Introducing two amazing new franchisees and a Principal from Cape Town
Helen O'Grady Drama Academy Cape Town and Aardvark Casting welcomes a new team! Paul and Michele Griffiths are the new Directors of the Helen O Grady - Cape Town South Academy with Sunette Strydom as Principal. The will be taking over from Duncan Rice and Gavin Pollock, who have run the Cape Town Academy for 12 years and will now focus on the further development of the Academy in Africa.
Paul's professional career started in Musical Theatre Productions including Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Peter Pan, Camelot, Mame, Fiddler on the Roof and at Maynardville in The Taming of the Shrew. After four years of working in South Africa, Paul moved to London where he spent the next 8 years. Whilst in London, he completed an MA with Distinction in Theatre Directing from Middlesex University – a course which included modules at The GITIS Conservatory in Moscow, RESAD Drama School in Madrid and master classes from The Berliner Ensemble. It was as a director that he continued to develop his career in the UK. He was Education Associate for The Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond where he directed the theatre's Shakespeare-in-Schools Programme. He was then appointed as Associate Director of The Bridewell Theatre and was Acting Artistic Director. In 2006 Paul was appointed head of Drama and Musical Theatre at the WTS and his company 'Big Leaf Productions" is producing numerous National plays and musicals.
Paul’s wife, Michele, will also be joining him as Director. Michele is similarly no stranger to the performing arts, having enjoyed an illustrious career in Musical Theatre before starting a family. Since working at Artscape in the late 90's Michele has shifted her focus to early learning and more recently has been running her own early learning school for ages 2-3. She is delighted to be combining her two passions: drama and teaching into this next phase of their life.
Paul and Michelle have been working closely with me, and are fully trained in the Helen O’Grady method, and I can honestly say they will be two incredible people to take over this thriving Academy, where our teaching is based on the principles of positivity, kindness and compassion. Under their leadership, the Academy will grow to new exciting heights. Paul’s work as a professional director and educator, as well as Michelle’s acting and early learning background, will undoubtedly come to the fore in the Academy’s curriculum and productions.
As a result of Sunette's hard work and her excellent mentorship she has shown to the Academy’s teachers over a decade with the Academy, the Academy became one of the largest drama schools in the world with over 3,500 children attending classes each week in Cape Town alone.
Sunette Strydom’s love for drama and theatre started when she was only 8 years old. Her passion for drama only grew stronger and she went on to complete her BA Degree in drama and theatre arts at The University of the Free State with merit. In 2007 Sunette relocated to Cape Town and worked for Pieter Torien Productions at Theatre on the Bay. She worked on productions such as Evita, Phantom of the opera and Defending the caveman. She has been a teacher for theHelen ‘O Grady Drama Academy since 2008 and has an immense love for teaching drama. She was appointed as the Vice Principal in 2014. During her 9 years with the Helen O’Grady Drama Academy she has gained extensive experience in teaching, directing and developing children in communication and confidence through drama . She is the Course director for the acclaimed Helen O’Grady Holiday Stage School. Her passion for teaching children and youth show clearly through her vibrant uplifting personality. She believes strongly in the positive effect of the performing arts and the development of young minds through drama and communication.
Sunette is a wonderfully kind and compassionate person and she will continue the legacy of our Academy in Cape Town for many years to come. There isn't anyone more capable to take the Academy forward together with Paul and Michele.
The Helen O'Grady Drama Academy wishes them well in their new roles. The Academy runs drama classes in the following locations in Cape Town: Hout Bay, Camps Bay, Fish Hoek, Tokai, Mitchell's Plain, Athlone, Newlands, Rondebosch and Goodwood.
To find out more, click on this link: https://dramaafrica.com/branch/9/south-africa/cape-town-south.htm
