EXCITEMENT and nerves of young actors filled Trinity Lutheran College on Thursday as they took the stage in the Mildura Eisteddfod.

The speech and drama section opened the competition on Thursday, showcasing various age groups in recitations, monologues and prepared readings.

Amelia Paech, Joe Callaghan and Shae Zrna were among the teenagers who performed their monologues.

Joe and Shae won first and second prizes and Amelia received honourable mention.

Elyse Donaghy, Maggie Parker, Sofia Falivene and Ember Baylin were some of the younger competitors on Thursday, performing character recitation in costume.

Sofia came first as Alice in Wonderland, with Maggie and Ember following as joint second with performances about being a girl afraid of water and a vegetarian shark.

Mildura Eisteddfod president Andrea Soebardi was excited about bringing back the eisteddfod back to the stage after two years of cancellations or virtual performances.

"We are so excited to having a live event again," she said. "We want to get the kids performing again and get their love of that live audience back again."

The speech and drama categories include improvisational acting, team competitions and, as of last year, cabaret. Ms Soebardi said she had particular interest in the cabaret competition in its first year of live performance, giving audiences their first chance to see the action live.

Ms Soebardi said that the main benefit of adding cabaret was that it was very versatile as a genre.

"It usually includes a bit of dialogue and a bit of acting alongside the singing and dancing," Ms Soebardi said. "So it's a bit of an all-rounder section."

This year there are about 1240 participants, most entering the dance and modern vocal rounds that take place later this month.

This year the eisteddfod will use online ticketing for the first time, with sales at the Mildura Arts Centre website.