After completing my B.Com degree at Rhodes University, I spent 18 months living in Seoul, South Korea, where I taught English at a local primary school. It was there that I discovered my passion for teaching and helping children develop confidence to express themselves.

On returning to South Africa, I continued working with young people by running a maths centre at a local high school in East London. Whilst I loved helping students achieve academic success, I found myself wanting something more. I was helping children for a short period before they moved on to another teacher, and I rarely had the opportunity to see the long-term impact of my work. I wanted to be part of a child’s journey, watching them grow and develop over many years. That opportunity came in 2005 when I launched the Helen O’Grady Drama Academy in East London.

From the very beginning, I was drawn to the Helen O’Grady programme because of its unique self-development curriculum. Rather than focusing solely on performance, the programme is carefully designed to develop confidence, communication, creativity, leadership and resilience at every stage of a child’s development. I could immediately see the incredible value it offered, and over the past 22 years I have had the privilege of watching thousands of children and teenagers grow into confident, capable young people.
My passion is helping children and teens build self-confidence, discover their unique identity and develop the life skills they need to thrive in today’s fast-paced world. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a child who was once shy or hesitant stand tall, find their voice, and believe in themselves.

What makes our programme different is our focus on self-development through drama rather than performance alone. Every lesson is designed to equip students with practical life skills that extend far beyond the classroom, empowering students to communicate with confidence, think creatively, work collaboratively and embrace new challenges. Having experienced personally the transformative impact of the Helen O’Grady curriculum throughout my own journey as a teacher and academy principal, I believe wholeheartedly in its ability to change lives. This is more than a drama programme – it’s a place where confidence grows, friendships flourish and young people discover just how much they are capable of.