THE Roma Eisteddfod is on the lookout for new talent.

Roma and District Eisteddfod president Carmel Treasure said this year's event will be held in October and nominations are now open.

"The eisteddfod is every year but we alternate between speech focus like year, last year was music and instrumental," Mrs Treasure said.

"We are encouraging as many of the schools as possible to enter the choral speaking and we already had interest from St George, St Pat's in Mitchell and Bymount, and St John's and the Middle Campus are getting choirs together which is good fun because you can perform as a group."

Mrs Treasure said while the main focus was on children, all sections will be open to the wider public.

"We were thinking older residents might interested in the bush poetry section or 'tell a yarn'," she said.

"There's also a drama monologue section which is new this year where you dress as a character from a play and recite."

Mrs Treasure said some people thought eisteddfods in the bigger centres were scary, but that wasn't the case here.

"In Roma we have no specialist speech teachers, but we have a lot of enthusiastic classroom teachers and parents," she said.

"The eisteddfod gets kids up on the stage and the audience is really warm and supportive - just parents and performers."

Mrs Treasure had a good tip for first time performers.

"A good place to start is a set poem which the eisteddfod committee can send you if you email us, and there is also a poems in pairs section," she said.

Entries now close on September 10.

Ask for an entry form at romaeisteddfod@gmail.com or check out their sausage sizzle in front of Home Hardware on Saturday.

This year: Poetry and drama

Where: Roma Cultural Centre

When: October 21-23