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.
