Class Act Amelie is 'an inspiration to everyone'

Young Amelie Curran from the Ard Grange area of the city had quite the medal winning week at Derry Feis.

The Greenhaw primary school P6 student placed third in the set poem reciting Our Magic Toilet and third in studied prose reading an extract from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. 

The delight in Team Amelie was evident when The Derry News caught up with her in St Columb’s Hall on Friday.

Mammy, Claire Heaney; aunts, Linda and Tara Heaney; granny, Gertie Curran; and speech and drama teacher, Loretta Bradley, were beaming. Amelie revealed they were going out for lunch to celebrate. 

Amelie, who uses a wheelchair because she has spina bifida “where my legs don’t work” said she had been going to Lorettta’s Class Act School of Speech and Drama  for the past four years and “absolutely loves it”.

“The first day I went along I went in and my friend from school was there. I didn’t know she was going to be there so it was a big surprise but it was great. I go to the class every Saturday in the Playhouse,” said Amelie. 

Amelie proudly displaying her Derry Feis medals.

“It is brilliant. When we go in we play games and hear everybody’s news. Then we do our poems. We have also been practising for our class show Annie which we are putting on in June. I am playing Mrs Greer. 

“I love going to speech and drama, I have loads of friends there. I also like watching TV and singing in the choir. As well as that, I play wheelchair basketball in the Foyle Arena and I am a member of the St John’s Ambulance Badgers Sett in School, with my aunt  - Miss Linda Heaney.

“I have been doing first aid for about three years. I enjoy it a lot with all the competitions. We go in for first aid competitions and fun competitions. In the Badger football competition which is taking place on the second Monday in May, I am a cheerleader. 

“I am also getting ready to do my Grade 3 drama exam in the autumn. I have to do a poem, studied prose and a character study for that, as well as some theory. I love drama but I haven’t been at the class recently because I had surgery,” said Amelie.

Amelie explained that she had undergone surgery in August because her spine was curved.

“Basically the surgery helped to straighten my spine. The doctors put in some rods. I was in Great Ormond Street Hospital for a couple of months last summer. Then, on New Year’s Day I had to go over to Altnagelvin Hospital and then back to Great Ormond Street Hospital because the rods in my back broke,” said Amelie.

“That’s where I met my friends Eva and Holly, who I talk to every single night. Thankfully the surgery was successful and that’s me done for now,” she added.

Loretta described Amelie as “always smiling and never, ever in bad form”.

“I am so proud of Amelie for what she has been through the past few years really. She comes into drama every Saturday with the biggest smile on her face. She has great fun. My husband James who does the drama too is playing Sandy the dog in Annie and they have the best of craic,” laughed Loretta. “We joke he has the best bark.

Amelie being congratulated by Derry Feis Committee members, Ursula Clifford and Pat McCafferty.

“I am just delighted about Amelie’s Feis success. She has been  through so much and she is an inspiration to everyone. She is just a wee superstar.

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“We always say in our drama class we are not a drama class, we are a drama family  - a dramily,” said Loretta.

Amelie’s mammy, Claire, said she was “absolutely over the moon” Amelie had done so well at the Feis.

“She is my pride and joy. I also have to thank James and Loretta for their support at the drama class.”

Class Act School of Speech and Drama can be contacted at: classactdrama1@hotmail.com