This category invites students aged 10-19 to step into the spotlight and bring stories to life through the performing arts! Participants will explore the power of live performance — drama, dance, physical theatre, spoken word, and musical performance — to communicate ideas, evoke emotions, and inspire audiences, all while focusing on the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Showcase your storytelling and performance skills through live or recorded work. Present original pieces or reinterpret existing works — acting, dance, movement, spoken word, or musical performance — bringing characters, ideas, and narratives to life on stage or screen, with a focus on one or more of the UN SDGs. This category encourages creativity, emotional expression, and a deep understanding of both the performing arts and global issues. Submissions can range from monologues, dance pieces, and spoken word performances to short scenes and full-length works, and can be performed individually or as part of a group.
This category celebrates the power of performance art to:
- Communicate powerful messages about the UN SDGs
- Explore complex themes related to global challenges through movement, voice, and staging
- Evoke strong emotional responses from the audience about the need for sustainable development
Competition Format:
- Team Size: Maximum 7 students per team
- Preparation Time: 2 minutes
- Presentation Time: 8 minutes
- Topics: The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Areas of Focus may include:
- Acting: Showcase your talent through compelling character portrayals, demonstrating vocal and physical expression, emotional range, and stage presence, all while conveying messages related to the chosen SDG(s).
- Dance & Movement: Use choreography, physical expression, and movement vocabulary to convey narrative and emotion, reflecting the chosen SDG(s) through the body.
- Spoken Word / Poetry Performance: Combine rhythm, language, and delivery to deliver a powerful message related to the chosen SDG(s).
- Directing: Explore your vision and leadership skills by bringing a scene or performance piece to life, guiding performers and making creative choices in staging and design that reflect the chosen SDG(s).
- Playwriting / Devised Work: Craft original scripts or devised performance pieces that explore compelling themes related to the SDG(s), develop engaging characters or ideas facing challenges or contributing to solutions, and utilize dramatic or performative structure to highlight the importance of sustainable development.
- Technical Theatre: Demonstrate your skills in areas like set design, costume design, lighting, and sound, contributing to the overall atmosphere and impact of a performance, while using sustainable practices and reflecting the themes of the chosen SDG(s).
Projects in this category could involve:
- Performing a monologue, scene, or dance piece from a published work that addresses an SDG.
- Creating and performing an original short play, dance, or spoken word piece focused on a specific SDG.
- Directing a scene or devised performance, highlighting its relevance to an SDG.
- Designing the set, costumes, or lighting for a production that reflects an SDG.
Judging Criteria:
- Originality and Creativity (20%):
- How innovative is the performance in terms of concept, form, and character/idea development, particularly in relation to the chosen SDG(s)?
- Does the piece offer a fresh perspective or unique interpretation of the SDG(s)?
- Performance and Expressive Skills (25%):
- How effectively do the performers convey character, emotion, or ideas related to the chosen SDG(s) — through acting, movement, voice, or a combination?
- Are motivations, relationships, or themes clearly conveyed in the context of the SDG(s)?
- Is there a believable, controlled, and consistent performance throughout?
- Topic Compliance with UN SDGs (25%):
- How well does the performance align with the chosen UN SDG(s)?
- Does the performance effectively raise awareness or provide meaningful insight into the issues related to the selected SDG(s)?
- Is the connection between the performance and the SDG(s) clear, impactful, and creatively integrated?
- Structure and Content (15%):
- Is the script, choreography, or performance structure well-crafted, with coherent structure, clear content, and effective pacing that supports the exploration of the chosen SDG(s)?
- Does the material feel natural and contribute to development, progression, and understanding of the SDG(s)?
- Technical Aspects (10%):
- How effectively are technical elements like lighting, sound, costume, and set design used to enhance the performance and reflect the chosen SDG(s)?
- Is the overall production quality high, regardless of whether it is a live or recorded performance?
- Overall Presentation (10%):
- How well do all elements of the performance come together to create a cohesive and engaging experience that effectively communicates the message(s) related to the chosen SDG(s)?
- Is the performance well-rehearsed and polished?