An A Level student from Reading College and University Centre has been named as one of the finalists in a national poetry speaking competition, Poetry By Heart, where she will recite a poem in Shakespeare’s Globe on Monday 6 July.
Poetry By Heart is a national poetry speaking competition for schools and colleges in England. The competition invites young people to choose a poem, learn it by heart and perform it aloud, or perform one of their own poems.
Ashleen Kaur, 18, from Earley, is taking part in the competition for the second year, having been highly commended last year. She is studying A Levels in Law, Politics and Sociology at the college on King’s Road.
During the competition final, Ashleen will read There will come soft rains by Sara Teasdale on stage to the judges. This will be followed by her performing the poem a second time round to an audience of other contestants, families and special guests. Her performance will also go on the Poetry By Heart’s website, after the competition.
As part of the final, Ashleen and guest will tour of Shakespeare’s Globe and see a performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream on Sunday 5 July.
Ashleen said: “I chose There will come soft rains because I read the title and really felt the poetic feeling. I feel rain can be expressed in a lot of ways, whether it be like romance or maybe sadness or maybe an epiphany, like all those different types of perspectives.”
To submit her entries, Ashleen filmed herself reading each poem aloud. Ashleen received a certificate and feedback for each entry.
Ashleen said: “I was quite shocked when I heard that I had got through to the final because I had exams and I had to do the Poetry By Heart recordings immediately afterwards. So, I was thinking maybe I’m not at my best game because I was really burned out. But then, my teacher Phil emailed me and told me to come in and he said I was in the final I was like, wow! I was really, really grateful for the opportunity.
“I can’t wait to just meet everyone else who also is in the final. I think it would be nice to talk to people from different regions in the UK.
“I feel nervous about taking part in the final. I’ve been on stage before when I was younger, so hopefully the muscle memory of being on stage will come back and I won’t be shaky or nervous. But again, I’m really excited as well. I’ve never actually been to Shakespeare’s Globe, so the fact that the first time I’m going there is to perform is just insane to me, honestly.
“I think taking part in the final will help me to improve my confidence. I’m quite a quiet person, so the fact that I will be performing in front of people at Shakespeare’s Globe, will be a massive step up to what I’m usually used to. It feels good to do something like that, and especially to represent the college as well.
Philip Trivett, GCSE English Teacher at Activate Learning, said: “I am absolutely delighted for Ashleen, and I hope her participation in Poetry By Heart will inspire others to take part.
“This is only our second year of participating in the competition and Ashleen was Highly Commended last year.
“She needs to be congratulated as she is not just representing Reading College, but she is the finalist of all KS5 students from all of this region!
“She was selected over every other Sixth Form School and FE College from both the private and state sectors in the area.
“She is a very talented young lady, and her performances were beautiful. In fact, the judges said her performance of Sara Teasdale’s “There will come soft rains” was “word perfect!”
Find out more about the A Level pathways on offer at Reading College and University Centre or contact Activate Learning on 0800 612 6008.