BACK TO SCHOOL - WHATEVER YOUR AGE!

All over the country, drama students of all ages are jumping for joy at the thought of returning to class!
In Scotland and Ireland, classes have already been running for two weeks, in England and Wales term starts this week. In Europe, classes return at the end of the month.

It is a very exciting time for Principals, teachers and students. Dozens of new classes will be opening and hundreds of new students will be experiencing the unique Helen O'Grady programme for the first time. In these days of technology, we must remember to help our children and young people retain the skill of verbal communication. The Helen O'Grady programme taps into the natural interest children have in drama and channels it to help develop confident, articulate adults.

A child can now, in most places, join classes at the age of 3 and continue on the programme through to adulthood. Adult acting classes have proved very popular and are now becoming more widely available.

Visit our website http://www.helenogrady.co.uk/ for full details of classes in your area.

The curriculum this term is as varied and exciting as ever. Kindy Drama - for preschoolers - has themes ranging from 'My Teddy' to 'Bugs and Frogs'. Lower primary will be cats, rats, aliens and wooden puppets and Upper Primary have to deal with a volcano and a fiesta in a Mexican Village! There are the usual challenges for Youth Theatre, with published mini-scripts and whole class improvisations and a little light relief with new theatre games. The Adult classes are tailored to suit the needs of each particular group.

We, at the Academy, are looking forward to a brilliant term and, if you know someone who may benefit from - or simply love - our classes, please encourage them to get in touch. Full details of classes in your area are available on the website: http://www.helenogrady.co.uk/

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR STUDENTS

This is the last week of term for most Helen O'Grady students in England and Wales. In Ireland & Scotland, the end of the term is a distant memory! End of year productions have been a great success and, over the next few days, we will post as many pictures as we can on the blog. All students have been presented with Achievement awards, in some areas marking up to 15 years attendance! Whether this is the first term or the end of that 15 years, congratulations to all our students!

PIRATE JOE - Lower Primary: "Let's get rid of the captain!"

Lower Primary: "Put him in a lifeboat and let him drift!"

CIRCUS CAPERS - Upper Primary: "Come to our circus, come to our show!"

Upper Primary: "What's the matter with Bobo the Clown?"

THE PIED PIPER - Upper Primary: "Rats in the kitchen, rats in the hall ...."

MURDER AT MORNINGTON MANOR

Youth Theatre: "You slimy little slug! I've a good mind to teach you a lesson!"

TRAINING SEMINAR

Over the weekend, Principals and teachers from around the UK and Europe met to workshop forthcoming productions. Approximately one hundred 'dramaqueens' attended the Seminar and joined in with great enthusiasm as members of the training team presented parts of the new productions being put on next term. Above, Angela Gallagher, Principal in North West Ireland, is behind the tiger mask, rehearsing 'How The Lion Got His Roar' which is a new play for the Lower Primary age group, telling an old African folk tale.

Below, Principals workshop the Upper Primary play, set on a spaceship, 'Maximum Speed 50 Croaders'.

No-one is quite sure where this 'bag of bones' came from but he was eager to take part in the Youth Theatre play 'The League Of Freaky Creatures'!

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?'