Years ago, as a young mum living in Cape Town, I joined the Helen O’Grady Drama Academy as a part-time teacher and quickly fell in love with the Academy’s curriculum and the incredible impact it had on students. Seeing shy children grow into confident communicators, together with moving back to Gauteng, inspired me to open my own Helen O’Grady Drama Academy and bring this life-changing programme to families in Midrand and Pretoria.

As a little girl, our family lounge was my theatre. I was constantly writing little plays and insisting my family be the audience! Speech and Drama was my favourite extramural activity, and I loved every opportunity to perform and tell stories. Looking back, it’s no surprise that I found my way back to the very thing I loved most as a child.

That passion led me to earn my Licentiate Teacher’s Diploma in Speech and Drama (LTCL) from Trinity College London in 1993. The following year, I opened my own drama studio in Johannesburg, teaching children from 4 to 16 years old. My classes grew through word of mouth and I had the privilege of preparing many students for the internationally-recognized Trinity College London Speech and Drama examinations. At the same time, I also worked in Industrial Theatre and scriptwriting. Although I loved every aspect of theatre, it was teaching young people and witnessing their personal growth that truly captured my heart.

After a stint of living in Cape Town and raising a family, I moved back to Gauteng in 2009 and became the Principal of the Helen O’Grady Drama Academy Midrand and Pretoria. For the past 17 years, I’ve had the privilege of leading the Academy, and helping many children, teenagers and adults discover their confidence, strengthen their communication skills and realize their potential. Watching students grow from hesitant speakers into confident communicators and seeing the difference that makes in every area of their lives, continues to inspire me every day.

At the Helen O’Grady Drama Academy, we follow a unique, internationally recognized curriculum that has been refined over more than 40 years. While we use drama as our teaching tool, our real focus is helping children, teenagers and adults develop confidence, communication skills, creativity and resilience that will serve them for life. Every lesson is carefully designed to build self-esteem, encourage creative thinking and equip students with the skills they need to communicate with confidence – in the classroom, in the workplace and in everyday life.

I believe everyone deserves the confidence to stand up, speak with conviction and know that their voice matters. Whether I’m teaching a shy four-year-old, a teenager finding their place in the world, or an adult stepping outside their comfort zone, my greatest joy is helping people discover confidence they didn’t know they had. Today, every class I teach is driven by the same excitement I felt as the little girl creating plays in our family lounge. Whether my students are taking their very first steps onto an imaginary stage or finding the confidence to speak up in everyday life, I feel incredibly privileged to be part of their journey. Because when people discover their voice, they discover so much more than the ability to speak… they discover the confidence to be themselves.