Tutor Ellen Weeks and her pupils impress at drama festival

She's vice-chair of the festival, the speech and drama section coordinator, an independent teacher for students at Ryde School and private students from other schools, and also a long-term festival competitor.

Scroll through our gallery above to see some of Ellen's pupils with their medals and certificates...

This year, Ellen's pupils have excelled themselves at the festival, with numerous wins and placings in the speech and drama section.

It was made all the more interesting by the fact the event was virtual this year, so pupils had to film themselves - rather than perform live to the adjudicator.

Successful tutor and festival competitor, Ellen Weeks.

Ellen said: “It’s been a challenging year, teaching via Zoom and WhatsApp, but very rewarding.  In some ways, teaching remotely makes it possible to have much more in-depth discussions over characterisation and presentation skills.  I think this is partly because there are fewer distractions and the teacher and student are looking more directly at each other.  

"My students have really enjoyed filming their performances and have learned new skills in the process - engaging eye-contact with the camera, keeping head movements in check, projecting the voice and facial expressions sufficiently to be caught clearly on camera.”

One of her highest-scoring students was Nathaniel Craggs, from Newport, who is a student at Medina College.

He took part in the verse speaking and dramatic scenes classes for the 14-15 years age group and won both section. He scored 90 marks in the verse speaking, which was one of only a few outstanding scores at the festival.

Nathaniel first entered the festival when he was 11 and has already achieved his London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) bronze medal, aged 14.

Another student, Isabelle Hughes, won the nine years verse speaking girls’ solo with a mark of 88. The adjudicator remarked: "This was a highly energised and compelling performance." 

Angela Voong came first place in solo acting in 9-11 years category;  second in verse speaking in the 10-11 years category and first in sight reading for her age group. 

Amara Wetherall, ten, a pupil at Ryde School, came first in the verse speaking for girls aged ten with 88 marks; first in the junior original composition short story section with 87 marks; second in the dramatic scene  9-11years with 87 marks and second in the sight reading 10-11 years with 87 marks.

Amara was absolutely delighted and said: "Even though the festival was different this year, it was still fun. I’d like to thank my teacher Ellen Weeks for her fantastic coaching."

Aashima Maheshwari.

Aashima Maheshwari was another of Ellen's successful students and she won the 13 years verse speaking section with 88 marks and was third in the dramatic scenes section for 12-13 years with a mark of 87.

Zoe Swann, who is 12,  has been taking part in the festival for several years and was delighted with her first place score of 89 for her performance of Angel In The Cloakroom, by Gervase Phinn.  She was praised for her "super use of facial play” which she was really able to explore, given the video format of the competition this year.

Evan Greszczyszyn won the verse speaking boys 10-11 years with a score of 88 and his brother Jonah won the verse speaking boys 6-7 years with a score of 86.

Evan has competed at the festival before and won the Sir Robert Hobart Rose Bowl last year. Jonah joined him in performing this year for the first time. Father Stephen said: "They are both really happy and enjoyed a day of celebration."

The Pim family - mum Sally; Henry, six; George, nine; and Amelia, 11 - all won medals at the festival and are taught by Ellen.

The Read sisters also had a successful time: Willa was first in the verse speaking girls' aged 6-7 years, sister Marina was second and older sister Vivian won the class for verse speaking girls' aged 8 years.

Snejana Tomova, also a Ryde School pupil, won the prose speaking girls' aged 10 years and was third in the verse speaking section for the same age group.

Ellen's other pupils who had wins or placings at the festival included: Brody Ross, Harris Middleton-Leal, James Lamb, Beatrice Snow, Sasha Ball, Ananya Sawant Roy, Grace Dempsey, Scarlett Hampton and Kate Hesse.

And not to be outdone, Ellen took part in the adult speech and drama classes and won the senior verse speaking with 89 marks, then taking the prepared reading senior section with an outstanding mark of 90.

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Click here to read the full results of the 2021 Isle of Wight Music, Dance and Drama Festival.