Junior Creative Drama
'Junior Creative Drama provides opportunities for children to learn as they discover, create, improvise and imagine’. Creativity, imagination, self-expression and confidence
A lively class filled with improvisation, role play, theatre games and creative thinking to inspire our students to make up characters, tell stories and explore their world using acting and performance activities. Every week the students create unique situations, role plays and scenes. They are encouraged to work as a team and be expressive in voice, face, and body language. Life is mirrored through play, giving children the tools to deal with real- life social and school situations. Language and vocabulary are developed and shy or withdrawn children are encouraged to blossom.
What to wear: Black leggings or tracksuit bottoms, ITW t-shirt and Zoodie. Omnia Dance Sneakers(or similar with non marking sole) or black jazz or ballet shoes. ITW t-shirts, leggings and sweatshirts can be ordered from the ITW SHOP online and will be delivered to ITW Studios for collection at class. Long hair should be tied up in a ponytail and footwear must have non marking soles.
Our Junior students should ideally take Junior Dance Class along with their Creative Drama class. We also recommend that our Junior Students add a Speech & Drama exam class or Singing class to their weekly schedule.
10 reasons your child should do Creative Drama:
1. DRAMA BUILDS CONFIDENCE
Even the shyest of children take just a few weeks to gently build up their self - esteem until before long they are confident to take a full and active part in sessions - a few weeks is all it takes.
2. DRAMA HELPS CONCENTRATION
In every session children are encouraged to listen to each other's ideas and thoughts, and to take turns. These activities allow children to recognise the value of concentration; a skill that is vital in the world outside their home.
3. DRAMA HELPS DEVELOP LANGUAGE & COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Learning new songs, playing new games and participating in pretend play (when children must take on the language of the role they are playing) all contribute to a child's developing vocabulary. They are encouraged to express themselves both verbally and through facial expressions and body language which is key to making them better and more effective communicators.
4. CREATIVE DRAMA ENCOURAGES CHILDREN TO CO-OPERATE
Every activity in Creative Drama, from playing drama games to improvisation to acting together, requires co-operation. Children quickly realise that in order to get the best out of sessions, co-operation is a much needed skill!
5. DRAMA SUPPORTS NUMERACY SKILLS
In Drama class children don't ever guess they are learning along the way – dividing up into pairs or groups for an activity, counting the number of stars on a camping trip or working out how many eggs to put in a cake, are just a few examples of how being involved in a drama can help to develop important numeracy skills.
6. CREATIVE DRAMA HELPS CHILDREN TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD AROUND THEM
We explore a range of different themes and introduce children to different real and imaginary situations each week, sparking their interest in the world in which they live and making them more inquisitive (and therefore more interesting!) little people.
7. DRAMA DEVELOPS EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
By encouraging children to 'act out' a range of emotions in the safe and supportive environment of a Creative Drama class, children are better able to understand their emotions and develop empathy with others.
8. CREATIVE DRAMA ASSISTS PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
In each session we pretend to be different characters and creatures, create simple movement sequences and play drama games - all designed to help children gain mastery over their own growing bodies.
9. DRAMA DEVELOPS CREATIVITY
Creative people are able to view things in new ways and from different perspectives, to think on their feet and generate new ideas - this is a vital life skill. Our child led approach to improvisation and pretend play encourages the development of creativity as children lead the direction of the drama themselves, come up with solutions to problems in role, and respond imaginatively to a range of pretend situations.
10. ALL DRAMA NURTURES FRIENDSHIPS
By its very nature drama has the ability to create strong friendships between children as they laugh, learn and grow together week after week after week!
Benefits of Drama in early learning: http://www.leapfrog.com/en-us/learning-path/articles/article-the-benefits-of-dramatic-play
Young adults creative drama and Advanced Acting
The Young Adult class is similar in content to the Seniors class but more intensive, preparing the students for a career in film, theatre and for life. Click the photo to find out more …
The Young Adult class is similar in content to the Senior Creative Drama class including improvisation, characterisation, storytelling and movement but is more intensive, preparing the students for a career in film, theatre and for life. Geared towards the individual’s needs on an almost one to one basis, the young adult has the opportunity to fine-tune his or her performance skills and to take a more in- depth look at particular areas of interest, with an experienced teacher.
