A Dramatic Half Term

We are preparing for a very busy half term in the Bromley & West Kent Branch of the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy. Lessons will take place during half term for the classes in Gravesend Wrotham Road, Sevenoaks and Petts Wood to make up for the lessons that were cancelled in January due to the heavy snow.


After half term all the children in our Lower Primary Classes (5-8yrs) are invited to dress up as bears for the very charming play 'A Big Box of Bears.' Our Upper Primary Classes will be dressing up as characters at a Live Television Recording! We expect to see lots of Camera Operators, Floor Managers, Television and Pop Stars and some zany Audience Members too.


This term the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy have been offering a FREE TRIAL to new students and when they join a FREE HELEN O'GRADY T-SHIRT! After half term all existing students can Bring a Friend to class to dress up and join in the fun.


We look forward to having lots of fun and to seeing all the very imaginative costumes, created from low cost bits and pieces!

Lions and Tigers & ... Frogs .. Oh My!!!

This week our students will be dressing up for the plays in class! The lower primary classes, aged between 5 and 8 years will be dressing up as their favourite animal as we take a trip to the zoo. Our Upper Primary students aged between 81/2 and 11 years will be coming to class as frogs for the play, "Fly Society"

This term we are offering new students a FREE Trial and a FREE T-shirt when they join and pay for the term, so existing students can bring along a friend, who can dress up and join in too!

We always have lots of fun at class and look forward to seeing which animals come to class this week!

NATIONAL TALKING DAY!

NATIONAL TALKING DAY!

FRIDAY 13^TH NOVEMBER 2009

“PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS!” is the message from the Helen O’Grady Drama Academy this year as they launch their annual fundraising for Children In Need.

The Academy, renowned for helping children develop confidence, self esteem and verbal communication skills, is encouraging everyone to take part on this day by putting their communication skills into action to raise money.

Anyone can join in! There is a series of topics for different age groups to speak on: all that is required is someone to talk to! In these days of social networking, what better way to revive the art of conversation?

In 2008, all over the country, children attending drama classes devised ways to raise £20,000 to present to the charity. In this, the Academy’s 30^th Anniversary year, we will be encouraging students to gain sponsors to help raise the massive target of £50,000!

However, this is not only limited to Academy students. To become a part of this momentous day, please call the Academy or go to www.helenogrady.co.uk and download the Information pack for parents.

The Academy is proud their students once again have the confidence to join in all these activities and raise money for children less fortunate than themselves.

So please, put your money where your mouth is and help us achieve our target and make a real difference to the lives of hundreds of children.

Contact:

Helen Walls, Principal 01689 812336

Email: Bromley@helenogrady.co.uk

Admin email: helenogrady@ntlworld.com

WEB: www.dramabwk.co.uk

National website: www.helenogrady.co.uk

www.helenogradydramaacademy-ukeurope.blogspot.com

NATIONAL DRAMA WEEK!

The first campaign launched by the Helen O’Grady Drama Academy, National Drama Week with the theme: ‘Drama Takes Centre Stage’ is to bring to the fore the positive benefits drama offers children. It highlights the growing use of modern technology among children and teens and with it the lost art of communication, as social network sites and text messages become the preferred choice of communication. The launch is also timed to celebrate Helen O’Grady International 30 years of drama!

Key Highlights

• With modern day technology, recent research¹ reveals that children between 5 and 16 years can spend up to 5 hours a day on social network sites, computer games or watching television. Experts believe this has an adverse effect on children’s communication and social interaction skills.

• Drama develops children’s self-confidence, self-esteem, communication skills, speech, articulation and social interaction skills. It also develops imagination, empathy, positive thinking, concentration, memory and problem solving. Drama develops personal growth.

• Everyone, especially children and teens, can benefit from drama, as it develops life skills.

Quotes

Jilly Cooper, renowned author, enthused about this event in a recent letter. She said “This is an absolutely wonderful project…..I think it gives children enormous confidence if they take part in plays and often rather shy children turn out to be the most amazing actors and find a voice for themselves”. She speaks of her own love of drama and goes on to say “…by performing plays and watching drama, literature becomes so much more alive. I’m terribly keen on drama and anything that encourages love of the arts”.

HRH Princess Royal said that she “congratulates Helen O’Grady Drama Academy on their work and sends her best wishes for the continued success of this important work.”

Special Invitation

Helen O’Grady Drama Academy is offering free introductory trial sessions during National Drama week at its 400 studios across the UK. Helen O’Grady Drama Academy has 23 classes across Bromley & West Kent and is offering free trial sessions at all classes only in National Drama week. To book your free trial session please contact Helen Walls, Principal, on 01689 812336 or email bromley@helenogrady.co.uk .

(1) The Bercow review can be found on: www.dfcs.gov.uk/slnaction

PARENT DAYS APRIL 2009

GRAVESHAM AND BROMLEY: Children have fun performing in front of parents

CHILDREN at a drama school have had fun performing in front of their parentsThe performers from the Helen O Grady Drama Academy took part in the end of term parents days on March 26 and March 28.

The students, aged five to 17 years old, put on scripted plays, improvised plays, music and movement pieces.

The academy aims to give children confidence, self-esteem and skills in verbal communication.

Principal of the academy in Bromley and West Kent, Helen Walls, said: “The support of the parents and schools in the local community has been fantastic.

“We are very much looking forward to more creative work after the holidays, when, in our annual production term, all classes work on short scripted plays to perform for an audience of parents and friends in July.”

The Bromley and West Kent academy teaches children across different areas including Gravesham, Petts Wood and Orpington.

ACTING UP FOR CHARITY CASH

Drama students enjoyed dressing up to raise money for charity.

In support of this year’s ‘do something funny for money’ campaign, children at the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy, which offers lessons all over Bromley and West Kent, were all invited to ‘dress for drama in a funny way’ and to bring along a donation for Comic Relief.

Academy principal helen walls said: “i knew our students were talented in the comedy department but some of the outfits were very funny indeed. we had children in their pyjamas, boys dressed as girls and vice versa, back to front outfits and clowns. we have raised £330.91 a great amount for this worthwhile cause.”

CASPA PRESENTAION

Members of CASPA (Children on the Autistic Spectrum Parents Association) took a break from rehearsals for their club activities to recieve a cheque for £155.00. The money was raised by members of the Helen O’Grady Drama Academy in Bromley & West Kent during their 10th Birthday Celebrations in July 2008. The donation will be put towards their Christmas Show which takes place in December.