Global Youth Conference Platform Guidelines

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Multi-Contestant Event Guidelines 

These events include: Puppets; Dramatic Dialogue; One-Act Play; Group Bible Speaking

PUPPETS (Solo or Team) 

PERFORMANCE EVENT 

PLEASE REFER TO PLATFORM GENERAL GUIDELINES BEFORE PREPARING FOR PUPPETS. 

  1. Male performers are not required to wear a jacket.
  2. Contestants must provide their own stage and background. (All puppet plays must have a background to screen the puppeteer[s] from the audience.) 
  3. A puppet team consists of one or two (2) puppeteers. 
  4. Homemade and/or professionally made puppets may be used. 
  5. Recorded background music or sound effects may be used, but contestants must perform LIVE all verbal communication. (Performers must activate any recorded sound effects or music themselves.  Cannot be done by someone else)
  6. Scripts must be tastefully presented, avoiding slang insinuation of questionable language. 
  7. Scripts must be memorized. 
  8. Setup time is five (5) minutes. Please consult with Judge as to whether additional setup time is available. 
  9. The time limit for the presentation is five (5) minutes minimum, eight (8) minutes maximum. If competition piece does not meet the five (5) minute minimum or exceeds the eight (8) minute maximum time limit, the contestant will receive a .5-point deduction for any portion of thirty (30) second increments outside the allotted time. (For example, a piece timed at 4:42 would receive a half-point deduction from the total score. A piece of 8:42 would receive a deduction of a full point from the total score.) 

PUPPETS JUDGING CRITERIA 

Areas of Evaluation 

POSSIBLE POINT 

Spoken material 

  1. Shows preparation and planning, not wholly extemporaneous, and not just a collection of jokes (1-10) 
  2. Suitable to occasion, has a basic theme and unity, builds to a message of Christian or patriotic worth (1-15) 

Staging

  1. Suitable, personable, well-made characters, props, and costumes (1-10)
  2. Effective stage, background, props, etc. (1-10)

 Effective presentation 

  1. Memory (1-10) 
  2. Use of variety: singing, laughing, sighing, 

taped background music, etc. (1-5) 

  1. Develops character (1-5) 
  2. Variation of voice between characters (1-10) 
  3. Arouses audience response (1-5) 
  4. Timing: natural movements, posture, lip movement, and entrances and exits (1-15) 

Proper documentation submitted (1-5) 

TOTAL POINTS (100) 

. HINTS FROM THE PUPPET JUDGES:

Puppeteers should remember that their primary objective is to minister, not just to entertain. Occasional jokes, in good taste, will help keep your audience interested in your message, but don’t waste your time on too many jokes. The message comes first! Here are some practical hints to build your puppet-handling skills. To make your puppet appear more realistic, manipulate his mouth by moving your thumb, not your fingers. When a human opens his mouth to talk, he drops his bottom jaw. He does not raise his whole head. Similarly, real people rarely stand completely still; neither should puppets. Keep them alive and moving without overdoing it. Finally, look for creative, realistic ways to get your puppet on stage. Avoid what one judge called the “pop-up toaster” entrance. You will also be judged on your stage. It should be sturdy and neat. A wrinkled, wobbly stage is very distracting to the audience. 

 

DRAMATIC DIALOGUE 

PERFORMANCE EVENT 

Two contestants present an original dialogue or an adaptation of a written dialogue between two individuals. Script may be fact or fiction. The primary emphasis of this event is on the verbal interchange between two characters. The dialogue must leave a clear, positive message in the minds of the audience. This event should employ all the skills of a good dramatic presentation. 

  1. Females portray females; males portray males. 
  2. Only two characters can be portrayed. 
  3. Conversation must focus on Christian themed topics.
  4. Costumes and one prop per character are permissible. 
  5. No recorded speaking, singing, or sound effects are permitted. 6. Time limit is four (4) minutes minimum, six (6) minutes maximum. If competition piece does not meet the four (4) minute minimum or exceeds the six (6) minute maximum time limit, the contestant will receive a .5-point deduction for any portion of thirty (30) second increments outside the allotted time. (For example, a piece timed at 3:42 would receive a half-point deduction from the total score. A piece of 6:42 would receive a deduction of a full point from the total score.) 

 

DRAMATIC DIALOGUE JUDGING CRITERIA Areas of Evaluation POSSIBLE POINTS 

Mechanics 

  1. Approach/departure (1-5) 
  2. Voice projection and inflection (1-5) 
  3. Diction/enunciation (1-5) 
  4. Poise/self-confidence (1-5) 
  5. Memory (1-5) 

Characterization 

  1. Posture, movement, gestures (1-10) 
  2. Facial expressions (1-5) 
  3. Costume/effective use of props (1-10) 
  4. Variety of dramatic skills displayed (1-10) 
  5. Effective interaction of characters, quality of characterization (1-15) 

Script 

  1. Message came across effectively (1-10) 
  2. Worthwhile message (1-10) 

Proper documentation submitted (1-5) 

TOTAL POINTS (100) 

ONE-ACT PLAY PERFORMANCE EVENT 

PLEASE REFER TO PLATFORM GENERAL GUIDELINES BEFORE PREPARING FOR THIS ENTRY. 

Contestants must present an original play (written by students and/or sponsor) or an adaptation of a play (having given proper credit to the original author). See One-Act Play judging criteria. 

