O’Grady Stories
Hear how O’Grady Drama has helped others
“Our son struggled to find his groove in other after school activities, but when he joined O’Grady Drama we knew it was the perfect thing for him. Drama class is now his favourite thing to do each week as he gets to express himself and explore his imagination in a safe and supportive environment. He has made many great friends and adores his teachers. It’s been wonderful to see his self-confidence grow each term. The teaching staff are highly skilled and very creative, always finding ways to keep active children engaged and having fun”
– SA
“I would like to thank you very much for the course that you offer and run for him and for the other children in his age group. I have been able to see him flourish in the last year and a half under your guidance, and words just aren’t enough to thank you for the confidence you have given him. He loves Thursday afternoons and coming to your classes”
– SA
“It’s so nice to hear that our son is doing well. The boost in confidence he has had since starting your programme has me kicking myself for not enrolling him years ago. Thank you again for your email + the amazing work you are doing.”
– SA
“I want to thank you so much for all you have done to encourage our son to speak out, be positive, have faith in himself, to just have a go, and all the other wonderful times we’ve chatted.”
– SA
“Our son very much wants to do Drama again next term. His Mother and I have seen the benefits of it at home. His confidence has really improved and he has a good group of friends that attend with him.”
– Parent from SA
“Our 6-year old daughter, Katie, loves attending Helen O’Grady Drama Academy and finds each lesson fun. We are thrilled to see such enthusiasm and motivation to attend! Since attending, Katie has grown and blossomed into a confident little girl, capable of projecting her voice and standing up in front of adults and peers. We are both astounded and delighted at what a positive difference Helen O’Grady Drama Academy has made to her confidence and social skills. We cannot thank Joanna and Angel enough for making the lessons so enjoyable and challenging”
– NSW
“My son has absolutely flourished since he has been coming along – thank you for getting him off his screen and in to the world!”
– SA
“When our son started drama classes a few years back, he was just looking for an activity outside of school, closer to home, that wasn’t sport related. Little did we know at the time how her classes, and the fabulous group of teens that she works with, would influence and develop Luke’s love of the performing arts.
So engaged has he become in acting, he has now performed in five of his school’s drama and musical performances, His inner “star” has been born, nurtured and developed to the point that he wants to pursue acting as a career when he finishes school. He has been lucky enough to have been offered a scholarship to attend a prestigious performing arts high school- a wonderful achievement and opportunity for which we sincerely thank the teacher and her belief in, and encouragement of him along his path”
– NSW
“Thank you for the recent children’s presentation. I would like to congratulate you both on how much the children have developed and continue with confidence fun and flair after a short few weeks. The children have all demonstrated positive results outside of these lessons. My son is more
confident, able to articulate more his thoughts and to express his views strongly.”
-VIC
“Being a past student of Helen O’Grady Drama Academy and now having my own child attend the classes, It’s great to still see the commitment of the teachers and quality of the classes is still there, not only were the classes fun, it also gave me the confidence I still have today, It was an easy decision when my son decided he wanted to do acting to send him to Helen O’Grady Drama Academy knowing by my own personal experience he would enjoy it and still to this day he returns home after every lesson with a smile on his face after having “so much fun”, the teachers are kind and patient and make the whole experience fun for the children!”
-VIC
“Thanks so much for being such a great drama teacher! You have such a good sense of humour and have made drama heaps of fun for me. You are such a friendly, positive and caring person and have helped me become more confident and heaps better at meeting new people.
I thank you for all your support and your marvellous program that provides our son with such a happy time”
– SA
“Over the last ten years at Helen O’Grady, I have been able to develop essential skills that have not only prepared me for my HSC Drama assessments, but also my entire life itself! Being diagnosed with Autism at the age of six, I was a bit of shy kid who had trouble pronouncing words and socialising. When I was seven, a friend of mine invited me on a ‘Bring A Friend Week’ – I found it strange at first, but I love it and I have come back ever since!
The experience and knowledge that I have gained from the classes have helped me develop confidence in socialising and giving speeches. It has also given me a head start on my drama studies in school and I managed to top the class this year.
I am also so lucky to meet other talented and enthusiastic students at my local studio. I do have to thank the Principals and teachers I have had over the years for shaping the performer I am today.
I do believe that every child should learn to be a performer to use the skills to get ahead of the curve and think creatively…and these classes offer all of that and more. I will certainly miss my time and the friends I have made with the Academy and I look forward to my final End of Year Performance this weekend.”
– Central Coast, NSW
“Our son is loving drama and looks forward to every call. It is helping with his confidence and his very happy to be involved. He is benefiting very much from the program. He has fun, makes friends, gets to try things outside his comfort zone and his confidence has increased.”
– TAS
“Our daughter has become a lot more confident this year and is speaking more clearly. She loves drama and has made new friends outside of school. Thank you”
– VIC
“Hi, I was a student of O’Grady Drama 2007. I wanted to let my teacher know that I’ve kept up acting in my early adult life and have just graduated with a bachelor of fine arts in acting at QUT. I’ve just signed on with a major Management group and am leading in a feature film which begins shooting in two weeks. I want to pass on my thanks to her for her teaching and encouragement in my early years.”
