Richmond upon Thames Performing Arts Festival was founded in 1929 as the Twickenham and Richmond Musical Society and is open to any amateur performer of any age in the arts of music, dance and speech. In order to engender the spirit of Festival, all participants are supported equally with mutual respect and without prejudice.

 Richmond Festival is one of the largest competitive festivals in the South of England with nearly 2000 entries in 2009 and with many more people of all ages taking part, in groups and choirs and their enthusiastic supporters. It has some of the highest standards of amateur performance in the country with many of the young dancers, actors and musicians become professionals in their chosen field.

The Festival is primarily an educational experience and offers:

§         A public platform for keen amateurs in all of the performing arts

§         A constructive written and verbal appraisal of that performance by an experienced and sympathetic professional in their chosen field, who motivates and encourages people of all ages to improve their performance threshold.

§         Certificates and a category assessment as an indication of relative achievement

§         The opportunity to listen to and see others and gain knowledge from their performance and the assessment of it.  We seek not only to create the next generation of performers but also new, informed audiences.

§         The opportunity to gain confidence and develop performance technique, as Festivals provide a goal to aim for and a focus for practice.

§         The opportunity to compete for substantial cash bursaries to help with future training in the Richmond upon Thames Young Pianist, Young Singer, Young Instrumentalist, Young Performer (Speech & Drama)  and Young Dancer of the Year competitions and the chance to win other cash prizes, medals and trophies.

§         The Festival complements work done by schools and other organisations and is recognised for some course work for GCSE and A level examinations.  Sections for musical composition and individual performance are of particular relevance to GCSE and  A level  students

Competitions are held annually in February and March in Richmond (dance), Barnes, Kew & Twickenham( music) and Hampton (Speech & Drama), usually at weekends.

We look forward to seeing and hearing you in 2008!

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