Creative Drama Saturday evenings in ITW Drumcondra and Sunday Afternoons in ITW Clonskeagh: Students explore, develop and communicate ideas and performance concepts through acting and directing each other. They will devise their own dramas and interpret complex texts using their understanding of form, style, structure and genre. They may also study the work of influential theatre practitioners to inform and communicate their concepts.
Professional Development Sunday afternoons at ITW Clonskeagh 1-2pm: We are delighted to be offering these focussed classes on Sunday afternoons at ITW Studios, Clonskeagh.
Chatting about Trinity College Drama and Theatre Studies with Director (and Trinity Graduate) Luke Casserly
Designed very much with the student in mind, this course is aimed at students that are considering a 3rd level degree/diploma in performance/theatre and who would like to work professionally when they leave secondary school. At the start of the year students discuss where they are at and what they most want to achieve from the course and accommodations are made to best try and accomplish that. Students will get an insight into what college courses expect as well as a taster of the type of exercises one would do at 3rd level. Various guest speakers are brought in during the year to give an even stronger insight into courses and performing in the professional landscape. Recent guests include Ben Middleton (Arts Ed, Book of Mormon, Matilda - West End), Robert Mitchell (US Actor, www.appleboxstudio.ie) and Craig Connolly (Cursed Child, LIR). We will also go through audition technique and discuss what courses and employers are looking for as well as help in preparing monologues, showreel scenes and help self-taping. We have regular trips to the theatre to see Graduate Productions and professional productions.
We welcome applications from students over 16 yrs of age who have a passion for theatre and are keen to develop their acting skills to a more advanced level. We have an exceptional success rate with our students gaining places in third level colleges including The LIR, Trinity Drama and Theatre Studies, The Gaiety School of Acting, Mountview, TUD, Arts Ed, Urdang, The Royal Scottish Conservatoire, GSA, Urdang, Performers, Italia Conti, Inchicore College and Institute of the Arts Barcelona among others.
Advanced Acting and Scene Study Wednesday evenings at ITW Clonskeagh 7-8pm
Acting and Script Work Class - Enhance Your Performance Skills!
Are you passionate about acting and looking to improve your performance skills? Join our dynamic Acting and Script Work class and take your acting abilities to the next level!
In this class, you will have the opportunity to:
Develop strong public speaking skills
Master the art of duologues and group drama
Enhance your understanding of scripts and characters
Improve your stage presence and confidence
Whether you're a beginner or an experienced actor, our class welcomes all skill levels. Our experienced teacher, Heather, brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to guide you through various acting techniques and exercises.
Class Details:
Day: Wednesdays
Time: 7-8pm
Location: Clonskeagh
Duration: 1 Hour
Cost: €20 per week
Don't miss this chance to hone your acting skills and connect with fellow performers in a supportive and creative environment. Limited spots are available, so reserve your place now!
What to wear: Young adults need to be able to move unrestricted and be a blank canvas for performance. They should wear black leggings or tracksuit bottoms with a black t-shirt or vest and sweatshirt. Lightweight trainers with a non marking sole.
Practical and appropriate clothing can be ordered online from our ITW SHOP which will then be delivered to the Studios for collection at class.
Other options for our Young Adults: (click the links in PINK to learn more…)
We also recommend our Private Audition Prep and Group Speech & Drama classes in which our students can take their Speech & Drama and solo acting grade exams up to and including Diploma level. For more information about these classes see our Speech & Drama section on the website.
Our Young Adult class have the opportunity to also travel to New York in March 2024 on our bi-annual New York Trip which includes professional workshops, broadway shows and sightseeing.
Our Youth Theatre - Young Dramatic Arts Theatre Company - work on full scale productions and performances taking part in Youth Theatre festivals in Ireland, Northern Ireland and on occasion in the UK.
Our Musical Theatre Company produce and perform in full scale musical productions each year.
