GRADY BEAR IN GUERNSEY

This Grady Bear, who really lives in Bristol, made a surprise visit to Helen O'Grady Head Office in Guernsey this week. He felt he needed to know a little more about the workings of the company so he could spread the word!

National Director, Nigel Le Page, explained something about his job as Grady inspected emails.

Unfortunately, he was none to keen on the rain in Guernsey so will be back in Bristol by the weekend.

Grady in the rain

FRANCHISEE TRAINING 2012

Last month, induction training for new Franchisees took place at the Mercure Hotel in Bristol. National Director, Nigel Le Page, and Trainers, Margaret Darley and Alison Mazanec, welcomed new Principals from around the world!

New Franchisees from L to R: Chris and Kathryn Gregory (Bath), Andrea Williams (St Helens), Katy Markey (West Sussex) and Tenie Sangma (Tokyo).

 

 

 As well as workshopping a great deal of curriculum and visiting both regular classes and end of year shows, the team covered all necessary administration, marketing and business topic.s

Alison (far L) explains the enrolment procedure

Andrea plays the part of a concerned mother, while Chris and Kathryn deal with the enrolment.

Although the week is packed with learning, it is also a lot of fun. The trainees were fortunate to be in Bristol during the annual Harbour Festival which, this year, enjoyed record crowds, mostly due to the beautiful sunshine. To conclude the proceedings the Class of 2012 enjoyed a meal together at a popular Bristol restaurant.

Tenie (L) and Katy

Christopher, Kathryn and Andrea

Training manager, Margaret Darley (L) and Executive Principal, Alison Mazanec

National Director, Nigel Le Page, with his special award at the end of the training week!

The group, after an excellent evening at Byzantium, Bristol

All new Principals are currently organising themselves for a big launch in September. We wish them all the best of luck!

NIM NAM, NIM NAM........

In the last few exciting weeks up to the end of the Academy term, final dress rehearsals continue and performances take place. Here are some pictures of the Lower Primary production: "The Grasshopper And The Ants".

Tayforth ants with the lazy Grasshopper practicing their 'nim-nam' ant language.

Bristol Grasshopper with ants hiding behind the flowers!

Very happy Bristol ants!

Good luck to all students and teachers who are presenting their shows this week and next! We are very proud of you all!

PORTISHEAD SUMMER FAIR

In the middle of this very busy production term, Bristol teacher, Abi Hutchinson, took some of her students along to the summer fair at the school where her classes are held. Portishead students talked to parents and children and performed some spontaneous mini-scripts.

All Bristol classes will be presenting their end of year plays at the Olympus Theatre, on WISE Campus, Stoke Gifford, next week.

Enrolments for September are now being taken for classes in Keynsham, Frampton Cotterell, Bishopston, Almondsbury, Westbury on Trym, Redland and Downend as well as the very popular studio in Portishead.

Call 0117 900 1602 or email bristol@helenogrady.co.uk for further details.

COME AND JOIN US!

This weekend, at the end of the Easter break, Principals and teachers from around the country will be assembling in London to workshop the exciting curriculum for Term 3. After two terms of our developmental programme, the summer term is the culmination! All classes in the Academy start work on a short, scripted production to be performed for an audience of parents and friends at the end of term.
The Easter Seminar is always huge fun, with adults being children and trainers being teachers. It gives everyone the opportunity to see - and take part in - the plays for next term.

Grasshoppers, tortoises, aliens, Egyptian mummies, Mexican villagers, movie starts all have a part to play in one of ten specially written plays for all age groups - 5 - 18 year olds.

And to prospective actors the message is certainly COME AND JOIN US!

Most Academy classes have spaces for new children. No experience is necessary and no audition is required. Check our website www.helenogrady.co.uk for locations and call or email your local branch NOW to secure a place.

And who knows you could be part of 'The Party Of The Year!'

CHILDREN IN NEED IN BRISTOL CLASSES

In Bristol, parents were invited to attend classes during National Talking Week! They joined in with the lessons, they listened to their children talk and they donated a lot of money!

Proud parents bought special edition T-shirts for their children. All proceeds donated to the charity.

Teacher, Kathryn Gregory, puts both children and parents through their paces!

Children found lots to talk about!

Executive Principal, Alison Mazanec said: "We were very proud of all of students for taking part. The atmosphere in class was very exciting and some of the talks were very moving."

The Bristol branch of the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy raised almost £2,000 towards the final total. Congratulations to them all!

HELEN O'GRADY CLASSES IN THE PHILIPPINES

The newest Helen O'Grady Principals are Monique and Vince Bunuan, currently living in the United States but relocating to their native Manila in August to open the very first classes in the Philippines. Last week, they trained in Bristol and were delighted when Helen O'Grady herself called in to meet them on Saturday.

L to R: Executive Principal, Alison Mazanec, National Director, Nigel Le Page, Training Manager, Margaret Darley, Helen O'Grady, Monique & Vince Bunuan, Principals, Philippines.

The visit was also exciting for the young students who joined in a demonstration lesson with great energy and enthusiasm. They certainly gave Helen a rousing Bristol welcome!

Monique was able to do some teaching with the class and, being experienced drama students, they involved all the adults in their improvisations!

We, at Head Office, wish Monique and Vince all the very best with their new branch. We are certain their classes will be very popular!

MORE NATIONAL TALKING DAY! PICTURES

All over the country Principals have been raising money for Children In Need. Many branches of the Academy invited parents into class to join in their childrens' lesson. Lots of them were encouraged to wear something spotty. In Leicestershire, Rebekah Davidson (above) single handedly (well with just a little help from her dad!) raised £260. Well done to her!

The talking - and certainly the fundraising - continues. The academy will be collecting spare change for Pudsey right through this term. You can get involved by visiting our website - http://www.helenogrady.co.uk/ - or send a donation to the address on this blog.

Keeeeep talking!

Youth Theatre Productions 2009

Youth Theatre classes around the country performed 'Jason And The Golden Fleece' and 'Blood On Their Hands?' as their end of year shows. In Bristol the Redland and Kingswood Senior Youth Theatres donned their togas with great aplomb for 'Jason' while Portishead, Frampton Cotterell and Keynsham enjoyed wearing the seventies gear for 'Blood?'

Upper Primary Plays - July 2009

Talented students, aged from 9 to 12 years, presented their end of year shows recently. They had great fun as 'Bold Buccaneers', swashbuckling their way to great aclaim. Jake and Lulubelle had plans to 'clean up' in Abilene but the Sheriff - and Jellybone - had other ideas and planned to keep Abilene as 'The Cleanest Town In Texas'. Perfect platform to show off their drama skills and a great time was had by all!

Exciting productions for Lower Primary students!

We are delighted to share some pictures from our end of year productions. Lower Primary children - aged between 5 and 8 years - presented two delightful plays: 'The Wedding' and 'Snake Charmer'. The plays gave students the opportunity to be part of something positive and successful at the end of the Academic year. During previous terms, the children had great fun working on our developmental programme, experiencing many forms of language development through drama in our exciting after school classes.