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The Lexington Branch of the English-Speaking Union (ESU) is sponsoring the 2025 National Shakespeare Competition. The regional competition will be held on Feb. 15 at Blackfriar’s Theater in Staunton. In case of inclement weather, the alternate date is March 1.
Winners of area high school competitions will participate at the regional competition. Each student will perform a Shakespearean monologue and recite a sonnet from a carefully curated selection. Competitors will be judged on their understanding of the texts and on their ability to communicate that understanding to an audience. The competition is free and open to the public.
The winner of the ESU Lexington Branch Competition will receive an all-expense-paid trip to represent the branch at the national semi-finals level, which will be held next April at New York City’s Lincoln Center. Ten finalists will be chosen by a panel of distinguished judges and will perform their selections. The final winner will receive a scholarship to the Midsummer Conservatory at the world-famous British-American Drama Academy at Oxford, England.
The ESU National Shakespeare Competition is the oldest nationwide performancebased education program. High school students read, analyze, perform, and recite Shakespeare’s works. Since 1983, the competition has helped more than 400,000 young Americans develop communication skills and an appreciation for language and literature.
For more information regarding the ESU and the National Shakespeare competition, visit https://www.esuus.org/what-wedo/ shakespeare-competition/ , or contact competition coordinator Barbara Walker at [email protected].
