Since 1998, we have been delivering the internationally acclaimed Helen O’Grady Drama Academy curriculum in the South Cheshire area to children aged between 5-17 years. We are not a stage school, but a unique, energetic and carefully designed academy promoting self-development and self-expression.

Each week, children of all abilities and levels of interest from across South Cheshire and North Staffordshire take part in an energetic hour of exciting drama activities that, over time, is guaranteed to help children develop new skills and achieve their personal best.

We take the children through a highly developed, fully integrated curriculum of speech training, movement and improvisation skills in a supportive, non-competitive environment. Our lessons are carefully planned for each separate age group and skill set, and children are encouraged to progress at their own pace.

Introducing Brian Ormrod, the principal

Brian has been involved in the arts all his life. From early acting opportunities at school and with The Manchester Youth Theatre and a twenty year long career as a secondary school teacher, latterly as head of Performing Arts, Brian is decidedly stage struck! Before becoming Principal of the Helen O’Grady Drama Academy, in his spare time he ran a Youth Theatre for which he wrote and directed numerous plays including ‘The Magic Television,’ ‘Aladdin and the Balaclava Palaver,’ and ‘Drizzle Black and the seven Drop-outs!’ The Helen O’Grady Drama Academy curriculum has also benefitted from his creativity with numerous mini-script contributions and two longer plays now regularly performed internationally by Helen O’Grady Academies throughout the world. But Brian’s true passion is working with children. Throughout his long career, helping children develop into confident happy young adults has been, and will continue to be, his greatest reward.

Our talented team of CRB-checked teachers, Brian Ormrod, Cathy Barratt and Samantha Orry, have the skills and training required to develop the children as individuals and encourage them to work together as part of a wider team.

We currently have classes running in Clayton, Byley, Astbury, Audlem, Crewe, Haslington, Sandbach and Northwich.