It's Showtime!

Every year the Helen O’ Grady productions take the shape of interesting, quirky stories with fun plots, unexpected plot twists and delightful characters. 

This year will be no different.

The Lower Primary classes take to the stage with their rendition of The Grasshopper and the Ants. The story follows a lazy Grasshopper who just wants to play and can’t be bothered to help the ants collect food for the winter. He would like to share with them though and has to use all his powers of persuasion to convince them he deserves their charity!

The Upper Primary group will provide a laugh-a-minute show as they present Fancy That. The scene is set at Gloria Van De Bergen’s fancy dress ball – the party of the year! There are some fantastic costumes; everyone has made a huge effort – especially the ‘revolting Robinsons’ from down the street who, apparently, have gate crashed the party dressed as aliens. But it all ends in tears…. Or does it…

The Youth Theatre students have their work cut out as the Durbanville and Kuils River group perform The Legend of Tim Sandy. The audience is taken on a journey starting at the beach where the Muscle Mob arrive to throw their weight about. Tim Sandy loses his girlfriend Dolores as he feels he is not worthy of her. Will Tim win Dolores back or has someone else already set his eyes on her… 

Meanwhile, the Bellville and Paarl groups will perform The Unmasking of Macbeth. The three witches promise Macbeth that he'll be King of Scotland and be invincible. Spurred on by his power-hungry wife, Lady Macbeth, he ruthlessly kills all those around him who might end up taking away his claim to the title. But the journey is filled with strife. This version of Shakespeare's Macbeth requires students to wear black costumes and white masks. Using masks allows students to play different parts in each scene.

The students are ready for the showpiece. Are you?!

Don't Miss Helen O' Grady 2017

They say time flies when you’re having fun but boy, where did 2016 go?! 

What a great year it was filled with highlights and memories and it isn’t over yet. But we do have to start thinking and planning ahead. 2017 is around the corner and we need to ensure all our current students are given an opportunity to sign up for drama next year. We don’t want you to miss out!

This week all our teachers will be giving re-enrolment forms to all of our students.

Attached is all the information you need for next year.

 

And of course, if you bring back your forms next week – you stand in line to win amazing prizes so be sure to bring back those form as sooooooooooon as possible.

If 2016 is anything to go by you definitely don’t want to miss out on 2017 where it all gets bigger and better. While staying in line with our globally renowned curriculum we bring our students more skills and techniques in the form of high energy lessons.

Production Term Is Here!

Term Four started with a flourish as teachers and students hit the ground running preparing for a whirlwind term. This is of course all because Term four is Production Term!

Every year ends in spectacular fashion where all classes take to the stage and present a scripted production they’ve worked towards. This is a time where students showcase the performance skills they’ve learnt throughout their time with Helen O’ Grady. The plays are fabulous in showing off the students’ strengths while giving each individual time to shine as well as dazzle together as a cast.

A real theatre, a real stage, costume, sound, lighting and an audience that’s lined up and paid to see them!

All of the excitement culminates on the following days:

Durbanville and Bellville Studios, Rainbow Montessori, De Tyger Primary and Bellville Christian Academy take centerstage on Saturday 19 November at the Collective Arts Theatre in Bellville.

The Old Mill Theatre hosts the Paarl studio group on Tuesday 22^nd of November.

And we return to the Collective Arts Theatre on Saturday 26 November to be entertained by the Kenridge, Stellenbosch and Kuils River Studios along with Hebron Christian Academy.

Keep your eyes glued to our Facebook page for ongoing updates and further details around these unmissable productions.

A little Hebron in our Hearts

It’s amazing how teaching children can pull on every heart string. And not because we’re being dramatic, us, never. We simply cannot walk away from a class without leaving a bit of ourselves behind.

The principal of Helen O’ Grady Northern Suburbs and Winelands also teaches. Every Thursday afternoon for the last few years sees Mari drive through the gates of Hebron Christian Academy where she is met with enthusiastic, energetic, animated and lively students ready to end their school day on a dramatic high.

Despite the class growing in numbers each term and each year Mari has kept the class personal and each interaction special backed up by world-renowned teaching methods and a stellar curriculum. 

We believe the relationship between Helen O’ Grady and Hebron Christian School will continue to grow from strength to strength.

Proper Preparation with Props

Prop Snippets are great tools for students to learn and experience engaging not only with other students but also with objects.

The Prop Snippets are designed and executed in a way that allows students to think broadly and creatively and link an inanimate object to a piece of drama.

It’s been received with great enthusiasm in both Lower and Upper Primary level classes.

Students in the Upper Primary group at Bellville Christian Academy perform with one of the easier prop challenges: A book

This also makes for great preparation for the end of year productions where students are exposed to real theater practices using costumes and props during their performances.

We’re so thrilled to be able to give to our students the preparation they need to extend their on stage careers beyond our classes.