START OF TERM 2

Last weekend, almost a hundred Principals and teachers from the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy met in Manchester to workshop the exciting new curriculum for the coming term. Covering material for all ages - from Kindy Drama for 3 year olds to Adult Drama - the practitioners participated in the sessions as they would expect their own classes to do!

What attentive listeners these students are!

The gurgling coffee machine .......

No-one understands me .......

'Youth Theatre' students working on their own creative improvisations.

Many teachers from around the country were attending a Seminar for the first time and it was wonderful to see how they integrated and worked together with people they had never met before.

Term starts this week; check the website www.helenogrady.co.uk for details of local classes.

HELEN O'GRADY PRODUCTIONS 2011

Term 3 in the Academy is Production term and the preceding training Seminar is always a lot of fun, as Principals workshop the plays they will be presenting with their classes. Over 100 Principals and teachers from around the country met in Manchester before Easter to experience new plays and workshop updates to the more familiar.

"Bring me the Nightingale....."

"Pirate Joe, as mean as can be.....

Feared by everyone including me......"

"That stupid Rocco jumped too soon, and made me burst my red balloon...."

The above were during excerpts from 'The Emperor & The Nightingale', 'Pirate Joe' and 'Circus Capers'. Other plays for the Primary classes are 'The Old Woman In The Shoe', 'Pied Piper', 'School For Superheroes' and 'A Trip In Time'.

Youth Theatre have their own productions: 'A Score To Settle', 'The Triumph of Trevor Truelove' and 'Murder At Mornington Manor'.

All classes around the country will produce one of these plays in a showcase at the end of term. It is a very exciting time for all concerned.

PUDSEY ROCKS!

A team from the Academy joined the audience at BBC Television Centre on Friday 20th November to present a cheque to Sir Terry Wogan in favour of BBC Children In Need.

National Director, Nigel Le Page, spoke to Sir Terry live on air, and enjoyed a fantastic, star studded, evening of entertainment which was interspersed with accounts of the children helped by the charity.

The Academy is proud to be a corporate partner of BBC Children In Need. It is, indeed, a fitting charity, enabling children to support other children less fortunate than themselves. Fundraising continues to meet the target of £50,000. It's not too late to donate, please see http://www.helenogrady.co.uk/ for full details.

NATIONAL TALKING DAY!

Plans are well underway for the first, annual, Helen O'Grady NATIONAL TALKING DAY! on Friday 13th November in aid of Children In Need.

Principals around the country are ready to deliver thousands of letters to their students and into schools in their area. We have long extolled the virtues of verbal communication, in this world of blogs, texts and social networking sites! What better way to revive the art of conversation than with the aim of raising tens of thousands of pounds?

Last year the Academy presented the charity with a cheque for £20,000 (see below) following an amazing effort by Helen O'Grady students and their teachers all around the country.

This year our aim is much higher. Anyone can join in - we are inviting businesses to gain sponsorship - perhaps for every phone call they make on that day, or for the length of time they talk in meetings. The business community can set an excellent example to younger people by "putting their money where their mouth is!"

This is children raising money for children and children showing off their communication skills for a good cause! You can find out more on our website: http://www.helenogrady.co.uk/ and check back here regularly for updates.