Drama Drama Everywhere

The best part about being with Helen O' Grady is our local, national and international footprint.
Everywhere you go, you'll find us at a studio or school.
Should a family have to move during a term, its so easy for that student to continue their drama lessons and their learning development at another studio with a teacher with the qualifications, training and enthusiasm as previously.

But don't take our word for it...Take a look at the links below:

http://dramaafrica.com/
http://www.helenogrady.com.au/
http://www.helenogrady.co.uk/
http://www.helenogrady.co.in/website/
http://helenogradyasia.blogspot.co.za/   

and that's not even the half of it!

We hope that if you're with us already you'll chat to us and let us know if there's anything more we can do for your child. We're gearing up for a new, exciting season so if you're not with us yet... Get in on the ACTion!

Bellville Studio Opening January 2016!

The growth of Helen O’ Grady Drama Academy knows no bounds.

We are ever growing, ever moving forward and we want you to join in the adventure.

Next year Helen O’ Grady Northern Suburbs and Winelands will be expanding and opening our Bellville Studio.

The Studio will be hosted at the Collective Arts Theatre…yes…a REAL Theatre!

We welcome all Primary and High School students as we will run a Composite Primary class as well as an exciting Youth Theatre class.

If you live in the area and surrounds, don’t hesitate, get in touch and sign up today.

Collective Arts Theatre: Corner of Frans Conradie Drive and Alexdra Street, Bellville                         (next to DF Malan High School)
3:30– 4:30pm    6-12 years old (Primary Class)
4:30– 5:30pm    13-18 years old (Youth Theatre Class)

2016 Here we come!

There’s so much excitement during Term 4.

Yes, there are our Year end Productions happening at the end of November, but there’s more.

Term 4 is your chance to get ahead and sign up for another great year of drama. During Term 4 our students have the opportunity to re-enrol for Helen O’ Grady 2016. How exciting!!

This means current students have a chance to secure a place in one of our classes next year. And the sooner you sign up, the better your chances of getting your hands on a cool prize or treat.

Ask your teacher at class this week or contact the office on 021 913 3635 today!

Brand new season for Kindy

The heat is on in the Cape and it’s making its way to our classes and studios.

But that won’t stop the students from putting their best faces and voices forward as we prepare for our production. Productions are little over a month away and the excitement and nerves are building. From aboard a Pirate Ship to the mishaps of a Circus Troupe to the tragedies of Shakespearean yesteryear.

Our Kindy classes may not be preparing for full production like our older classes but they have been enjoying inspired classes. Themes this term will see them travel through the jungle and learn all about the seasons and weather in the most dramatic way.

But while that’s what we’re looking forward to, let’s first look back. Let’s just take a minute to admire the princesses and super heroes of our Kenridge Kindy class.

We love it when a plan comes together

Term four has got of to a rocking start with students filing in to class ready for action.

This term is extra special as we gear up for our year-end productions. It’s great to see that students spent time during the holidays learning their lines, familiarising themselves with their scripts and getting ideas for costumes and characterisation.

Productions are a highlight of the Helen O’ Grady calendar. It’s a great time to bring together all the principles we’ve taught our students throughout the year.

Students will get to show what they’ve learnt in the speech component of the curriculum as they deliver their lines in crisp, bold voices.

We will see their movement skills as they assume the levels, special awareness and planes of different roles.

Ad libbing, which is an important skill taught, practised and emphasised throughout the year will be on show throughout the plays throughout the age groups.

Parents, friends, family and teachers can look forward to a display of skill wrapped up in clever stories in a showcase of colour and fun.

TO BE OR NOT TO BE?

We are so excited and privileged to have Shakespeare as part of productions this year.

The work of William Shakespeare is such a integrate part of Theatre. His writing has been part of high school and University English Literature curriculum for years. What a wonderful treat that our Youth Theatre students gain additional exposure and even better, get to bring it to stage!

Shakespeare is renowned for tragedies, unapologetically so. While the themes of his work is central to studying Shakespeare during High School and at university, at Helen O’Grady we choose to focus on the stage craft. Without giving too much away, this year parents and friends can look forward to seeing students master art of mask work….

Somerset West's Youth group playing around with Tableus while rehearsing The Unmasking of MacBeth

A wonderful educational adventure awaits!

It is said that if a child can understand Shakespeare they can understand anything. His language is difficult to read and even more difficult to perform to a theatre full of friends and family. Students gain strength, courage and determination.

The way in which Shakespeare is performed at Helen O’Grady, using neutral masks, builds class unity as students rely on each other to carry the story and characters.

Very few have made the contribution to English literature that Shakespeare has. It is our hope that our Youth Theatre class will move on to make their own contributions to the world of language, literature and theatre.

DRAMA MAKES LEARNING FUN

As we head to the end of another term it's good to reflect on what we've learnt from principals, teachers and our students.

This time of the term and this time of the year we are especially reminded of the way in which drama benefits our students in their school classroom.

Every lesson, our students are asked and encouraged to listen to each other's ideas as well as present their own. These activities allow children to recognise the value of concentration. It also improves their concentration levels on the whole.

They may not realise but learning movement skills, performing mimes to music and playing scenarios that involve counting and keeping count help to develop important numeracy skills.

 From pirate ships to space ships to circus tents and south American jungles, drama scenarios spark in students a curiousity about the world. An inquisitive child is the first step to lots and lots of learning.

And very importantly drama has the ability to create strong friendships between children as they laugh, learn and grow together week after week after week!

Lights. Camera. PRODUCTIONS

Productions are a great time of the year when teachers, students and parents lose sleep, teeth and hair while they gear up for the highlight of the drama year.

A great part about Helen O’ Grady productions is that no one has to audition. The students ALL get to be a part of the action.

Another exciting element is that our productions will be performed at a real theatre at the end of the curriculum year. HOW EXCITING.

Real lights, real props and costumes and of course, real drama.

We are very excited as we’ll start working towards those productions in the coming weeks. Teachers will be revealing the 2015 plays to their classes, casting and sharing what we’ll be showing our friends and family at the end of this year.

We hope our parents and friends will support us this year as they have in the past so that, together, we can put on a showcase of our young talent and hard work.

We look forward to a grueling but fun build up to PRODUCTIONS 2015.

Keep your eyes on this page, our Facebook  for details around this year’s Productions.

Here Comes Drama!

While one of our teachers waited outside while a class exited the venue where her class would take place, she was recognised by one of the young pre-school students. The young girl recognised her sister’s Helen O’ Grady teacher. Her delight and excitement drew the attention of her classmates as she joyfully exclaimed, “Do you know who that is? She’s DRAMA!”

Today’s children and students are exposed to disapproval and negativity. Our drama lessons offer them a place to learn new skills to be used on stage and in presentation as well as a safe place where they are affirmed and nurtured. We have found that students and even their family members and friends recognise “Drama” as a place of excitement, creativity and inspiration.

As teachers we are privileged and proud to allow your students into this world where we can strive to inspire and lead.