Tuesday, 7 November 2017

Production time is near, so lets spread the Cheer!

It’s that time of the year again and all our students are hard at work in rehearsing for their productions. Our annual productions are always a highlight for students, teachers, family, and friends – this year proves to be no different!

Audiences can look forward to a host of plays: ‘Paradesia’ and ‘The Snake Charmer’ will be performed by our Lower Primary classes, while our composite groups take on ‘The Sword in the Stone’. The Upper Primary classes will be performing either ‘The Cleanest Town in Texas’ or ‘The Bold Buccaneers’. Our Youth Theatre groups will blow you away with their performances of ‘Perspectives’ and ‘Macbeth’.

While our productions provide great entertainment for our students’ families and friends, there are also many benefits to being a part of a production. As with the rest of our programme, the main goal of our productions is to develop each students’ confidence and self-esteem. In our Academy, we strive to equip each student with the ability to be comfortable in front of a large audience. No one is a tree on stage and everyone has a chance to truly shine. 


Students have the opportunity to build on their verbal and non-verbal communication skills that they have developed throughout the year. Everyone is taught how to deliver lines and perform actions successfully on stage.

Productions are a wonderful way of teaching our children perseverance and the importance of working in a team. Our students are required to be committed and attend classes diligently throughout the rehearsal period. Furthermore, the success of a production depends on each individual student’s ability to cooperate with the rest of the class. Thus, our students learn how to work with others who might be very different from them and, in the end, they often develop great friendships.
Our students also benefit from increased memory and concentration as they will be performing without scripts. It is no easy task to remember lines and actions, and so our students can really be proud of themselves!

Each student can look forward to stepping into the wonderful world of make-believe. Whether it is on the tropical island of ‘Paradesia’ or in a saloon in Abilene, Texas, each script provides colourful characters and a world that sparks the imagination. It is through this process that children’s creative ability is developed.

While these are all important benefits, our students have the opportunity to experience the magic that theatre holds. Memories are made when the stage, lights, costumes, music, props, and the audience’s warm applause come together, and our children will treasure these forever. We have no doubt that this years’ productions will be an unforgettable experience for all!


Monday, 8 May 2017

Term 2 Drama starts with a Flourish!



Classes for the term 2 calendar have got underway. and what a busy and exciting term it is going to be!

We have two important calendar dates throughout our year, the biggest being our productions which take place at the end of the year and the second being our Parent's Day presentations which take place at the end of this term. This is a wonderfully exciting time for students and teachers alike as it gives them an opportunity to show their development in self-confidence, communication and performance skills to friends, family and teachers. 

We work throughout the term in preparation for this and the guests are always wowed by the students progression. Our parents days are also an opportunity for family and friends to see first hand what it is we do with the students during classtime, to learn more about our fantastic programme and to meet the principal if they have not already done so. This is quite a unique experience as we do not know many schools and activities where sitting in is afforded. 
This is also an invaluable experience for the students participating, particularly the new students or more introverted children who come to drama. This is essentially preparation for their big debut on the stage at the end of the year, and helps them get accustomed to the audience factor  in a safe, positive and less intimidating environment.Therefore support from parents, friends and family cannot be stresses enough and the students really appreciate it and look forward to demonstrating their skills.

At the end of the presentation we do our award ceremony which is the highlight of the day. We are very proud of our international curriculum and love showing off  its benefits to friends and family so please make sure to save the dates and not miss out on this awesome opportunity.



STUDIO           PARENTS DAY DATES


Atlantis                                   24 JUNE


Elkanah House Blouberg        9 JUNE


Elkanah House Sunningdale 14 JUNE


Edgemead                        21 JUNE


Malmesbury                        23 JUNE


Melkbosstrand                        22 JUNE


Milnerton                                26 JUNE


Sunningdale                        20 JUNE







Monday, 27 March 2017

Creative Drama in Edgemead

Midweek fun every Wednesday at our Edgemead studio. Each week students join us for a break from the stresses and dullness of life filled with fun and creativity, leaving refreshed and energised. Together with their wonderful teacher Nina the students enter the world of imagination going on new adventures or being introduced to new scenarios each week, which teaches not only empathy and respect for others but life skills on the whole.
Our ever dramatic students with their teacher Nina posing for the camera!



We have been running our studio in Edgemead, which services the area as well as Plattekloof, Panaroma, Bothasig and surrounds, for a number of years at the St Marks Methodist Church and are delighted to be able to offer the students our amazing programme. Classes are held every Wednesday for grades R-7, Lower primary being from 3-4pm and Upper primary from 4-5pm. 

Students from our Upper primary group involved in dramatic play.


Each week through dramatic play the students develop their communication skills, confidence and performance skills in a positive and friendly environment. The curriculum being specifically designed to increase these skills is also set out so that each and every student can be guaranteed to never repeat a single lesson within their time with us! This development is truly remarkable to see and the students have a blast at the same time making the learning experience that much better.



