Search this blog by studio name or school

Monday, February 23, 2015

Helen O Grady reaching beyond the Cape Curtain

Helen O Grady Drama Academy has built a name that reaches beyond borders all around the world. This allows our teachers to be trained up to present the Helen O Grady curriculum in various areas and communities.
We are especially happy to take this excellent curriculum to students who would normally have to travel great distances to be exposed the level of teaching and material as presented by Helen O Grady. One such area is Wellington outside of Cape Town. A wonderful community full of talent, a hidden treasure of the fair Cape. The Wellington Studio is hosted at the Wellington Preparatory School and is open to students from all over the area. There are classes for Lower as well as Upper Primary students.


Wellington students perform a Mime To Music as well as Impromtu Telephone Conversations. Both these activities are hugely popular amongst the students.


The Wellington Studio is hosted at the Wellington Prep school.
There is a Lower Primary and Upper Primary class.

For more information visit our website and our Facebook page.

Helen O Grady stars at Old Mill

Students at our Paarl Studio are treated to a unique experience as they get to nurture their drama skills and talents at the Old Mill Theatre in Paarl. Teacher, Jeffrey Moss, leads his students through our international curriculum which encourages creativity, quick thinking and dynamic improv.
Iconic to Helen O Grady curriculum is the vibrant Introductory Activities which sets the tone and pace at the start of every lesson. These activities encourages students to use their imagination and dig deep as they portray a variety of characters in a wide array of scenarios.

Composite Primary students having
fun with this week's Introductory Activities.


Join us in Paarl at the Old Mill Theatre
Tuesdays 16:00 – 17:00 Composite Primary Class
Tuesdays 17:00 – 18:00 Youth Theatre


See our website for more.

Monday, February 16, 2015

World class drama at your school

Our drama classes are not only run at studios, but also at schools. As all educators know, creative thinking is a vital element that forms part of all student's complete education.
Unfortunately, many schools are not able to accommodate or afford additional creative elements to the student's activities.
Helen O Grady offers the perfect alternative: taking the drama to the schools!
At no additional cost to your school, Helen O Grady teachers travel to schools, public and private, to present the finest in drama classes.

One of our afterschool programmes is at De Tyger Primary where students enjoy high energy, world renowned lessons in drama. As with the studios, afterschool programmes are presented to all age groups and no student is excluded. Rather than disrupting other afterschool activities, the drama programme enriches them. The De Tyger students are always full of enthusiasm as modelled by their teacher, Mari Crafford. Crafford encourages full participation and all the students enjoy this all inclusive outlet for their creativity.

De Tyger, Lower Primary and Upper Primary students enjoying speech and improv activities.

Would you like Helen O Grady Drama Academy to come to your school?
Head on over to our website, or see details at the top of this page.

Helen O Grady: Kuils River

The Kuils River studio which is hosted at the Jan Van Riebeeck Hall in Kuils River every Thursday is one of the Helen O Grady Cape Town – North's longest running studios. Students of all school going ages are invited to learn, grow, have fun and express themselves at this studio with teacher, Lize Goosen. All drama studios are run according to the international standard of Helen O Grady. The curriculum is set up in a way that ensures no student will do the same lesson twice regardless of location, school or age. This means that students are always exposed to something new, something exciting and something that will make that dramatic difference wherever they are.


As the Kuils River studio has been in action for many years, some students have grown with the Academy, from Lower Primary, through Upper Primary and they now enjoy the new challenges of Youth Theatre. At the Kuils River studios one of the favourite parts of the curriculum is the improvisation exercises where teachers lead students to perform mini-plays. For these students require a fair balance of quickly memorizing lines as well as ad-libbing and improvisation. Students learn to think on their feet and quickly creative juices are a flow.

Lize Goosen leads her Lower Primary class in an improvisation titled, “What a Star!”  


Kuils River Studio
Van Riebeeck Hall
Thursdays: 15:00 – 16:00 Lower Primary ; 16:00-17:00 Upper Primary ; 17:00 – 18:00 Youth Theatre
For more information visit our website: www.helenogrady.co.za

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

SO MUCH IN STORE

Like a magician with an endless array of tricks in his hat, a bag full of surprises, a gift with no end, such is the level of surprises in store for the students of Helen O Grady Drama Academy.

The international curriculum builds in students creative thinking and literacy skills while also teaching children positive social skills including effective team interaction, leadership, confidence and public speaking. And all of this, packaged in a fun, interactive and energetic class.

Children can be part of the Helen O Grady family from as young as 3 years old, they form part of the Kindy programme specially designed to give the young ones the confidence and platform they need to express their creativity. Through story telling, dramatic play, language development and song preschoolers are taught to listen, share, follow instruction and vocalise emotions.

The Lower and Upper Primary groups fill up first. The curriculum is structured in a way that meets the needs specific to the age group and needs of the children. With lessons in speech, movement, mime and improvisation students are treated to the highest level of dramatic education. Within a year, they walk away with the tools and equipping to not only perform on multiple stages but also the confidence and skills needed in the world they find themselves.

Students at the Paarl Primary Composite class enjoy an
interactive, high energy lesson in improvisation.


For the older students our Helen O Grady Youth Theatre offers classes that are on the same level as first year University drama classes. Nurturing talent and refining skills of students who have grown with the Academy from a young age as well as new students with a keen interest in the world of drama.

No matter the age, there is something unique and extraordinary for each child.
If your child is between the ages of 3 and 18 find a studio near you. Trial lessons are free.
If YOU are in this age group and would like to get involved, tell your parents about us, give us a call and we'll tell you more.
In the mean time, go over to Helen O Grady's website for more information.
Like us on Facebook
And follow us on Twitter: @HOG_CT_North

Be sure not to miss out.


There's a reason we're the first choice for schools world wide.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Term 1 opens with a roar

Helen O Grady Drama Academy in the Northern Suburbs and Winelands opened their doors last week to welcome the new year, and the new term as well as 100s of returning and new learners.
The first week saw the opening of the Kenridge Kindy class where our youngest stars took their first small steps to success. And oh what fun we had!
The Kenridge studio welcomed back learners who have been with us for a number of years and they, along with their teacher, Nastassja gave new learners a treat setting them up for a dramatic 2015.
Our Durbanville studio enjoyed a full house of new and old faces throughout the age groups. The High Impact Activity in the image below shows the Lower Primary girls enjoying an improvisation session taking domesticated house cats living in the lap of luxury to the mean, dark alleys and streets. This class wasting no time in getting the year off to roaring start.





Reports from other teachers active in Bellville, Kuils River, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Wellington and Somerset West showed that students, old and new, were eager to get into character, learn and grow.

Movement, Mime, Speech and Improv, the year ahead promises to be one filled with learning and laughter. Be sure to keep your eyes on this page for weekly updates, news and images.
For more see our website www.helenogrady.co.za
Follow us on Twitter: @HOG_CT_North


We're excited to share this year with you.