Helen O'Grady Drama

The Helen O’Grady Drama Academy began in Perth , Western Australia in 1979.It is of international status and in South Africa alone there are 9 branches with 4,000 children attending each week.I have now been involved with the Academy for over 15 years,6 years in London,UK and 9 years in Johannesburg.The Academy has gone from strength to strength and we now have 600 students attending classes in 14 locations.The Academy has expanded with the help of my highly skilled, caring, enthusiastic teachers , Catherine Brooks,Venetia Herbst, Stephanie Nel, Hilliary Meikle and Cindy Hammond.







Sunday, January 29, 2012

Productions 20th November :7-9pm

Boksburg  Upper Primary - THE PIED PIPER
                                         



Benoni Lower Primary - THE OLD WOMAN WHO LIVED IN A SHOE




Boksburg Lower Primary - PIRATE JOE




Benoni Upper Primary Wednesday - CIRCUS CPAERS




Boksburg Youth Theatre - THE TRIUMPH OF TREVOR TRUELOVE



Productions 20th November 3-5pm

Kempton Park Upper Primary- THE PIED PIPER



Houghton Lower Primary - THE OLD WOMAN WHO LIVED IN THE SHOE



Houghton Upper Primary - CIRCUS CAPERS




Kempton Park Lower Primary - PIRATE JOE





Kempton Park Youth Theatre - THE TRIUMPH OF TREVOR TRUELOVE



Productions Saturday 19th November

 Sandton Lower Primary - PIRATE JOE

 Sandton Upper Primary -THE PIED PIPER




 Farramere Upper Primary- CIRCUS CAPERS


 Sandringham - THE EMPEROR AND THE NIGHTINGALE


                                            
Farramere Lower Primary- THE OLD WOMAN WHO LIVES IN A SHOE
                                       


 Sandton Youth - THE TRIUMPH OF TREVOR TRUELOVE


















Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Lights, Camera ,Action!


Students at The Helen O'Grady Drama Academy Johannesburg East performed their End of year shows over the last two weekends to audiences of  300 people and more. Parents were impressed  by the costumes and sets which complimented the high standard of performances from our little 5 year olds in our Lower primary classes to our very talented 18 year old's in our Youth Theatre classes.
The short scripted productions demonstrate how the Helen O'Grady programme builds self confidence as well as social and communications skills enabling even the most timid child to get up on stage and perform infront of huge audiences. 630 students attend the Johannesburg Academy and each child took part in 1 of 7  plays. The plays are designed accordingly  to a specific age group and different styles of acting are taught from drama to  comedy to melodrama.
Kensington Lower primary class(5 -8 yr olds) had the audiences participating in deciding the outcome of their mean Captain in the pirate play "Pirate Joe" . This swash buckling play involved viby music , a song and lots of AARGHs! 



Now! Who's in charge of this ship?

You are Sir!

        
That Sailor is dying!


Let's Celebrate!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

On Camera Work Shop!

Some of our drama students attended a 2 day workshop for presenting skills during the Easter holidays. They had loads of fun learning different techniques on how to act in front of the camera.
Presenter, actor, dancer and rapper Caz Abrahams took time out of his heavy schedule to give our students a great experience.
Check out our YouTube link to see how Shrivar, one of our Youth Theatre students improved from the start of day one to the end of day two! Its hard to believe its the same boy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlN9H-P-wtg

We will be having another workshop during the July break so book now!

What a Wash Out!



Our upper primary classes (9 -12 yrs)have been entertaining the parents in their end of term parent day. This is our Boksburg Upper Primary class.

Their structured scene "The School Camp" demonstrates how our programme develops their performance skills including adlibbing, miming , characterisation and using the stage effectively.

The School camp starts of well with all the kids getting excited about their trip but they weren't expecting rain! The weather report said "Fine All Day!"

What a Wash out!


Many of the kids were also presented with Achievement Certificates or one of our brand new Trophies!The longer the kids stay , the bigger the Trophy!!


Parent days take off!

5..4..3..2..1..LIFT OFF


We are well into our parent days and our Lower Primary classes have been entertaining their parents and family with their movement skills. The mime to music"The Astronauts" had the parents enthralled whilst they saw their kids travel through space, move in slow motion and encounter a monster!

The children then had their parents in stitches

when they presented their structured improvisation "The Sleep Over" which ended in a pillow fight much to the horror of the lady of the house. The children love dressing up for their parents and showing them what happens in drama classes.