So why not contact us today for your free trial lesson and further information at this studio or any of our other studio locations: nastassja@helenogrady.co.za


Wednesday, 8 March 2017

Communicating the right way!

Did you know that over 75% of  human contact takes place through the use of non-verbal communication. In fact we respond to people and situations without even saying a word. Throughout our daily lives we need to make use of these non-verbal skills. It then becomes important that young people learn how to effectively communicate as a whole in order to be seen as a confident and well rounded individual. Having these skills is a bonus and really ups your chances of being considered for that job, nailing that presentation or getting into into a university. All these are signs of a positive and successful life. 

At the Helen O' Grady Drama Academy we have a broad range of curriculum for all age groups which encompasses the facets of the spoken word as well as these all important non-verbal skills. 
Students at our after-school programme at Elkanah House Blouberg Preparatory with their teacher Nina
Students in Melkbosstrand involved in miming.
Our students are challenged in these various areas from the start of the lesson right to the very end: with them being encouraged to think of their body positioning, facial expressions and placement of sound through the unique and true to life experiences we put them in, and our extensive movement programme allowing for physical awareness and creative co-ordination. All this done in a fun and stimulating environment. 
Dramatic role-play in action



It is no wonder that we are the world leaders in developing our students into confident and articulate individuals. We promise positive results in all our students, young and old, when participating in our programme for a duration of two years or more. Family and friends are astounded at how the students develop and regularly comment on the improvement in their children's confidence and school performance and this is because of our multi-faceted programme. One such parent called our office last week and commended the academy and teacher on her child's wonderful development; 

"I would like to thank you for the work you are doing with my daughter, her oral marks have shot up and I have no doubt this is due to her drama classes. She absolutely loves it." - Edgemead Parent

If you would like to find out more about our drama programme please contact our office on 021 553 4458, email us nastassja@helenogrady.co.za or visit our website www.dramaafrica.com

Wednesday, 22 February 2017

Weekend Classes in Atlantis!

The students in our Atlantis studio so enjoy their Saturday mornings! Each weekend is started off with fun, energetic and creative activities taught by their wonderful teacher Caryn, and when they leave they are bursting with joy and excitement for what is to come the next Saturday. 


The Helen O' Grady Drama Academy has been running our weekly classes in  Atlantis since 2015 and is highly popular! The students are trained in communicative, creative and performance skills through our international curriculum each week and work toward a production at the end of the year where they get to show off their progress to friends and family. Our comprehensive theatre-arts programme is truly one of a kind and we are so pleased to be able to offer it to young individuals within Atlantis and surrounds.








Extra-curricular activities are so important for students development into balanced and happy individuals but with their ever hectic school timetables this is sometimes not possible that's why classes on a weekend are a bonus. 
Our classes are held at the Avondale Library hall in Grosvenor Avenue, Avondale every Saturday morning between 10-12pm  depending on the the age group. So come along and join us there for your free trial lesson and be one of over 50 000 students who attend classes with us worldwide each week!

Contact the West Coast branch on 021 5534458 or feel free to email nastassja@helenogrady.co.za for further information. 

Sunday, 12 February 2017

Creativity- one of the most important skills to learn!




"Every child is an artist, the problem is staying an artist when you grow up” – Pablo Picasso

Creativity is one of those skills that in the past has been sorely under promoted, however this is starting to change. There is more and more evidence that developing this skill not only promotes a balanced and happier child but assists with development too.

At the Helen O Grady Drama Academy our unique programme enables our students, young and old, to harness their creativity. Through dramatic play, improvisation and role-playing we allow for the students to develop these vital creativity skills. Each week the learners are put into new, exciting and challenging situations that require the right brained, thinking out of the box approach. 



In this video can you see students from our Atlantis studio involved in an improvisation exercise where they must act on the spot in various situations.

Our classes positive atmosphere together with our trained teachers allow for the freedom of expression many do not get anywhere else. Here the students are not only allowed but encouraged to make so called 'wrong' choices as making these choices will inevitably lead to more choices which is quintessentially the creative process. 

This skill when nurtured helps people in everyday life situations as we are all involved in creative processes many many times throughout our daily activities'. Adding our once a week creative classes to your child's activities will not only help them to become confident and communicative individuals in all situations, but they will love the fun too! 





Friday, 27 January 2017

Setting you up for life!



What better way to start the year off with than a fun filled learning experience for you child?

At the Helen O' Grady Drama Academy we don't just play games with our students, the lessons are specifically designed to improve our students confidence, creativity and communication skills. With our expertly trained teachers we guarantee that every student in our classes receives positive reinforcement through our unique, fun and dynamic learning environment. This set of life skills is crucial in developing young people into confident, articulate adults who are able to succeed within our ever competitive world. 

We have branches all over the world making us the largest global drama school with over 40 years of experience in the field. Give your children the head start in life they deserve.

Currently the West Coast branch has weekly classes in Atlantis, Edgemead, Milnerton, Melkbosstrand, Malmesbury, Sunningdale and Riebeek Kasteel. Visit our website www.dramaafrica.com to find out more.