4 year olds in Hong Kong - The Deep Blue Sea rehearsal

"Give your head a massage" - remember those lines - "We are the jellywish, wobble, wobble, wobble,,,,,,!! Here we have a group of 4 year-old students in a Hong Kong kindergarten at a class rehearsal of "The Deep Blue Sea".  After just 17 hours (17 one-hour lessons), students without any knowledge of English are able to work with their teachers to put together a short pre-school play.
Vice-Principal Fern Kwok from Singapore and Hong Kong teacher Joanna captivates the students with their facial expressions, vocal energy and use of numerous props to support the learning of Drama in Education.

Drama Cultural Exchange Camp between Beijing and Singapore

First international drama and art cultural exchange between Beijing and Singapore. 

Where is your 8years - 12 years old child spending his / her summer holidays? Not attending more academic classes, I hope!

Wouldn't you like your child to have the opportunity to spend some valuable time in building presentation, team work and leadership skills before another new school year begins in September? And in a completely English environment taught by FOREIGN DRAMA TEACHERS? How about a taste of cultural differences between the cities of Beijing and Singapore through the visual and performing arts? Most importantly, providing your child with a healthy structured yet relaxing stress-free learning environment!

All these will be happening in our first international Helen O'Grady Drama and Arts camp with 4 days preparation in Beijing followed by 5 days in Singapore, ending with a final presentation in Beijing. Throughout this DRAMA JOURNEY, children will receive a journal to EXPRESS their experiences from Day 1 of this international camp.

This will definitely be the most memorable camp for them!

Francine visits Beijing!

Beijing Dreamaker 卓美 welcomed Francine Wan, one of the Helen O'Grady supervisors from Singapore to a week of classes and training. Teachers (from left to right)  - Danny from America, Alice from Beijing, Emma from UK, Maryon from Canada, Heather from Beijing spent time on preschool training as well as tips about classroom management.

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!