Class Acts show off their skills at end of term performances

Presentation Days in the Helen O’Grady Drama Academy are wonderful show-cases for the many skills developed and honed by the students through the progressive and highly structured curriculum. Students put their vocal and acting talents into practice with scripted and improvised plays, and music and movement pieces. Students aged 5–18 years of age enthusiastically took part in the recent show-case presentation and received a rapturous reception from audiences all over Northern Ireland.

It was an amazing show when the Class Act Drama Academy students took to the stage to show their abilities and new-found and honed skills to a very appreciative audience. It was hard to tell who was more excited about the show – the performers or the audience. The audience was intrigued and thrilled to see how the developmental Class Act Drama Academy curriculum allows each child to develop their dramatic skills in such an exciting and entertaining way.

With great energy and vitality, students performed dynamic vocal work in the shape of some classic and modern poetry, storytelling mimes, movement and music, improvisation and scripted work which served to enhance not only theatre skills but also personal skills which carry through to everyday life. There was a tremendous range of whole class plays and two-handed scripts performed for the clearly delighted audience as well as more challenging monologue pieces all showing clear articulate speech, improvisation skills, strong, relevant ad-libbing and clearly defined characterisation. These were based on everything from classic fairytales to classic Shakespeare.

As part of the showcase, every student received an individual award of a certificate, medal or trophy as a further boost to their confidence and consequent learning.

Miceala O’Neill, the class teacher said: “This studio is a great tribute to the Class Act Drama Academy and it is wonderful to see our personal development programme achieving such creative results for children. It has been fantastic to see the development of the Lurgan and Portadown children over the course of the term and the support of the parents and schools in the local community has been fantastic. We are very much looking forward to even more drama next term.”

To register for the next exciting term with Class Act Drama Academy telephone 9146 4337 or e-mail: [email protected] or visit the website www.classactdramaacademy.com