Speech and drama lessons for local children are making a “huge difference” and seeing the “shining eyes” of her shyest students speaking confidently is a highlight for Chatterbox’s owner Heather Harries.

The business grew out of Heather’s passion for developing oral communication skills of Kiwi children. Set up in February 2021, Chatterbox has skyrocketed from five to more than 75 students. 

Heather Harries is a mum on a mission - to help our children shine through speech and drama lessons  

Heather said she saw a real need for support for Central children in this area.

“I came from a speech and language background not a drama background.. But [even] though I teach it, I get the terrors when I have to public speak… but it’s [about making] something difficult, a joy.”

Heather said she’s always had a love of language, its complexity, phonics, structure and how it works. 

“When you see a really shy kid, who is really meek and mild, or quirky and out of the box in class… in our lessons you can see this creativity coming out and [then] highlighting it in front of their peers.

“That shy kid growing and seeing them realise that in this space they’re really good and then getting recognition amongst their peers.”

Heather said those kids who sit in the middle in our system, can feel unseen but that speech and drama can show them “they’ve been seen by me and their peers”.

Her classes have a maximum of 12 children, and as they progress towards the formal Speech New Zealand exams in term three, they work in smaller groups of around six.

Along with plenty of fun, improvisation and teamwork Heather balances giving constructive criticism to students on what they can do better with their next play, poem or performance.   

When Heather was growing up she had an aunt who was cognitively impaired, and this drove her to want to help people with language.

“This is something I’m good at and I can help people.”

The mother of three teenage daughters is also helping new members of our community to find their voice, she tutors ESOL at Central Otago REAP. 

From growing up in Kenya, then studying at the University of Canterbury, homeschooling her daughters in Tanzania (while completing her Masters), to “the most difficult move” she’s ever made to Alexandra and launching her own business, Heather’s next chapter is going to be worthy of a tale or two.

Find out more about her classes by emailing.