Thanks for dropping by ...

The year is half over and I haven't been updating The Drama Workshop's Blog - we've been busy!  After the wonderful LAMDA results of all A's for our candidates I began the new year of 2014 with new classes aimed at our students' needs.  This includes more opportunities for kids to create unique expressions of their own work, where the teachers are facilitators and appreciative audience at the same time.  So while Drama and Literature form the basis of all that I offer, the activities are more art, music and creative writing for everyone.  The children love it and our staff see them grow from strength to strength. 
I have promised you more updates for the future but for now, if I have one picture that stands for what we do at The Drama Workshop, it's this one (below) of Ashley.  After a tough day at school or for her mates, after a long week of school, she chooses to spend time with us and she brings along a BIG SMILE!  
Thanks for dropping by and thanks for your support.  Mrs Tan

Pre School Drama has grown up!

Sending Malificent down a deep well

Building a Machine that will do all your cleaning

Drawing some ideas out on paper

Creative Challenge - converting an egg box into a jewellery case

Our Pre-schoolers are Juniors now.  And having had a boost of confidence from excellent results for their Drama exams last November, they tackle a variety of challenges with enthusiasm (see pictures above) rather than nerves.  More pictures will follow of their latest project based on a West African legend involving magic and cunning.  We have also begun choosing a poem for this year's offering to our LAMDA examiner.

Saturday Art Club

 

Here are members of our new junior art club.  As the original club is well-established, I felt it was time to share what we have learnt with even younger artists.  Led by a couple of the older art students the new art club members are encouraged to experiment with paints, colour and craft projects.

Art Club Projects 2014

Under the experienced leadership of Cikgu Khalid the art club members have grown braver and more confident - this year's offerings and experiments have been impressive, and at the same time satisfying to our young artists. I would like to acknowledge Patty Palmer of Deep Space Sparkle.com, an online art teaching website, for a lot of our lesson ideas and inspiration.

Portraits painted in a graphic style on top of old theatre posters

India Ink blown through a straw; drawing with a thin brush

Whimsical giraffes painted on black sugar paper

Collaged backgrounds inspired by Henri Matisse

NEW Creative writing classes

At the start of 2014 I converted the junior drama group (above) into a creative writing group - it was time for a change from acting and to give the students more opportunities to create their own stories. I use a series of prompts to start the ideas flowing - pictures, cards, poems, drawings - and encourage each child to offer a finished piece for our display.

Here's a current project for our older writers - starting a story with a Wanted Poster.  Cowboys never lose their appeal for boys as well as for girls.  I was very touched at how much care the students took over their characters.  

Welcome Kenny - our new Sunday Yoga teacher

Kenny Lai joined us three months ago to teach young adults' yoga as well as private classes to adults.  We continue to gladly give up Sunday morning lie-ins for a wide range of energising stretches, breathing techniques and practice in aligning our bodies for torturous hours at a computer or our study desks.