Q. Why should I enroll my child in Helen O'Grady Drama Academy?
No other program offers the same lasting benefits, serving ages 2 – 18. You owe it to your child to give him/her the skills he/she will need to be successful. In today’s competitive marketplace, it is often the person who is best able to express his/her ideas and present a confident self-image that is most successful. These are exactly the types of skills that we seek to build in your child. Classes are only 1 hour per week, and offered on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, making it easy to schedule after school or each Saturday.
Q. What's the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy difference?
With over 25 years of experience and 60,000 children enrolled worldwide, Helen O'Grady is not your average drama programme. We offer convenient locations and highly qualified teachers who will develop your child’s ability to its fullest potential. Other drama programmes are focused on putting on high-budget productions where a few children get most of the speaking parts. We like to say that every child is a star. Each week we do a different play in class challenging your child with new roles and new situations. Students learn to work together as a team without the awkward competition for roles that sometimes develops in other drama programmes. Most importantly, we focus on building the skills that your child will need to be a happy, successful, outgoing participant in life. Over the years, our curriculum and techniques have been proven to be effective in building these skills in children.
Q: Can parents come and watch a class before enrolling?
We discourage parents from staying in the class. Participating in a drama lesson is very different from watching.
We do encourage all students to become actively involved in the lesson to get a real flavour of the experience. Parents leave the students as soon as possible and are invited to watch at our Parents and Friends Days, and our annual production.
Q: What if I pay for a term of lessons and the student decides they don’t want to continue?
Most students take to the lessons straight away because they are so much fun and tap into children’s natural desire to play. We recommend that you encourage your child to attend for at least 5 weeks. This is to give your child the opportunity to make new friends and get accustomed to the new experience. Children who lack confidence particularly need this settling in period. The benefits will be long lasting.
Q. What if my child doesn't like the class?
We very rarely encounter a situation where a child does not enjoy our classes. In that rare case, a conference between the parent and teacher will be convened to determine the source of the child’s concerns. Almost every case can be resolved within a few short weeks of tailored instruction.
Q: Do the students do a lot of memorisation of lines?
No, our drama classes are very different from other organisations. We do not work for months on repetitive memorisation of lines. This is far too boring!
Q. Who teaches your classes?
Our highly-qualified teachers are what make each class truly special. They are certified as Helen O'Grady Drama Instructors only after completing Instructor Training on the techniques we use in our drama school programmes as well as hands on classroom participation.
Q: My child has speech problems, will drama help?
Our classes are designed to develop language. We improvise with speech throughout the lesson and encourage the students to explore what they can do with language. Speech training is a specific part of the lesson dedicated to helping the students to develop clear speech.
Q. My child is outgoing. Will these classes be useful?
Yes! We have many children in our programme who are naturally outspoken and dramatic. They enjoy our classes because it gives them an outlet for their natural creative ability. They also develop the skill, focus and ability to take direction that is sometimes lacking in the gregarious child. We have heard many stories from parents whose children have landed lead roles in school and church plays because of the skills that they have learned at Helen O'Grady Drama Academy.
Q: My child is confident at home but quite shy at school. Will drama help?
Definitely! Our classes are designed to increase confidence and self-esteem. Parents and teachers comment on how much more confident the students have become after attending our classes for a term or more. Our teachers are very supportive. They encourage each student to make new friends in warm environment filled with mutual respect. By the end of term two each student will will be ready to perform at our Parent and Friends Day.
Q. Will I see my child perform?
Yes! You’ll see your little star perform twice per year. We have a mid-year performance (Term 2) and an exciting year-end production. There are no auditions and all children are involved in the performance. No child is a rock or tree unless it's a magical talking one! And you can invite your family and friends to attend! Our productions are based on original material and are designed to give every student a rewarding performance experience.
Q: Do the students need any special clothing for the class?
No. Just casual clothes that allow your child to move freely. Some children come to lessons straight from school and wear their uniform.
Q: Can a student join at any time during the year?
Each lesson is carefully planned. Students can enroll at any time and they will never repeat a lesson regardless of when they enroll.
Q: Does my child need any past experience in drama?
Our classes are suitable for children of all abilities and no past experience is necessary.
Q: How soon will I see results?
We promise, through our programme, to give your child increased confidence and skills in verbal communication. However, success does not come overnight. For anything permanent to be achieved, regular attendance for a minimum of 2 years is recommended.
Q: Are there exams and certificates?
