Helen O'Grady students cast in "Long Walk to Freedom!"

We are very proud  that 4 of the  drama students from The Helen O'Grady Drama Academy Joburg North East  were cast out of hundreds to star in the international film " Long Walk to Freedom" .

Sinakho Motsepe
Role : Tembi (Mendela's son age 6yrs)
Benoni LP

Khumbuzile Maphumulo
Zeni(Mendela's daughter age 8 yrs)
Benoni LP

Joshua Manana
Tembi (Mandela's son age 11yrs)
Boksburg UP



Refilwe Charles
Zinzi ( Mendela's daughter age 12 yrs)
Kensington UP



Most of the Film is being shot  in Cape Town so our kids  have had the great experience of filming in the new Cape Town studios.
Mendela is played by a very well known British screen and TV Actor Idris Elber ( Ghost Rider, Thor, Legacy, Luther) and Winnie played by an equally famous British Actress Naomie Harris( Pirates of The Caribbean, Trauma, Miami Vice ).

The film will be released next year so be sure to go and watch it!!


All the students at this  branch of the Helen O'Grady drama academy are signed up with our casting agency - Take 10 Casting. Our International drama programme certainly helps our students get cast in films, TV series as well as numerous TV ads.



Workshop and Wine evening a great hit !

The parents of our Kensington and Sandton Youth Theatre classes were treated to a Work shop and Wine evening. Parents bought food and drinks and sat around tables while their sons and daughters entertained them with a evening of comedy and drama . The workshop included improvisations, scripts, monologues and theatre games !



Poor Poochy! We even had a real live dog make an appearance!



 

                                                                                         

At the end of the evening many of the students were presented certificates and trophies.

We were particularly proud of Arianna Cottino who received her 300 lesson trophy (seven and a half years attending the Academy). Well done !

Lower Primary Classes Sparkle on Parents Day

All the  Lower Primary classes  in the  Johannesburg East branch of the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy treated the parents to a  sparkling show. Part of their performance was to act out a "Mime to Music" which is a story to music which involved  movement skills including time and  space awareness as well as listening skills. We encourage our children to understand that  good body coordination is as  important as vocal skills in developing self confidence and being a great actor.
The  children acted out "The Christmas Decorations" and  impressed their parents as they pretended to be  decorations  popping out of the Christmas decoration box on Christmas eve and at midnight  made their way onto the christmas tree.Check out some of our children in action !

Preparing for Parent Day!

All our students are rehearsing for our parent days coming up over the next three weeks. All 600 students attending the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy Jo'burg North East will be show casing some aspects of our internationally  acclaimed programme to parents, friends and family.

Our Lower & Upper Primary Bedfordview classes , held at the Jeppe Quandom Centre, had their dress rehearsals on Saturday . The Lower Primary class had fun being " A School Orchestra"  whilst our Upper Primary classes dressed up for  a short scripted scene  called "Ulysses and The Sirens"- a piece set in the times of Greek Mythology

.

Ready Steady Cook!

Our Lower primary classes have had great fun this week, dressing up as little chefs and having a cooking competition with imaginary food!! Kensington Lower Primary classes held at the Kensington Tennis and  Bowling Club on Thursdays pulled out all the stops with fantastic chef's hats, aprons and cooking utensils. The kids are encouraged to use props in preparation for their end of year production. The drama  programme helps develop self confidence as well as social and communication skills . Above all , it's great fun!!!

Corporate Drama : Adding a Magic Ingredient To how You Present!

The strategic director of  SMV South Africa, a global  media company approached the Academy  to present  a workshop which could help bridge the gap between business and drama.The company have many fantastic presenters but the idea was to push the boundaries and make them " sparkle". A two hour workshop involved  group bonding exercises, relaxation and vocal training, lateral thinking, bringing to life a power point presentation and dealing with the unexpected ! Besides teaching them new skills , great fun was had by all!

Our workshops  can be tailored  to suit the needs of the client and can vary from a two hour workshop to an 8 week course (one hour a week ).

Helen O'Grady drama student finalist at IMTA Awards in July 2012

Well done to Katleho Mallela (age 17 years) who has reached the finals of the IMTA awards in July 2012. Katleho has been attending the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy in Kempton Park for the last 5 years. Our Youth Theatre  programme which focuses on performance has certainly helped her to become such a wonderful performer.
 The  IMTA holds a number of competitions for  Actors, singers and dancers to demonstrate their potential .The agents, personal managers and casting directors who are judging are not only scoring the participants, they're also scouting for new talent to represent or cast.
Katleho, as are all the kids who are with the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy Johannesburg North East belong to our casting agency Take10. Katleho was recently featured in a PSA  advert  for Aids. The casting directors were very impressed with her.
Lets keep our fingers crossed for Katleho at the Awards!