Keisha’s Drama Academy celebrates one year of helping children find their voices 

By Admin. Updated 12:58 p.m., Sunday, September 13, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4). 

What started as a simple conversation has grown into a programme that is helping young Vincentians find their voices through the performing arts.

This month, Keisha’s Drama Academy for Kids is celebrating its first anniversary, marking a year of nurturing confidence, creativity and self-expression among children aged seven to 12.

Founder Keisha Johnson launched the academy on September 13, 2025, after receiving permission from the Ministry of Education and the Principal of C. W. Prescod Primary School. The initiative was born out of her desire to create a safe and encouraging environment where children could develop communication skills, build self-confidence and discover a love for drama.

Looking back on the Academy’s first year, Johnson said she remains deeply grateful for how far the programme has come.

“I remember preparing for that very first class and welcoming the parents, guardians and five excited children who would become my first ‘Drama Stars’,” she reflected.

Those pioneering students – Jahlissa Alexander, Jahmarli Alexander, Jariq Bess, Talia Collins and Leaina Fraser – laid the foundation for what Johnson hopes will become a lasting legacy in youth development through the arts.

Beyond leading the Academy, Johnson has built a reputation for service and leadership in several areas of community life. She is an actress, dramatist, preacher, Congregational Steward, Mistress of Ceremonies, Chairperson and emerging play director. She also serves as President of the Achievers Toastmasters Club, is a member of the AGAPE Methodist Dramatists and works as a Member Service Representative.

She recently appeared in the stage productions Number 7 and Why Didn’t I Get Married? and is preparing to co-direct Marva’s Mighty Muddle alongside veteran theatre practitioner David “Darkie” Williams for this year’s November festivities.

Johnson believes those experiences continue to strengthen her passion for theatre and her commitment to developing the next generation of performers.

Operating under the theme “Confidence Through Creativity,” the Academy introduces children to voice projection, acting, character development, monologues, dialogues, improvisation, stage movement, storytelling and teamwork.

However, Johnson said the greatest success has been seeing the children’s confidence extend well beyond the classroom.

Over the past year, Academy members have performed at a fundraiser hosted by Belmont Methodist Church and at the Kingstown Methodist Church Women’s League Tea Party. 

Several have also participated in choral speech competitions, delivered votes of thanks and tributes, spoken at school and community events, performed at concerts and workshops, and taken on other public-speaking opportunities.

For Johnson, those moments represent the true purpose of the Academy.

“The greatest reward is seeing children who may once have been hesitant to speak now stand confidently before an audience and say, ‘I have something to say, and I am not afraid to say it.’ That is what Confidence Through Creativity is all about,” she said.

The Academy continues to open new doors for its students. One of the young performers has already been invited to appear at the Sion Hill Euphonium Concert on October 3, 2026, an opportunity Johnson describes as another encouraging sign of the children’s growth.

Looking ahead, she hopes to expand the Academy’s reach through drama productions, church and community performances, Christmas concerts, Nine Mornings presentations and opportunities for children to explore drumming, rhythm and other aspects of the performing arts.

“My dream is to continue creating opportunities for young people to learn, perform, lead and believe in themselves,” Johnson said.

She also expressed gratitude to the parents and guardians who entrusted their children to the Academy, as well as family members, friends, donors and supporters who have contributed to its success over the past year.

The Academy will commemorate its first anniversary with a small celebration and appreciation activity for its students before beginning a new term later this month.

Classes resume on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at C. W. Prescod Primary School in Kingstown. Sessions are held on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

As Keisha’s Drama Academy enters its second year, Johnson remains focused on one mission: ensuring that every child who walks through its doors leaves believing in their own potential.

“Where Every Child Is a Drama Star.”

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