Communication is an essential life skill and we have just the place for your children to learn how to communicate well, while having fun with friends. The Betty Ann Norton Theatre School and Agency has been a Dublin institution for 50 years, helping children to grow in self-confidence, self-belief and teaching them to become communication experts.
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If your child does only one after school activity, I would recommend Speech and Drama/Theatre Studies. Not only will they have loads of fun with like-minded individuals, it will boost their confidence, increase their self-awareness and provide the foundation for many life skills.
Some children may go on to become stars of the airwaves, stage or screen, others may find a passion for teaching and will leave with the ability to earn a living from their passion but, without fail, all will learn to communicate and express themselves with greater ease.
Betty Ann Norton Theatre School Courses
There are many great speech and drama/theatre schools worldwide. If you live in Ireland, check out the courses on offer at the Betty Ann Norton Theatre School for children of all ages. The school has over 50 years’ experience in teaching children how to communicate well using voice, speech, drama, acting, mime and film, and provides a wide range of courses to choose from. Children can take graded exams and are encouraged to be part of one of the three annual stage productions.
Discover Which Course is Best for your Child
Kindergarten Speech & Drama
These classes introduce very young children to Speech & Drama using a mix of: Games, Theatre, Rhythm Exercises, Music, Mime, Movement, Story Telling & Puppetry. The children present in-house work and we encourage participation in Feis Maitiú to develop confidence.
The emphasis is on CREATIVITY, ENJOYMENT and FUN.
Class Ages: 3½ to 6
Duration: 1 hour weekly
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Acting Up – Pure Drama Course
An innovative new class for your 9-11 year olds who want to have lots and lots of fun! This class is focused on pure drama where children will play games, do lots of improvisation, make up their own stories and get to release all of that extra energy that has been pent up in a classroom all week! This class is all about performance and drama and is a perfect way to build confidence, gain new hobbies and make friends.
Class Ages: 9-11
Duration: 1 hour weekly
Junior Speech, Mime, Drama & Acting
A 3 hour class – 90 minutes speech & mime training & 90 minutes drama & acting.
The school places a huge emphasis on Speech Training (which used to be called Elocution) both for performance and everyday communication. This class is also suitable for children with speech problems and lazy speech.
The Children will work on: Storytelling, Poetry Speaking & Writing, Reading Aloud, Speech & Communication Games.
They are also introduced to the art of Mime and work is prepared for a graded examination in Speech and Drama and Feiseanna.
The drama aspect of the course encourages personality development and building of confidence and creativity. Work covers: Theatre Games, Movement to Music, Sensitivity Training, Improvisation, Characterisation, Introduction to Script.
Class Ages: Junior 7 -10 years
Duration: 3 & a half hours weekly
Grades: This course covers initial grades 1, 2, 3 and the Trinity Guild exam.
Advanced Junior Speech, Mime, Drama & Acting
A 3 hour class – 90 minutes speech & mime training & 90 minutes drama & acting.
This follow on course for children aged between 11 – 14 years covers grades 3,4,5 with a follow on grade examination in Speech and Drama and Feiseanna.
The Children will do further work and study: Speech Training, Storytelling, Poetry Speaking & Writing, Reading Aloud, Speech & Communication Games, Mime & Drama.
We introduce students to the great poets and dramatists, encouraging them to read their works. This ensures that when students are obliged to study these writers for their state exams, they will already be familiar with these works.
Class Ages: Junior 11 -14 years
Duration: 3 & a half hours weekly
Grades: This course covers initial grades 3 (if not already done), 4, 5 and the Trinity Guild exam.
Trinity Guild Hall Courses
Grades 6, 7 and 8, Diplomas for Acting & Teaching Courses.
Subjects covered: Mime, Poetry Speaking, Acting, Theory of Speech and Film. Voice Training for Acting & Radio Work
Class Ages: From 13 / 14 years – adults
Duration: 30 weeks
Grades: Each course will cover advanced grades: Grade 6, 7, 8 or Diploma for Acting or Teaching.
Teen Film Studies
A new exciting course for teenagers that covers acting to camera and film production, with some acting on stage. The emphasis of the course is on film production with the student’s writing, acting, producing and directing their own scripts. Students will get to write and develop their own scripts in a creative and supportive environment. Some scripts will then be chosen to be made into short films in Term 2.
Student’s also take part in a script writing competition in Feis Maitiú in Term 3.
Tutor: Conor Armstrong Sanfey BA, ALCM
Class Ages: From 13 years
Duration: 10 weeks
For further information on any course or production visit the website or call (01) 2809219
About the Author: Michelle
