Bedford Girls’ School once again enjoyed an incredible week of success at the Bedford Festival of Music, Speech and Drama (2nd – 9th March 2019).

Held at Bedford Corn Exchange, BGS entered a wealth of girls into numerous Music and Speech and Drama categories, ranging from full choirs to solo singing and orchestras to oboes. Programmes included verse-speaking, mime, Shakespeare and more.

The Bedfordshire Festival is well regarded in the local area, having been founded in 1921, and providing a showcase for talent in the amateur performing arts in the county.

There was plenty of talent on show from BGS, with a huge entry from Speech and Drama consisting of 175 girls taking part in 75 classes and girls awarded a total of 47 1sts, 56 2nds and 47 3rds.

In addition to the achievements throughout the week, a selection of leading performers were invited to the showpiece Gala Concert on Saturday evening.  

Audiences were wowed by the beautiful and dramatic performances from BGS pupils; Olivia Benjamin and Sophie Parry (Lower Sixth) competed for the Bedford Borough Challenge Cup, in the Solo Verse Category. Olivia performed a Shakespeare solo from Much Ado About Nothing, whilst Sophie performed a solo verse speaking called The Nightjar by Sir Henry Newbolt.

Talented fluatist Lucy Barrett (Year 8) performed Mozart’s 1^st Movement, Flute Concerto in D

Manpriya Sira (Year 4) was one of three youngsters to be selected for the Jane Whitbread Cup for Junior Speech and Drama performance. She brought the house down with her amusing performance of Bullrod the Bulldog.  

Such success is testament not merely to the wealth of arts talent at BGS but also to the hard work and dedication of all the girls who took part.

Mrs Redford (Head of Speech and Drama) said: “The girls performed with great enthusiasm and in the true festival spirit, not to necessarily win but to celebrate and share their work with each other and for an audience. Needless to say we are immensely proud of them all and their success is just reward for their hard work and commitment. Well done to all the girls who took part.”