Speech & Drama Classes
Speech and Drama Classes
Derrada Drama offers a wide variety of speech and drama classes aimed at students from 4 years of age to adults. There are 3 terms in the year from September to June and each term runs for 11 weeks. The weekly classes run in St Gabriel’s Community Centre, St Gabriel’s Road, Clontarf, Dublin 3 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and evenings. There are a large number of classes available to suit each age group. Please call Angela on 086 8114338 to discuss the best class for your child.
Why not come along and try one of our speech and drama classes for free?!
Infant Class (4-6yrs)
Every September, we start a new Infant class for children who are 4-6 years of age. In the class, we focus on sensory games, emotions, mime, movement to music, speech, poetry and theatre workshops. In the theatre workshops the children dress up in a variety of costumes, provided by the teacher and we create a magical world of make-believe and act out scenes and stories which the children and teacher create. We encourage everyone to use their imagination and contribute to the story, encouraging children to think outside the box and also to identify with the different emotions exposed in the role- play.
Junior Classes (7yrs- 9yrs)
In the junior classes, we perform theatre games, mime, speech techniques and poetry recital. We introduce characterisation, role-play, freeze frames, scene creation and creative drama. We engage in social and historical educational workshops through process drama and role-play to enhance the child’s learning experience.
Each year, the students perform a class play in the Derrada Drama show. All class plays are written by the teacher, ensuring every student has a role in the play and they are performed on stage in front of the parents in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.
The students also have the option of doing the annual Speech and Drama exams, which are adjudicated by the accredited board of the Leinster School of Music and Drama.
Minor Classes (10yrs – 12yrs)
In the minor classes, we focus on theatre games, developing characters, role-playing via historical and social workshops and blocking and staging a drama scene. We further enhance speech techniques and poetry recital. We introduce the performance of solo drama pieces, monologues and group improvisations.
Each year, the students perform a class play in the Derrada Drama show. All class plays are written by the teacher, ensuring every student has a role in the play and they are performed on stage in front of the parents in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.
The students also have the option of doing the annual Speech and Drama exams, which are adjudicated by the accredited board of the Leinster School of Music and Drama.
I love going to Drama every week. It allows me to express my personality. I have been doing drama for over eight years and have no intention of quitting any time soon. I have so much fun playing cool games and I feel so much more confident now. I really enjoy the plays and exams. Angela is a great teacher.
I really enjoy attending classes in Derrada Drama and being part of all the shows and Festivals. I particularly like participating in the improvisation and theatre games in the class, which has really increased my self-confidence and public-speaking ability. I enjoy meeting my friends there too. I like having the opportunity to take speech and drama exams. I’m looking forward to seeing how far I can go with my drama in the future.
Teenage Classes (13yrs – 18yrs)
The main activities in the teenage class are theatre games, developing characters physically and emotionally, role-playing and enhancing vocal techniques. We introduce script writing and perform solo drama pieces, monologues, duologues and group improvisations. We engage in public speaking, debating and interview exercises.
Each year, the students perform a class play in the Derrada Drama show. All class plays are written by the teacher, ensuring every student has a role in the play and they are performed on stage in front of the parents in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.
The students also have the option of doing the annual Speech and Drama exams, which are adjudicated by the accredited board of the Leinster School of Music and Drama.
Performing a solo drama or/and a group improvisation in the National Speech and Drama Festival competitions is also another option offered to the students. Derrada Drama students have succeeded in winning awards at the National competitions over the years.
Adult Drama Courses
Derrada Drama offers an adult speech and drama course which will allow adults to develop self-confidence and self-assertiveness in a relaxed and fun environment. This practical course will involve relaxation and breathing techniques, enhancing vocal skills, performing theatre exercises, developing characters physically and emotionally, role-playing, performing group improvisations, writing and reading scripts, stage setting and blocking.