Changing Perspectives

We are so excited to share with the friends and families of the Youth Theatre classes a physical theatre play called Perspectives. 

Our high school students have been hard at work learning the techniques used in physical theatre, understanding the genre and bringing to life this piece.

Actors will be dressed in black; they will use broomsticks which are transformed into a number of different props.

This play requires the optimal use of both body and voice. A challenge our students are accepting boldly. 

Physical theatre is a type of theatrical performance which emphasises physical expression as the primary conveyor of dramatic meaning. 

It goes beyond the narrative, incorporating physical and visual elements on a level at least equal to verbal elements.  It is, however, more than simply abstract movement – it includes some element of character, narrative, relationships and interaction between the performers. 

Perspectives will be performed by all Youth Theatre classes this year. We hope to see you all there.

Island Time

Many of us dream of island getaways in the middle of the workday or work week. With drama our students have the opportunity to bring these dreams to life as their imaginations and creativity run free.

Drama has the power to transport you anywhere you like.

And this year’s Lower Primary Production will transport the students to a tropical island. How fun!

Paradesia is set on an island and promises to be full of adventure and fun.

The Durbanville LP class started rehearsing last week. They had great fun with teacher Inandi Vosloo. (Pictured above)

We hope to see friends and family in the audience when the students take to the stage and we'll all be transported together. 

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.

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.

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.

New Term, New Adventures

Term Three kicked off in fine style this week with students returning to their school and studio classes. We also had a number of new faces getting in on the ACTion and they were welcomed in proper Helen O’ Grady fashion.

We’re looking forward to a great term.

We have a jam packed schedule with rehearsals for our end-of year Productions starting just before the September holiday break. Be sure not to miss out. Productions are a highlight on the Helen O’ Grady calendar and this year family and friends can look forward to seeing students display their drama skills in a fine spectacle!

Now’s the time to invite your friends and school mates. There are no auditions for Productions so everyone gets to be part of the show. And before rehearsals begin…we’ll have a few weeks’ lessons under our hats and know our way around skills such as ad-libbing, movement and clear, confident speech.

Our Durbanville and Kenridge Studios with their new teachers, Lize and Elle.

Keep your eyes on the Facebook page and follow us on Twitter for all the details and info around Productions and general Helen O’ Grady updates.

Let’s have a memorable term.

See you on stage!