Senior Competition

• In order to qualify for The English-Speaking Union's Branch Competition, a school must first hold its own competition, involving no fewer than 3 students.
• Students must be in the 10th, 11th, or 12th grade and reside permanently in the United States to be eligible for the Competition. They cannot be paid to appear in professional or semi-professional performances during the school year in which the Competition occurs.
• Each student must select, memorize, and present a monologue. It is strongly recommended that students be familiar with the play from which the speech is taken.
• The Monologue must not exceed 20 lines (verse) or 17 lines (prose). Line numbers must follow The Riverside Shakespeare, Houghton Mifflin Company 1997. Students performing longer monologues will be disqualified.
• Students should speak naturally, not with an artificial voice. We urge them to use American speech rather than affect a British accent. They should not wear costumes or use any props. Prompting, if necessary, is allowed.
• Introductions to the monologue should be limited to two sentences. The student should identify the selection. A second sentence setting the piece in the context of the play may be added but is not required.
• The competition should be judged by a panel of at least three individuals, to be drawn from teachers, actors, directors, or other people in the community who are both interested in and knowledgeable about Shakespeare.
• Winners of the school contests (10th, 11th, 12th grade) must also memorize and perform a sonnet for the Branch Competition.
• For students with documented hearing, learning, physical, and/or visual disabilities, appropriate arrangements will be made for the Branch Competition. You should advise the local English-Speaking Union Branch Coordinator of any such disabilities prior to the Branch Competition. Junior Competition
• In order to select a student for The English-Speaking Union's Branch Competition, a school may choose (but is not required) to hold its own competition.
• Students must be in the 7th, 8th, or 9th grade and reside permanently in the United States to be eligible for the Competition.
• Each student must select, memorize, and present a monologue. It is strongly recommended that students be familiar with the play from which the speech is taken. · The Monologue must not exceed 20 lines (verse) or 17 lines (prose).
• Students should speak naturally, not with an artificial voice. We urge them to use American speech rather than affect a British accent. They should not wear costumes or use any props.
• Prompting, if necessary, is allowed.
• Introductions to the monologue should be limited to two sentences. The student should identify the selection. A second sentence setting the piece in the context of the play may be added but is not required.
• For students with documented hearing, learning, physical, and/or visual disabilities, appropriate arrangements will be made for the Branch Competition. You should advise the local English-Speaking Union Branch Coordinator of any such disabilities prior to the Branch Competition.

Junior Competition

• In order to select a student for The English-Speaking Union's Branch Competition, a school may choose (but is not required) to hold its own competition.
• Students must be in the 7th, 8th, or 9th grade and reside permanently in the United States to be eligible for the Competition.
• Each student must select, memorize, and present a monologue. It is strongly recommended that students be familiar with the play from which the speech is taken.
• The Monologue must not exceed 20 lines (verse) or 17 lines (prose).
• Students should speak naturally, not with an artificial voice. We urge them to use American speech rather than affect a British accent. They should not wear costumes or use any props. · Prompting, if necessary, is allowed.
• Introductions to the monologue should be limited to two sentences. The student should identify the selection. A second sentence setting the piece in the context of the play may be added but is not required.
• For students with documented hearing, learning, physical, and/or visual disabilities, appropriate arrangements will be made for the Branch Competition. You should advise the local English-Speaking Union Branch Coordinator of any such disabilities prior to the Branch Competition.