About

Susana Ayala is the teacher and owner. Susana previously owned Helen O’Grady Drama Academy Dorset (2005 – 2018) and was a trainer for the HOG Head office. Susana has been working with children and young people in a number of settings for roughly 26 years (Dorset Police, Dorset Youth Service, HOG Drama Academy and Dorset Children’s services).

Susana came from a performance background, specialising in Dance and Drama, however Susana is also passionate about children’s wellbeing, she has a degree in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Susana believes that Drama can support good mental health, therefore she has developed a programme that can enhance the creativity and fun of acting and at the same time nurture the free expression, and emotional communication that every child and young person needs to thrive.

Each term the group will work through a number of acting and communication techniques. They will also explore issues and feelings that children may come across in their every-day lives and Susana welcomes topics that children or parents would like her to cover.

The idea of the classes is that children can freely improvise their own ideas are well as developing in confidence, communication skills and self-efficacy.

At the end of the term the children will showcase their favourite work in a short performance to parents.

For those that would like a challenge, Susana teaches acting and communication LAMDA exam classes.