Hmmm... What are you looking at?
There are four terms in the Academy year. Students may join at most times during the year. They will not be missing out on anything!
No previous acting experience is necessary, the emphasis is on encouraging children to develop their imagination and enthusiasm at a level that works for them.
We provide a safe, fun environment, managed carefully to ensure everyone respects one another.
So, what goes on during our fun-filled year?
No previous acting experience is necessary, the emphasis is on encouraging children to develop their imagination and enthusiasm at a level that works for them.
We provide a safe, fun environment, managed carefully to ensure everyone respects one another.
So, what goes on during our fun-filled year?
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TERM 1
In Term 1, both experienced and new students are fully involved in each class and encouraged to develop at their own rate. We do not aim to produce “stars”, rather confident young people who can communicate in a clear and friendly way! Please feel free to contact us for any questions about our self-development curriculum. |
We welcome everyone!
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TERM 2: PRESENTATION DAYS
As you know, we do not encourage parents and guardians to stay at class as the children are able to be more creative without an audience! However, in Term 2, all classes will invite guests in to the last lesson of the term, for a special Presentation Day. This is a wonderful opportunity for parents, family and friends to see first-hand what we do in our classes, and also a time for you to observe your child’s progress so far! Lower Primary children will present an example of some of the activities they have participated in during the term. Upper Primary classes begin work on some material at the start of the term, to be presented at the Presentation Day! |
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TERM 3
Term 3 brings some wonderful opportunities for dress-ups and use of props at all age levels. We will advise you of these later in the year! We also work on fine-tuning improvisational, dialogue and movement skills in preparation for Term 4 Year End Plays! Students who have been coming all year are also given further opportunities to add in their own creative ideas to each class. |
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TERM 4
Always an exciting and rewarding time, each class starts work on their own play to be performed for you at the end of the term. Plays are written so that they can be easily costumed from bits and pieces you already have at home, or can be picked up cheaply. We will give you plenty more details on this closer to the time! |
Where Are All The Costumes?
If you’re new to Helen O'Grady, as a parent, you may wonder why we don’t have piles of costumes; period wear, hats, masks and wigs. Isn’t that what drama class and performance is all about?
Allow us to let you in on a big secret. The teachers of Helen O'Grady and children don’t need them. All we need to create a fun and exciting drama class is imagination.
Every week, children explore a different imaginary world. Whether taking the train to strange lands, having a picnic with ants or being cats chasing down mice; we can create the environment and everything that goes along with it, on our own.
Allow us to let you in on a big secret. The teachers of Helen O'Grady and children don’t need them. All we need to create a fun and exciting drama class is imagination.
Every week, children explore a different imaginary world. Whether taking the train to strange lands, having a picnic with ants or being cats chasing down mice; we can create the environment and everything that goes along with it, on our own.
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We use drama as a way to light fire to the imagination, to help develop curious and creative minds. The only ‘props’ in class we use are very simple.
Small brightly coloured handkerchiefs magically change from a hat to a puddle or an ice-cream. A chopstick becomes a wand, a conductors' baton or a caterpillar friend. Streamers become water, lava or even poison stingers! The imagination knows no bounds. No doubt, dressing up is very fun and children love it, but they get that opportunity while preparing for the Year End Production. In class, mostly you find that costumes are a distraction. They stifle the creativity and improvisation that comes so naturally to children. Water your child's imagination! 
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Just wait for our Year End Production, it's worth it!
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