Workshop at Westering High

What a blast we had running a Youth Theatre workshop at Westering High School this week! A fun, energetic, enthusiastic bunch of Grades 8 - 11 all enjoyed learning about intercostal diaphramatic breathing, how it enhances speech, and putting their new found skills into practice immediately!

Free workshops are something that our Academies offer across the country to any school who shows an interest.

Willow Academy SPLASHES into the Theatre!

School showcases ‘fun’ approach to learning

The Herald

2010/08/30 by Bob Everleigh

"TWO BY TWO ... While other cast members look on, director Vicky Stroud takes Lihle Hanabe (left) and Tramaine van Wyk through a scene in rehearsal for the Willow Academy production of the Noah’s Ark musical Splash! which runs in the Pemads Little Theatre on Friday and Saturday."


PORT Elizabeth audiences get a rare opportunity to see a large cast of children trained, in a rather different “fun” manner in Willow Academy’s first-ever musical, Splash!
The production, to be staged at the Pemads Little Theatre on Friday at 7pm and Saturday at 5pm, also marks a return to schools theatre by drama teacher Vicky Stroud.
It was in January, 1998, that the Sunridge Primary music staff member saw an advertisement for applicants to run “The Helen O‘Grady Drama Academy” in the city.
Intrigued, she found this Australian concept rather different to the normal studio.
“It was more ‘development through drama’ – building confidence in children through weekly training in improving communication skills,” said Vicky.
She applied, Helen O‘Grady visited the country, and Vicky was granted the Port Elizabeth franchise. She soon found herself flying to Perth for a basic “principals” course.
The academy idea came to O‘Grady, an accomplished stage actress and TV presenter, after she found many children appearing on her regular youth TV shows “froze” in front of the camera, although they were bright and chatty in real life.
So, why not do something to help children feel more comfortable in such unusual, unexpected situations?
Soon there were O’Grady franchises throughout Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Canada before South African interest grew.
“Today academies exist in 26 countries,” says Vicky, who, because of her successful take of the concept, is now the South African head for the brand, whose originator has retired after selling international control to a British principal.
“I found Helen worked differently in that, instead of one training studio, the teacher moved to the areas where demand existed.
“So I travelled daily to halls in Linton Grange, Newton Park, Walmer, Central, and Uitenhage.
“I now employ four teachers and, from a quiet start with 100 pupils, we now have 630.
“I’m also proud of our outreach work in primary schools like Sanctor, since it takes the concept to previously disadvantaged kids,” Vicky said.
“Several Port Elizabeth schools have us run their drama programmes, either as an extra-mural activity or, like Willow Academy, as part of the school curriculum.” Classes range from “kindy drama” for pre-primary pupils to those for teenagers.
Splash! will feature a cast of all the pupils in Willow’s primary school plus a handful from the high school and pre-primary schools.
The plot concerns Preston Parrot, who aims to save his animal friends from the Great Flood.
When no one believes him, he deceives them by arranging a luxury cruise for the Ark, staffed by a colourfully comic crew.
They include dancing giraffes, loopy lemmings, brutal pirate rats, and a love-sick cat.
Their voyage is studded with surprises – a rock ’n’ roll party, a kidnapping, a storm, and a rescue all feature in this one-act musical adventure!
The leads – Preston and Polly Parrot – are played by Tiffany de Vos (Grade 10) and Kaylin Fourie (Grade 6), while Vicky’s two children, April, as the Pirate King, and Brennan, a lemming, are also both in the show.
Bernadene Ayerst is the musical director, set design is by Tania Ahlfelt, with choreography by Susan Zerbst, Karen Weyer and Leanne Naidoo. Tickets, at R50 each, are available from Tanya Verwey at the school office.
Meanwhile, of four leading female roles in the 2011 Showtime 20th birthday musical, three will be filled by Helen O’Grady graduates.

All Systems GO for Willow Academy

TV Commercial Features Helen O'Grady PE Boy!

"PE firm’s homegrown ad graces TV screens"
The Herald 2010/07/22 Luyolo Mkentane

GIG DOESN’T BYTE... Axxess DSL managing director Andrew Simpson and marketing director Alexa Cunningham get acquainted on the Donkin Reserve with Gig, the star of their television advert, which was filmed in Port Elizabeth. Picture: FREDLIN ADRIAAN


