifeless debris.
They say that war is an honour, to serve your country
But you begin to realise as you first hear the screams of pain
You see what it is really like, war is not big, nor clever
My men are disappearing gradually.
I bet I don’t have long until I am killed.
Each time I see a dead body, I think if death, harder and harder again
It reminds me it could only be a matter of time.
However, if I die – I know that I will go to heaven, as a hero.
I would die for my country – never a coward.
I reckon my long journey is at its end.
Each kill I make – journeys me into utter depression.
I have ruined the lives of their family and closest friends.
I reckon everyone things the same as me too,
They are just too scared to admit it,
Lost in this violent, scary, stupid place.
I hate the war – bombs, guns, death.
Hearing guns firing strikes fear into me.
Each bullet; holding a piece of painful death.
This place is not like a game.
You only have one life.

Syllabus

Download the WOOTTON BASSETT ARTS FESTIVAL SYLLABUS 2012 (covering both the June and November Festivals) HERE.