What age does The Hive accept?

The school's FAQ says it accepts enrolments from age 5 up to 18. Each course has its own age band, so check the course list.

Where are the classes held?

Bur Dubai (501, Al Safa M Tower, outside Al Fahidi Metro Station gate 1), JLT (The Dome Tower, 1208, 12th Floor, Cluster N) and Al Quoz (@play Warehouse, Al Quoz Industrial Area 2). Ask which courses run at which studio.

What courses are on offer?

New Bees to Stage (5-7), Public Speaking and Drama Solo (7-15), Stage Production (7-15), Media Lab (10+) and Communication Skills (10+), each one hour a week over two terms, plus the 10-week Speak Up workshop (13+) at two hours a week.

Do I need to sit Trinity College exams?

No. Exams are recommended from grade 3 (around age 9 or 10), but students who skip them are assessed internally by a Hive teacher and still move up levels.

Does The Hive take children with special needs or shy children?

Yes. The school welcomes children at varied learning levels and invites families who are unsure to visit the studio with their child for a chat first.

How much do classes cost?

Term fees aren't published, so ask the provider. The site says full payment is due upfront, a non-refundable booking fee of at least AED 500 holds a seat, and late payment carries an AED 70 fee.

The Hive — speech, drama and communication classes for kids

ArtDrama

Checked Oct 2026Details checked October 2026

Mankhool

Ages5+years and up
Where2 branchesMankhool, JLTSee on the map
Not publishedAskPrices and times

The Hive is a drama school founded in early 2015 by Jimish and Darshana Thakkar and led by Malavika Varadan since January 2019. It teaches speech and drama and communication skills to children from age 5 up to 18, following the Trinity College London curriculum, and says more than 1,500 of its students have sat and passed Trinity grade exams. Weekly classes run over two terms a year, January to June and September to December, in courses from New Bees to Stage for 5 to 7 year olds through to public speaking, stage production, media and communication skills for older children and teens. What began with 15 students a week now sees more than 500 students a week at its Bur Dubai and JLT studios, with a third studio listed in Al Quoz. Production classes end in a performance, and the school has staged plays such as The Boy Who Lived and The Enormous Crocodile. The Hive also runs screen-free holiday camps and The Hive Festival, a children's theatre festival that is free to attend.

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The activity

Drama, explained

Speech and drama classes build confidence, clear speech and storytelling through games, improvisation, reading aloud and rehearsed performance. Younger children usually start with simple voice, movement and make-believe exercises, while older ones learn poems and scripts by heart, work on their own speeches and put on plays as a group. Many schools follow a graded exam syllabus, so children have a milestone to work towards. It suits shy children who need a gentle push as much as natural performers, and the skills carry over to school presentations and everyday conversation.

Who it's for

Children aged 5 to 18. New Bees to Stage is for 5 to 7 year olds; Public Speaking and Drama Solo and Stage Production are for 7 to 15; Media Lab and Communication Skills are for 10 and above; the Speak Up workshop is for 13 and above. The school's FAQ generally recommends starting with a term or two of Speech and Drama before Communication Skills, and recommends Trinity exams from grade 3 (around age 9 or 10). Children with special needs and shy or introverted children are welcome; families who are unsure are invited to visit the studio for a chat first.

What to expect

Term classes are once a week for one hour (the Speak Up workshop is two hours a week for 10 weeks), in batches capped at 12 children. Solo classes focus on each child performing their own pieces, while Production classes work as a group towards a play at the end of term. Children can take the Trinity exam or be assessed internally by a Hive teacher. Full payment is due upfront for the term, a non-refundable booking fee of at least AED 500 holds a seat, and missed classes are not usually made up. A trial class isn't mentioned on the site, so ask the provider.

Highlights

Trinity College London speech and drama and communication skills curriculum, with an internal assessment option instead of the exam (liveathive.ae)
Six children's courses: New Bees to Stage (5-7), Public Speaking and Drama Solo (7-15), Stage Production (7-15), Media Lab (10+), Communication Skills (10+) and Speak Up (13+) (liveathive.ae)
Term batches capped at 12 children (liveathive.ae)
Studios in Bur Dubai (by Al Fahidi Metro), JLT Cluster N and Al Quoz (liveathive.ae)
Screen-free holiday camps: Public Speaking & Drama (5-18), plus Podcasting, Speak Up and Start Up camps (10-18) (liveathive.ae)
Welcomes children with special needs and shy or introverted children (liveathive.ae)

Why parents rate it

What parents say on Google

On Google, the Bur Dubai branch is rated 4.9 from 86 reviews (82 five-star) and JLT 4.7 from 52. Each branch's own rating shows when you pick it. Parent messages shared on the school's own site mostly mention their children's growing confidence on stage, shy children coming out of their shell, supportive teachers and the end-of-term shows.

The facts

Ages: 5-18 (liveathive.ae)
Prices: Term fees not published; full payment upfront, non-refundable booking fee of at least AED 500 to hold a seat, AED 70 late fee (liveathive.ae)
Schedule: Once a week for one hour (Speak Up: two hours a week for 10 weeks); terms January-June and September-December (liveathive.ae)
Trial: Ask the provider
Where: 501, Al Safa M Tower (Mostafawi Building), outside Al Fahidi Metro Station gate 1, Bur Dubai, Dubai
How to book: liveathive.ae/contact.php · +971 55 992 0718 · [email protected]

Questions parents ask

Good to know

Studio by Al Fahidi Metro Station, gate 1 (liveathive.ae)
Wheelchair-accessible toilet, car park and entrance (Google listing)
Class days and times are given when you enrol; ask the school (liveathive.ae)
Bur Dubai studio is outside Al Fahidi Metro Station, gate 1 (liveathive.ae)
Wheelchair-accessible toilet, car park and entrance at the Bur Dubai location (Google listing)
Parents get class and schedule updates through WhatsApp groups (liveathive.ae)
Tech rehearsals, Trinity exams and assessments may be scheduled on weekdays (liveathive.ae)
Photos and videos may be taken at classes and performances (liveathive.ae)