PORT Elizabeth production companies have proved they can compete with the so-called big-time production companies of Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Port Elizabeth-based Axxess DSL, the third biggest internet service provider in the country, used local companies in making a television commercial which was shot at three locations, including a “perfect house” in Adcockvale, about three weeks ago.
Rooftop Productions managing director Richard Ahlfeldt said the production was done entirely with local people – and the four actors, ad agency Boomtown and production crew were all from the Bay.
Alexa Cunningham, marketing manager of Axxess DSL, which owns the naming rights to the Axxess DSL St George’s cricket ground, said the TV commercial was centred on a family known as “The Snymans” and a bright orange character known as “The Axxess DSL Gig”. The advert illustrated what an ADSL internet user could get when purchasing one gig of data.
Ahlfeldt says in the advert the Gig character is seen helping the Snymans’ daughter with her school project and the father with internet banking.
“The Gig character kind of represents what you can do with the internet, as a lot of people don’t understand how it works and what they can do with a gig,” he said.
Cunningham said the advert had first been screened on Sunday across various DStv and SABC channels and during M-Net’s popular Idols show.
“When we made the decision to take our very first television commercial to market, we had to be 100% certain the concept tied into that of our business. Our main priority was that we wanted the television advert to be 100% proudly PE ... We engaged with locally owned advertising agency Boomtown Strategic Brand Agency,” Cunningham said. The agency had come up with the concept of the TV commercial and “we were instantly blown away”.
They then approached Rooftop Productions, which brought the advert to life “with the calibre of cast and crew”.
Boomtown managing director Neil Hart said it was a great project for their creative staff to “sink their teeth into”.
“Being involved in the making of the Axxess DSL TV commercial gave us a unique opportunity to demystify this market and create an idea which could be easily translated to the consumer,” said Hart.
Ahlfeldt said being involved in producing a TV commercial locally “has always been a dream for our company”. “It’s an amazing opportunity to be involved in the development of our local film industry, and to produce a commercial on this scale with all local talent has been a great experience.”
He said PE had the resources to produce a TV commercial of international standard.
Cunningham said the response to the ad had been astounding. “The calls have been flooding in (from clients) and our website has never been busier, all thanks to the proudly Port Elizabethan and world- class talent which is showcased in our advert.”

Workshop at Riebeeck Girls' College

High school girls from Riebeeck College in Uitenhage enjoyed a Youth Theatre workshop this afternoon after school! It was, as always, an absolute pleasure to take the Riebeeck girls through some of our balanced theatre arts program. Speech work, a little improvisation and a mini-script concentrating on characterisation got the creative juices of the students at Riebeeck flowing. Our Uitenhage classes run on Monday afternoons: 3-4pm for Grades R-3; 4-5pm for Grades 4-6; and 5-6pm for Grades 7-12.

Enjoying Drama in Cape Town!

Our Drama Academy in Port Elizabeth is one of 12 successful branches across South Africa! As South African Franchisor, I am currently in Cape Town assisting with the training of two new Franchisees. What fun it is to visit classes in another part of the country, and see the amazing development that is taking place with children all over South Africa! Well done, Bergvliet Primary!

Willow Wows at Parent Day!

Willow Academy wowed their parents, friends and family at Parent Day yesterday! Self-development drama classes have been strong at Willow Academy since 2008 for students from Grade R right through to Grade 9.

Erica Girls Dramatic in Style

The three drama classes at Erica Girls' Primary presented their TWO Parent Day Presentations with their usual style and flair. What a lot of fun Renee, their teacher, and I have visiting at Erica! The development that has taken place in these young ladies is heart warming.

Soccer Fever at Walmer!

Walmer students presented a feisty "Soccer Fever" improvisation at their Parent Day, in lieu of our approaching Soccer World Cup! They certainly went to town with soccer memorabilia!

Triomf Primary Triumphant at Their First Parent Day!

After only five months of enjoying our fantastic developmental drama programme, students at Triomf Primary presented their very first Parent Day! And what a wonderful Parent Day it was - showcasing the developmental style of the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy with gusto! Here they can be seen with their fabulous teacher, Carol, all dressed in their Football Friday regalia. 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup is upon us!

Sanctor Wows Their Parents!

Our Sanctor students always produce such dynamic work, and this Parent Day was no exception! A short term due to the FIFA Soccer World Cup did nothing to deter the standard of work presented by these enthusiastic students! Here they pose with their fabulous teacher, Faith.

Linton Grange Loves Parent Day!

We had such a great turn out of parents at our Linton Grange Parent Day - the chairs we set out weren't nearly enough to accomodate everyone! Once a year, our students have the opportunity to show their parents, family and friends a cross section of the work we do in class. The picture below is a shot of the Linton Grange Lower Primary class preparing to perform "A Big Box of Bears"!

Beautiful Malabar Production Photos

Lovely photos of "Bold Buccaneers" taken by Todd Burns.

Beautiful Summerstrand Paradesia Photos

Some beautiful photos, taken by Todd Burns, of our Summerstrand studio at their Year End Productions!

Willow Academy Shines!

The Willow Academy students enjoyed their production of "Paradesia" at their prestigious prize giving ceremony. These Grade Rs, ones and twos worked so hard on their presentation skills during the course of the year - and this really showed on their stage! Well done, Willow!