We award certificates, medals and trophies to children who have committed to the classes for a year or more.
No other program offers the same lasting benefits, serving ages 2 – 18. You owe it to your child to give him/her the skills he/she will need to be successful. In today’s competitive marketplace, it is often the person who is best able to express his/her ideas and present a confident self-image that is most successful. These are exactly the types of skills that we seek to build in your child. Classes are only 1 hour per week, and offered on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, making it easy to schedule after school or each Saturday.
Q. What's the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy difference?
With over 25 years of experience and 60,000 children enrolled worldwide, Helen O'Grady is not your average drama programme. We offer convenient locations and highly qualified teachers who will develop your child’s ability to its fullest potential. Other drama programmes are focused on putting on high-budget productions where a few children get most of the speaking parts. We like to say that every child is a star. Each week we do a different play in class challenging your child with new roles and new situations. Students learn to work together as a team without the awkward competition for roles that sometimes develops in other drama programmes. Most importantly, we focus on building the skills that your child will need to be a happy, successful, outgoing participant in life. Over the years, our curriculum and techniques have been proven to be effective in building these skills in children.
Q: Can parents come and watch a class before enrolling?
We discourage parents from staying in the class. Participating in a drama lesson is very different from watching.
We do encourage all students to become actively involved in the lesson to get a real flavour of the experience. Parents leave the students as soon as possible and are invited to watch at our Parents and Friends Days, and our annual production.
Q: What if I pay for a term of lessons and the student decides they don’t want to continue?
Most students take to the lessons straight away because they are so much fun and tap into children’s natural desire to play. We recommend that you encourage your child to attend for at least 5 weeks. This is to give your child the opportunity to make new friends and get accustomed to the new experience. Children who lack confidence particularly need this settling in period. The benefits will be long lasting.
Q. What if my child doesn't like the class?
We very rarely encounter a situation where a child does not enjoy our classes. In that rare case, a conference between the parent and teacher will be convened to determine the source of the child’s concerns. Almost every case can be resolved within a few short weeks of tailored instruction.
Q: Do the students do a lot of memorisation of lines?
No, our drama classes are very different from other organisations. We do not work for months on repetitive memorisation of lines. This is far too boring!
Q. Who teaches your classes?
Our highly-qualified teachers are what make each class truly special. They are certified as Helen O'Grady Drama Instructors only after completing Instructor Training on the techniques we use in our drama school programmes as well as hands on classroom participation.
Q: My child has speech problems, will drama help?
Our classes are designed to develop language. We improvise with speech throughout the lesson and encourage the students to explore what they can do with language. Speech training is a specific part of the lesson dedicated to helping the students to develop clear speech.
Q. My child is outgoing. Will these classes be useful?
Yes! We have many children in our programme who are naturally outspoken and dramatic. They enjoy our classes because it gives them an outlet for their natural creative ability. They also develop the skill, focus and ability to take direction that is sometimes lacking in the gregarious child. We have heard many stories from parents whose children have landed lead roles in school and church plays because of the skills that they have learned at Helen O'Grady Drama Academy.
Q: My child is confident at home but quite shy at school. Will drama help?
Definitely! Our classes are designed to increase confidence and self-esteem. Parents and teachers comment on how much more confident the students have become after attending our classes for a term or more. Our teachers are very supportive. They encourage each student to make new friends in warm environment filled with mutual respect. By the end of term two each student will will be ready to perform at our Parent and Friends Day.
Q. Will I see my child perform?
Yes! You’ll see your little star perform twice per year. We have a mid-year performance (Term 2) and an exciting year-end production. There are no auditions and all children are involved in the performance. No child is a rock or tree unless it's a magical talking one! And you can invite your family and friends to attend! Our productions are based on original material and are designed to give every student a rewarding performance experience.
Q: Do the students need any special clothing for the class?
No. Just casual clothes that allow your child to move freely. Some children come to lessons straight from school and wear their uniform.
Q: Can a student join at any time during the year?
Each lesson is carefully planned. Students can enroll at any time and they will never repeat a lesson regardless of when they enroll.
Q: Does my child need any past experience in drama?
Our classes are suitable for children of all abilities and no past experience is necessary.
Q: How soon will I see results?
We promise, through our programme, to give your child increased confidence and skills in verbal communication. However, success does not come overnight. For anything permanent to be achieved, regular attendance for a minimum of 2 years is recommended.
Q: Are there exams and certificates?
We award certificates, medals and trophies to children who have committed to the classes for a year or more.
