Bentley Elocution Prize celebrates poetry and performance

The first day back after half term started with a bang with the annual Bentley Elocution Prize Competition in the Barnes Theatre. 

It was wonderful to see such enormous support for this competition, which first took place in 1867 and counts Michael Palin amongst its former, illustrious winners.  The Bentley Elocution Prizes are awarded in memory of Thomas Bentley, who served the School for over 50 years and is commemorated by a window on the south side of the School Chapel.

Four students from the Third Form and five from the Fourth Form, stepped forward to recite their chosen verse, having triumphed at the semi-final stage.  Eleven members of the Fifth and Sixth Form volunteered to present their poems to an expectant audience of Third Form students.

Mr Phillips was in charge of this year’s proceedings, having enticed his former teacher and mentor – Cathy Wells-Cole – to be our adjudicator.  Cathy read English Literature at Trinity College, Dublin, before returning north of the border to work in theatre in Belfast as an actor and stage manager. However, the majority of her career has been spent lecturing and teaching in universities. She initially lectured in drama at Bangor University, before moving to the University of Roehampton, where she lectured and taught in the English Literature department, specialising in the study of poetry. Since retiring, she has spent the past 10 years running reading groups in women’s prisons. 

Cathy prefaced her adjudication by quoting Seamus Heaney, speaking about the value of learning poetry by heart: “If, at the end of each year spent in school, students have been marked by even one poem that is going to stay with them that would be a considerable achievement…It can become the eye of a verbal needle through which the growing person can pass again and again until it is known by heart, and becomes a path between heart and mind.”  She went on to praise the entertainment provided by this year’s participants; we enjoyed a range of verse from Shakespeare to Willy Russell; there were some humorous performances as well as some more philosophical and contemplative recitations.  All were well prepared, confident and engaging.

The Third Form winner was Ethan B-T (R) who offered a memorable, dramatic performance of Wilfred Owen’s Dulce Et Decorum Est.  Thomas M (O) was highly commended for his recitation of lines from Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers.

The Fourth Form winner was Maigan L (M), whose performance of Vultures by Robinson Jeffers was delivered with power and presence.  Edward D (S) – last year’s Third Form winner, was highly commended for his very entertaining recitation of A P Herbert’s At the Theatre to the Lady Behind Me.

The Fifth and Sixth Form winner – described by the judge as “outstanding” was Lauren G (QEH) who recited Lewis Carrol’s The Jabberwocky with a “terrific variety of pace and voice”; highly commended went to Lilith P (QEH) for her understated, yet powerful, performance of Frank O’Hara’s Having a Coke with You.

Of course, congratulations go to all the finalists and the worthy winners.  Special mention should also be made of Tyger L-G (R, V), who recited a poem they had written themselves.  Our thanks are also extended to all the competitors, their teachers and supporters, the judge and everyone who continues to support this competition.

Kristina Leslie

Head of English