Drama classes in school

Students in Northland Primary are busy rehearsing "The Sweetest Music" drama story.  They are seen here preparing for the Emperor's Feast. 

Helen O'Grady Production Hong Kong - The Pied Piper

Two classes from Chan's Creative Primary School in Hong Kong put together a year-end production for their family day which was well attended by family and friends. The Lower Primary presented "Aladdin Lost His Lamp" incorporating many movements and a Persian dance while the Upper students presented "The Pied Piper." 

Village folks at the market square

Aladdin - "Where's my Lamp?"

What's the problem in Hamelin?

The Pied Piper returns to demand his $1,000.

Helen O'Grady in Kuala Lumpur

Helen O'Grady, founder of the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy and husband Steve Griffiths, retired CEO of the Academy was on a stopover visit to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on June 19th - 21st 2012. 

Retired CEO Steve Griffiths and Founder Helen O'Grady

Jilin Composite class - EFL learners

It was an enjoyable experience having spent time with Helen Liang, a trained Helen O'Grady Drama Teacher and her assistant teacher Sally in one of their composite classes in Jilin, north-east of China. Jilin branch of Dreamaker started teaching drama in March 2011.

This vibrant group of 7 to 10 year olds were having a blast reciting their lines and acting them out with their teachers!  The theme of the lesson "Dinosaurs, Reptiles, Frogs and Toads" gave the students a chance to move from pre-historic times to current age!

As non-speakers of the English Language, these students embraced the fun, and acted out various speech lines in addition to the improvisation!  Here's what they said in this picture -

"Chocolate Ice-cream, Strawberry Ice-Cream, what a treat!"

SSIS Lower Primary performs "Grasshopper and The Ants"

Just after one semester of drama at SSIS, the Lower Primary students put together an outdoor originally scripted performance, "The Grasshopper and the Ants" to the laughter and enjoyment of their families, teachers and Principal.

Little Ants busy at work "Run, Run, Run"

Ants are such important insects

in the ecological system! 

Great job teacher Egle Simkeviciute! Despite this being their first drama production in an outdoor setting, the students were capable of projecting their voices all the way to the back! Bravo! 

Drama Teachers enjoying a Murder Mystery Night!

I was privileged not only to watch the first Vietnam Helen O'Grady Drama productions of "The Deep Blue Sea", "The Grasshopper and the Ants" as well as "Fancy Dress Party" but also to meet our lovely team of teachers at Citysmart Vietnam led by Helen Cowie(from Scotland), Egle Simkeviciute(from Lithuania) and Sally Brown (from Australia). Egle directed the 3 plays in Saigon Star International School for preschool, Lower and Upper Primary students.

The teachers ended the evening with a dinner cum Murder Mystery Night performance by Saigon Players, raising funds for children's charities.  Letting their hair down to enjoy a night of dining, music, songs and mystery.

Claire and Egle with performer Rosita

dancing to Ricky's rendition of "La Bamba"

Egle joined in the "Murder Mystery Night" audience participation

with "Macarena"

Egle Simkeviciute, Claire Harcla, Helen Cowie

So who murdered Big Mama and what' the motive?

Pre-School Production - "The Deep Blue Sea"

On Saturday, Pre-school students at Saigon Star International School, Vietnam put together an outdoor production in their first semester - "The Deep Blue Sea" where friendly creatures - jellyfish, starfish and crabs enjoy their life in the big blue sea moving and dancing to music until the mean Mr. Octopus comes squirting and dirtying the waters. Will the friendly sea creatures find a place to hide or will they find a solution to overcome Mr. Octopus?  See our little friends in their cute costumes!

"I'm a jellyfish, see me swirl"

Here comes the crabs "crrrk, crrrk, crrrk"

Here's our friendly Starfish with the

mean Mr. Octopus!

Connecting the dots ...

 Seth Godin, writer of many books, one of which is great for entrepreneurs, "The Purple Cow"  wrote a very interesting must read on "Stop Stealing Dreams".  While the article is written based on American school system, it defines how the changing role of teachers are killing the aspirations of our future generation.  Unfortunately, this is not only an American issue.  Teachers for the sake of a different outcome - statistics rather than the journey / process has destroyed interest in learning and fostering dreams for what could be. Here's an extract from his article:

When we teach a child to make good decisions, we benefit from a lifetime of good decisions.
When we teach a child to love to learn, the amount of learning will become limitless.
When we teach a child to deal with a changing world, she will never become obsolete.
When we are brave enough to teach a child to question authority, even ours, we insulate ourselves from those who would use their authority to work against each of us.
And when we give students the desire to make things, even choices, we create a world filled with makers.

According to Kids.Net.Au, the definition of kids drama is "the quality of being arresting or highly emotional"; "an episode that is highly turbulent and emotional" including the traditional definition that is popularly known to all that drama is "the literary genre of works intended for theater".

In 1979, the founder, Helen O'Grady created a vision - "Development Through Drama."  33 years later, her program is still the only international children's program of its kind! 

Drama allows your child to experience safely within four walls - ideas, emotions,verbal and physical expressions in each lesson; some of which they may not engage in their lifetime.  These experiences lead them through highly creative and imaginative moments that allow development to take place at the child's pace - the ability to communicate effectively and speak confidently, to think and problem solve creatively, to build teamwork and leadership life skills such as critical thinking, time management, conflict management as well as negotiation skills.

This program does not stop at development just for children; it is also a platform for adults - young, mature and seniors.

Food - always a talking point!

Desserts galore! Yummy yum yum... Jean Chan, Principal of Helen O'Grady Singapore bakes such delightful looking cupcakes.  It is a wonder why we are all staring!  It's a sight to behold and of course, truly very tasty!

But that's not why the children join the Drama Academy!  Like these individual cupcakes, Jean and her teachers treat every child with the same tender loving care. Children are encouraged to develop through drama at their own pace.  Our trained specialists uses the Helen O'Grady drama curriculum to draw out the children's natural gifts and extend their multi-talents; challenging them to improve year after year.