Local drama students put on a class act for family and friends

The 4-8 year-old age group from the Academy’s Lower Primary classes took to the stage first. Parents were intrigued to see how the fast-moving programme and the extensive curriculum would allow each child to develop their dramatic skills in a fun-filled way.

With great energy and vitality, the students began by performing the dynamic introductory activities. From the start, they demonstrated to their parents how the aims of the Academy to develop confidence, self-esteem and communication skills had certainly worked this term. This was quickly followed by a demonstration of the speech training which clearly emphasised this vital element of the curriculum can be enjoyable and active whilst teaching some very relevant communication skills.

Following this, the students from the Upper Primary class for the 8 – 11 year-olds displayed their more advanced skills. Part of the show case was a demonstration of clear vocal training followed by the hilarious poems, My Teacher Took My Ipod and April Fools.

Apart from the whole class improvised play which demonstrated superb improvisational skills, the students performed several scripted plays and monologues to the end of the show including a monologue about becoming a werewolf. All of the work presented brought to the fore the children’s ability at character acting and humour.

The thriving Youth Theatre, which works with the secondary school age-group, acted out some varied scripted plays and improvisations tackling awkward character relationships, comedy, classic dramatists and which involved complex theatrical ideas and character acting. The students performed to a professional standard.

At the end of the show students received medal, trophies and certificates.

Lisa Semple, the Principal of the Academy, said, “It is fantastic to see the development of the Lisburn 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 the summer productions, where every student gets an important part to play and is a culmination of the extensive work completed throughout the year.

“It is wonderful to see our unique self-development programme achieving such creative results in this area. With hundreds of students attending classes throughout Northern Ireland, Class Act Drama Academy is truly a community-based drama school.”