That’s a Wrap – Speech & Drama Studio Programs 2023
This week our Senior Speech and Drama students have been participating in their ASCA (Australian Speech Communication Association) and Trinity College of London exams. The ASCA Examiner, Bron Lim was so impressed with the high standard of work presented and how well prepared our students are.The Trinity exams were filmed with one more day to go on Monday and will be sent off to London to be marked by a Trinity Examiner in the UK. We are so proud of each one of our students, including Junior students who sat their exam last term, who have all worked so hard towards their Trinity and ASCA exams.
We would like to congratulate all of our students in Speech and Drama, Musical Theatre, Acting for Camera, Theatresports, Script Writer’s Club and Future Leaders public speaking clubs, private tuition and holiday productions this year. It is so rewarding to see the wonderful growth in confidence and skills in our students across all programs and we appreciate the positive feedback from parents, class teachers and the students themselves. Thank you also to the parents and carers for all of your support this year. We know many of you were up late going through lines of a script or a speech the night before an exam or eisteddfod. Driving your child to Eisteddfods or Theatresports Competitions, listening to endless rehearsals of a Shakespearean monologue or a speech on climate change or a song and dance routine they are working on in Musical Theatre! We know there is a lot of work in the background to make these wonderful opportunities possible for your child.
I would like to say a big thank you to the Speech and Drama Studio Teaching team for their dedication and wonderful guidance of the students in preparation for their exam and assisting them to achieve highly and continuing MLC School’s excellent reputation in the Speech and Drama community.
It is with great sadness that The Speech and Drama Studio farewell several pivotal members of our team as they embark on their next chapter. Crystal Warner and Milly Xouris have worked with The Speech and Drama Studio since they graduated from MLC School where they began their own speech and drama journey since Junior school. The Speech and Drama Studio has played a huge part in their lives and it has been a privilege and pleasure watching them grow into the talented, confident, capable and very special people they are today. We wish them every success and happiness as they embark on this next chapter and career after finishing University.
Emilia Stubbs Grigoriou commenced teaching with The Speech and Drama Studio almost 10 years ago. In this time she has been an integral member of our team bringing her extensive experience as a professional actor, director, writer and producer to our programs and lessons. Emilia is focussing on her other career full time next year. Amanda Mitchell is returning to LA to continue her full-time acting career and has loved teaching with SDS for the past two years.
Friendship is at the heart of the Speech and Drama Studio team and is always hard to say goodbye. We will greatly miss Milly, Crystal, Emilia and Amanda and we wish them all the very best for their exciting next chapter.
Please see below for biographies and a few words from each of these wonderful teachers.
The Speech and Drama Studio will continue our high standard of teaching and are excited to introduce our talented and experienced new Tutors next year.
If you wish to enrol your child into any of our programs or re-enrol, please do so as soon as possible as places are limited and some programs are already booked out. Click here for enrolment
We wish all our Speech and Drama and MLC School families the very best for a wonderful festive season and fabulous new year. We look forward to seeing some students at our December and/or January productions. Places are still available if you would like to enrol your child.
Happy holidays everyone!
– Monica Brian and The Speech and Drama Studio Teaching team.
Crystal Warner started her Speech and Drama journey when she commenced lessons with us in the Junior school. She also performed in the holiday productions, most notably starring as Alice in Alice in Wonderland. Once in the Senior School, Crystal continued working on the productions as crew and from then became a valued member of the SDS team. She went on to complete her Trinity College of London exams and then worked for The Speech and Drama Studio for five years as a Speech and Drama Tutor, Production Manager for the holiday productions, Theatresports Coach and administration.
‘I have been a part of the Speech & Drama Studio since 2011. I Completed drama lessons from Year 4 – To Year 11 with Ms Fort and joined the teaching team in 2020
Since 2011, I’ve been a part of the vibrant world of this studio. My time at the Speech & Drama Studio began as a student, embarking on drama lessons from Year 4 under the insightful guidance of Ms Fort. These formative years were more than just classes; they were a journey of self-discovery, a process of unlocking creativity, and a foundation upon which my passion for drama flourished.
Leaving the Speech & Drama Studio is a bittersweet moment for me. The time I’ve spent teaching here has been nothing short of extraordinary, filled with passion, creativity, and a sense of community that I will carry with me always. The joy of witnessing students discover their voices, both literally and figuratively, has been immensely rewarding. The shared moments of laughter, the thrill of breakthrough performances, and the quiet pride in watching my students grow. Leaving behind the studio is not just a farewell to a job; it’s bidding adieu to a chapter of my life that has shaped me in many ways. The memories created here will be cherished, and I can’t wait to see the incredible performances that each student will undoubtedly deliver.’
– Crystal Warner
Milly Xouris (2016) similarly started her Speech and Drama journey as a student when she commenced at MLC School, in the Junior School. Milly’s love for acting saw her achieve highly in exams and eisteddfods. She, like Crystal attended the holiday productions and by Year 9 was already directing, leaving the teachers twiddling our thumbs as she had the students captivated! That has not changed! Milly went on to completer her Trinity exams and has been working with the Speech and Drama Studio since as a Speech and Drama Tutor, Musical Theatre coach and Holiday Production Director. Milly and Crystal have finished their University degrees and are now commencing their new careers and next chapter. Saying that they will still be doing the odd holiday production and work for SDS whenever they have an opportunity. It has been a privilege and pleasure watching them grow into the talented, confident, capable and very special people they are today.
Emilia Stubbs Grigoriou has been teaching with The Speech and Drama Studio for almost 10 years and an integral member of the SDS team. During this time, Emilia has been a Speech and Drama Tutor, Holiday production Director, Middle Year Production Director and MLC School’s Public Speaking coordinator and coach. Emilia’s training and extensive experience as a professional actor, writer and producer has brought extra dimensions to her teaching. Emilia’s students have always achieved highly which is due to her passion and dedication to making a difference in each students’ development. Emily is pursuing her other career path in a full time capacity next year. She has added great value to the studio and will be greatly missed by students, parents, fellow staff and especially me.
‘Leaving The Speech and Drama Studio after almost 10 years has certainly been a difficult decision to say the least. I am grateful to the School, the wonderful families and the amazing students and the Speech and Drama Studio team and am particularly am grateful to Monica Brian. Seeing the growing confidence in students as they complete their Drama studies is truly amazing. Whether they are aspiring performers or wanting more confidence in their daily lives, I am so lucky to be part of so many students journeys. Thank you to MLC School and the Speech and Drama Studio for making me part of the family for the last 9.5 years.
– Emilia Stubbs Grigoriou
Amanda Mitchell commenced with the Speech and Drama Studio at the beginning of last year. She has loved her time with us and working with the students. She is going back to LA to continue her full-time acting career where she was prior to COVID. We were thankful to have her on the team for two years and wish her all the best for her next chapter.