About us
Learn more about the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy
The Helen O’Grady Drama Academy provides children’s drama classes across South West London.
The Academy was established over 35 years ago in Australia. Our programme now runs in 28 different countries with 50,000 children attending classes each week, making it the most popular drama curriculum in the World. We’ve been running in the UK for over 20 years and have 45 different branches, with over 15,000 children attending our wonderful classes every week!
Helen O’Grady South West London is dedicated to providing children aged 4-16 with speaking, listening, language and social skills as well as improving their self-esteem and confidence. We do this using a variety of techniques in our Drama Classes.
Our one-hour classes are held throughout South West London, in Balham, Clapham, Tooting Bec, Stockwell and Southfields.
Developmental drama
Reach new heights with our curriculum
Our curriculum is specifically designed to develop children’s speech, confidence and communication skills.
Each of our lesson are carefully planned. The curriculum includes introductory activities, speech, verbal dynamics, creative movement, mimes to music, language development, structured improvisation, dialogue development, snippets, scene starters, mini-scripts, dress-up days, parent day presentations and end of year productions on a main stage!
Our classes
Our classes will help:
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Children who need a confidence boost
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Aspiring young performers who want to develop their acting talents
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Young people who feel shy about talking in front of or to others
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Children for whom English is a second language
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Youngsters who would like to improve their social skills
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Children who want to have fun & make new friends!
Our teachers
Teaching drama is our passion
All Principals and teachers have undergone extensive training in Helen O’Grady curriculum and teaching methods and, naturally, all are DBS checked.
Our specialist trained teachers will help to nurture your child’s development and bring out their full potential using positive re-enforcement, praise and encouragement.
LUCIE SHERWOOD, Principal
After completing a Master's in Applied Theatre at the University of Kent with first class honours, Lucie moved to London to pursue her passion in teaching drama to children. With over ten years' experience in teaching Drama both in the UK and overseas, Lucie has been Principal to the South West London branch since September 2013, and is now involved in the curriculum writing for the Academy's international drama programme. She also delivers courses aimed at helping international students to learn English through drama.
Lucie caught the performing bug at a young age. She clearly recalls; "As a child who was extremely tall, I was very insecure about my height and used to be shy in social situations. I joined a drama group when I was ten, and that was it! It transformed my confidence as I was growing up, gave me life-long friends, and lead me to study Drama at university as I loved it that much! It's the reason I'm teaching today and managing my own branch, which I could not be more passionate about. Nothing brings me more joy than to see our young students benefit from our fantastic programme in the same way."
"Our unique drama classes create a safe environment for children to explore their full potential without fear of being judged and express themselves with confidence. I consider myself extremely lucky to be Principal of such an inspiring organisation which helps transform young people's lives every day."