About Spotlight Drama Studio

Spotlight Drama Studio aims to develop the whole child by encouraging creative thought and ideas providing opportunities for the expression of those ideas through the medium of drama. By working in groups, children learn to respect one another, to interrelate positively and to communicate effectively.

Classes take place at school once a week where children of all ages explore the different facets of drama including:

  • Voice production, mime, movement, improvisation, characterization, play building and acting technique.

  • A public production is held by-annually where children are given the opportunity of performing for an audience, thus sharing their ideas and creative processes while growing in confidence.

  • Trinity grade exams can also be entered on a solo basis for further extension, providing a more formal assessment structure.

  • Spotlight Youth Theatre has been created to provide children with an opportunity to perform on stage as well as encourage young people to attain quality theatrical production.

Drama can be of a benefit to all children and assist them in reaching their full potential.

About Deborah

Deborah has been teaching Drama for the last 30 years at various high, primary and pre schools in Cape Town. She started Spotlight Drama Studio 28 years ago having taken over The Imps Drama workshop from her mentor, Lieske Bester. Drama and feeds the imagination and the soul and she always learns something new from a child while being challenged by a young adult.

Deborah is currently teaching drama and training Trinity Exam students at Spotlight Drama Studio in Bergvliet, runs extra-mural drama classes at Kirstenhof and Micklefield as well as being the part-time Drama Teacher at Micklefield. Deborah is involved in the South African Shakespeare festival as well as speaking at conferences and teaching voice production. She is affectionately known as Debbie, Mrs G, Snow Queen or Drama Debbie so take your pick!

Recent productions have been:

  • Bits of the Wiz
  • Pan, The Boy who Never Grew Up
  • The Little Princess
  • The Snow Queen
  • The Silver Chair
  • Jamie and the Giant Peach
  • The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
  • The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
  • Midsummer Night’s Dream
  • Mowgli’s Story

As well as numerous Showcases and Drama Evenings for the various schools.

Deborah also loves acting on the stage when given half a chance!

About Melanie

Melanie believes that creativity is an intrinsic human trait and seeks to work respectfully with children to help them strengthen their belief in their own creative abilities.

Melanie has taught Drama at various primary and preschools and produced plays for high school. Through her work at Blesbok Arts Trust, Melanie has collaborated with teachers of other art forms, such as art, dance and music, to offer inter-disciplinary workshops for children and families.

Melanie dreams of being able to walk inside her favourite illustrated children's books. She seeks to make this dream a reality for her classes and audiences.

Melanie is currently involved with the development of local playwrights at the Masque Theatre, through the hosting of play-readings and one-act festivals.

When not inhabiting the world of Drama, Melanie designs educational material and tutors learners with special educational needs.

Melanie is affectionately known as 'Mellow', although her Instagram handle is meloh.drama. Perhaps both names are true.