– QLD
“Thank you so much for coming today. Your time with us was just as much PD for me as it was teaching valuable lessons to the students. I was madly taking notes all through the day, so refreshing and inspiring for what I do. As I said earlier a highlight was seeing a little girl perform with her partner in front of the class, so engaged that she forgot herself and anxiety for a time. This is a testimony to how gifted you are and what the teaching of the arts can do for kids! I got to speak to her mum about it when she picked her up this afternoon and like me, she was amazed”
– NSW, after a school demonstration
“I have a son who attends Youth Theatre classes and a daughter who attends Lower Primary classes with O’Grady Drama. My children have tried many different activities and have never been so interested and excited about attending their drama classes. Both my children have learning difficulties, primarily with their speech and social skills and O’Grady Drama’s program has assisted them and improved their confidence and speech remarkably. Even their school teacher can see a great improvement! I cannot recommend O’Grady Drama classes enough. ”
– NSW
Thanks so much to your team for their care and encouragement of my daughter. You have all been a positive force during this period of her adolescence and she has gotten a lot out of the program over the last two years or so. It has been a fabulous growth experience, and I think particularly helpful that she was doing voice and enunciation practice.
SA
“I was a student at Helen O’Grady in Newcastle for the full 13 years of the program, and from this experience I have a very deep respect and understanding of what this program achieves. I have always had a rather extrovert personality, and through drama I found an appropriate outlet for my creativity, and a place where my energy was encouraged and appreciated. As I grew older, drama classes were a safe environment to express myself and as a teenager in high school, having a place where I could feel at ease with who I was and supported by my peers, was particularly comforting.
I was encouraged in my last few years of Senior Youth Classes to direct and aide younger students in their development of acting skills and confidence/communication, which is where I found my passion for teaching, and after to moving to Sydney, I became a teacher for the Inner West and Eastern Suburbs studios. I feel such a sense of pride in every one of my students for every little achievement that they make, which can vary from seeing them take the stage in our end of year performances, to seeing them gradually getting louder in class and volunteering ideas more confidently. I firmly believe in the range of benefits this program can provide for each individual child, whether they’re a little bit louder like myself, or maybe learning to come out of their shell.
Being able to provide the kind of support and encouragement that I received, and that was so instrumental in my development, is an honour, and it’s something I strive to always be able to do, as my way of giving back to the academy everything that it has given me in both my childhood and my adult life.
As a student it was the hour I looked forward to most every week (that kept me coming back for thirteen years!!), and as an adult, I can honestly say that teaching with Helen O’Grady has been one of the most positive, enriching and rewarding experiences I have ever been part of.”
The training and practice of being a teacher with the Helen O’Grady Academy has vastly improved my skill set: Not only as a drama teacher but as an educator. I have learnt and practiced Class management strategies, in addition to vibrant and inventive ways to deliver content.
The Academy has also prepared me to manage the contemporary learning environment, including effective teaching strategies for ESL students, through foundational speech pathology etc. The Academy also facilitates continuing professional development. These sessions include further developing skills in delivering content, in rapport building and in preventative strategies for managing behaviour.”
– NSW
“My daughter has been with the Academy for only two terms and I’m excited to say she is finding a positive way to channel her energy. Amy enjoys drama and the fantasy world and this gives her a great platform to experience situations in a protected and informed environment. It was a thrill to see all the children perform mid-year. It hit home how much they have learned and how fabulous they all were. Well done teachers and students!”
– SA
“When I first spoke to the Principal of Melbourne S East, four years ago, I instantly felt the enthusiasm and confidence she had in the teaching techniques. This convinced me to let my now 11 year old daughter to give it a go.
We have never looked back since, my daughter looks forward to the class every week and when I pick her up she always comes out with a big confident smile. The teachers have all been fun, enthusiastic and welcoming. I have no hesitation in recommending Helen O’Grady Drama School to anyone.”
VIC
“Our son struggles to find his groove in other after school activities, but when he joined O’Grady Drama we knew it was the perfect thing for him. Drama class is now his favourite thing to do each week as he gets to express himself and explore his imagination in a safe and supportive environment. He has made many great friends and adores his teachers. It’s been wonderful to see his self confidence grow each term. The teaching staff are highly skilled and very creative, always finding ways to keep active children engaged and having fun.”
KRISTEN, ADELAIDE
“A parent delivered 5 year old twin daughters to their lesson and was very concerned as to how they would cope. The girls were both shy and one was particularly nervous. During the course of the lesson, both little girls were encouraged but not especially singled out for attention and were enjoying themselves. The parent returned before the end of class and was able to observe the girls unseen by waiting in the foyer. The parent was moved – the girls had never been heard to speak this way in public before! The other parent rang later in the week and confirmed that that after having struggled with life-long crippling shyness , the delivering parent was very moved to see that the girls did not face the same future!
This is a confirmation of the why I do what I do!”
-Principal in Queensland