  1. The play must include at least two scenes. 
  2. Minimum of three (3) and maximum of five (5) players may be involved. 
  3. Each player may be used to portray more than one character. 
  4. Technicians, musicians, and all personnel needed for production will be counted in the five-contestant limit. 
  5. The writer is NOT required to be a part of the cast. 
  6. Females must play female roles; males must play male roles. 
  7. The play should depict or illustrate: 

(a) soulwinning, 

(b) Scriptural truths, 

(c) our Christian heritage, 

(d) defense of the Christian faith. 

  1. The play may NOT be: 

(a) musical, 

(b) Reader’s Theater, 

(c) choral speaking. 

  1. Props and equipment must be provided by the contestants  (i.e., extension cords, 

    spots, sound effect equipment, furniture). 

  1. NO firearms may be used unless they are rendered inoperative and this has been verified by security officers employed by the institution where competition is conducted. 
  2. Discharge of blanks, caps, or any explosive is NOT permitted in play production. 
  3. No recorded speaking or singing will be permitted in play production. 
  4. Recorded sound effects WILL be accepted (background music, storms, animals, guns, etc.). 
  5. Scripts are to be memorized. 
  6. A five-minute limit is permitted for stage setting UNLESS other arrangements are made with the Chief Judge. 
  7. The time limit for the presentation is six (6) minutes minimum, ten (10) minutes maximum. If competition piece does not meet the six (6) minute minimum or exceeds the ten (10) minute maximum time limit, the contestant will receive a .5-point deduction for any portion of thirty (30) second increments outside the allotted time. (For example, a piece timed at 5:42 would receive a half-point deduction from the total score. A piece of 10:42 would receive a deduction of a full point from the total score.) 
  8. Backdrops and equipment should be able to fit in an area 10 feet deep by 16 feet wide, 

which will be marked on the stage. 

ONE-ACT PLAY JUDGING CRITERIA 

Areas of Evaluation POSSIBLE POINTS 

Stagecraft 

  1. Costuming and makeup (1-10) 
  2. Scenery and props (1-10) 
  3. Lighting (1-5) 
  4. Sound effects (1-5) 

Cast performance 

  1. Lines (memorized and well delivered) (1-10) 
  2. Voice quality (inflection and projection) (1-10) 
  3. Movement (body language, facial expression) (1-5) 
  4. Blocking (direction of actors on stage) (1-5) 

Production quality 

  1. Selection of material (worthwhile message) (1-10) 
  2. Characterization (believable characters) (1-10) 
  3. Dramatic impact (message comes across effectively) (1-15) 

Proper documentation submitted (1-5) 

TOTAL POINTS (100) 

 

HINTS FROM THE DRAMA JUDGES:

 Drama is the way characters relate to one another. Therefore, the most important thing in your One-Act Play will be the convincing portrayal of characters. This is the essence of acting. All the elements of other speaking events apply to the actors in your one-act play: movement, gesture, voice inflection, diction, and variety. Perhaps the hardest thing to master in acting is that appearance of spontaneity that makes the audience believe the scene is happening for the first time. To create spontaneity, study the way people react to things they hear, and then try to build those natural reactions in your characters. 

 

GROUP BIBLE SPEAKING (Ensemble) 

PERFORMANCE EVENT 

This is a mixed performance event. Group Bible speaking is an interpretation by a spoken choral group of 8-30 contestants on a set Bible passage. One entry is allowed per school. 

  1. The group will create an atmosphere by using tone of voice, inflections, pause, gesture and 

movement (utilizing the space available). 

  1. No costumes, props, or singing allowed. 
  2. The passage must be memorized. 
  3. The majority of the passage is spoken chorally, but lines may be spoken by a section of the group or by solo voices. 
  4. Sound effects created on stage by the contestants may be added. 
  5. Presentation time limit is four (4) minutes minimum, six (6) minutes maximum. If 

competition piece does not meet the four (4) minute minimum or exceeds the six (6) minute maximum time limit, the contestant will receive a .5-point deduction for any portion of thirty (30) second increments outside the allotted time. (For example, a piece timed at 3:42 would receive a half-point deduction from the total score. A piece of 6:42 would receive a deduction of a full point from the total score.) 

Use passage of your choice. 

 

GROUP BIBLE SPEAKING JUDGING CRITERIA Areas of Evaluation POSSIBLE POINTS 

Mechanics 

  1. Approach/departure (1-5) 
  2. Appearance/posture (1-5) 
  3. Confidence with material/poise (1-5) 
  4. Suitability and use of sound effects (1-5) 
  5. Memory (1-5) 

Technical delivery 

  1. Vocal skill: Projection/diction/inflection (1-5) 
  2. Vocal variety: Pitch/pace/pause/phrasing (1-5) 
  3. Facial expression/eye contact/body language (1-5) 
  4. Choral unity: Blend/balance/vocal grouping (1-10) 
  5. Blocking/use of space/movement of groups (1-5) 

Arrangement 

  1. Use of solo voices/small group voices (1-5) 
  2. Dynamic shape of groups/movement and gestures (1-10) 
  3. Group awareness/interaction (1-10) 

Communication 

  1. Characterization and interpretation (1-5) 
  2. Audience rapport (1-5) 
  3. Persuasiveness/impact/message delivery (1-5) 

Proper documentation submitted (1-5) 

TOTAL POINTS (100) 



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