EXCITEMENT AND SENERGY IN TAYFORTH!

Tayforth Principal, Barbara Brett, is very proud of one of her long term students who was chosen to be in an advert for the global energy services company - Senergy

Harry has been attending Helen O'Grady classes for over seven years and has recently joined Aardvark Casting, the company's in-house casting agency.

You can see him in the video here on You Tube

Congratulations Harry!

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/

END OF YEAR SEMINAR - THE FUN BITS!

The presentation of Grady Bear has now become a feature of all Seminars. Returning from his adventures in Bromley with, Principal, Helen Walls, Grady prepares for the big trip north. Sheffield Principal, Nick Chadwin, has now taken responsibility for the travelling bear, who will remain at his home and his classes and who knows where else? during the Autumn term. His adventures in Bromley and district were well chronicled in his scrap book and the tradition will be upheld in the coming term. We all wish him an enjoyable stay with Nick!

New Franchisee Of The Year, Wendy Orrell and York Principal, Lindsay Goakes, proved what drama queens they were during a discussion period. Used to telling their students to be larger than life, they are more than happy to practise what they preach.

Below, bemused Principals watch as their contemporaries demonstrate rather physical Youth Theatre games. It is never difficult to find volunteers during the workshopping sections of the Seminar.

After a very busy term, with all Principals presenting their end of year shows, it was good to see everyone relaxed and so receptive at the conference.

END OF YEAR SEMINAR - THE OFFICIAL BITS!

Principals and their partners met for the end of year Seminar in Bristol recently and were joined by Emma Sargent from The Extraordinary Coaching Company who presented two talks entitled "Extraordinary thinking for business success" which were received very well by the delegates attending. One Principal said; "Emma really made us think about things we usually take for granted and made us realise we could all achieve much more."

National Director, Nigel Le Page, with Emma Sargent.

During the day Nigel Le Page presented Becky Crawley, Principal in the North Lakes area, with the National Director's Award to recognise the hard work and determination she had put in to building her branch in the last twelve months. He praised her tenacity and reminded her she had tried 23 different marketing initiatives during the term.

Nigel Le Page with Becky Crawley

The Culmination of the summer Seminar is always the prentation of the Franchisee Of The Year Award and in 2011 it went to Oldham Principal, Wendy Orrell. During the time Wendy has been with the network, she has overcome personal difficulties and always done that little bit extra to ensure her business is a success. She has been supported all along by husband Geoff, who has had his own share of health problems. Presenting the award, Nigel said Wendy had maintained excellent communication with her students, their parents, local schools, local businesses and the press and it was the building of these relationships which would ensure she can be optimistic about the future.

The Head Office team with the 2011 Franchisee Of The Year

l to r - Nigel Le Page, National Director, Alison Mazanec, Executive Principal,

Geoff & Wendy Orrell, Oldham Principal and Margaret Darley, Training Manager

PRODUCTION PICTURES FROM OLDHAM

Upper Primary - PIED PIPER

Upper Primary - CIRCUS CAPERS

Youth Theatre - THE TRIUMPH OF TREVOR TRUELOVE

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!"

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!