About the series
Join us for a series of expert-led workshops to support actors and stage management professionals in building skills for improved mental health and sustainable creative practice. The sessions are facilitated by experienced practitioners who regularly work with performing artists.
Each of the six sessions focuses on a specific challenge, practical techniques for self-care, and support strategies. Each session works as a one-off or you can join all six.
Best of all, these workshops will be held online, so you can join from the comfort of your own home (and feel free to have your camera on or off as you prefer!).
Vocal Health for Actors
Managing Stress & Burnout
Sleep
ADHD and Neurodiversity
Isolation & Connection
Cool Downs – Stepping Outside of Work
Learn more about the other webinars
Vocal Health
Your voice is one of your most valuable tools — and caring for it is essential for a sustainable career.
This session, with Senior Specialist Speech and Language Therapist Clarissa Hardaker, focuses on vocal wellbeing, prevention of strain, and healthy habits to support your voice through rehearsals, performances and beyond. This session is presented by Actors’ Trust, in partnership with BAPAM, the largest provider of clinical services to the UK’s entire performing arts sector.
This session will cover:
- What can cause vocal problems
- The anatomy of the voice and voice production
- Avoiding vocal overload
- Practical tips for taking care of your voice
- When and where to get help
Facilitator: Clarissa Hardaker, speech and language therapist
Clarissa Hardaker is a London-based Speech Therapist, Voice and Accent Coach, highly specialised in voice and vocal rehabilitation with actors, singers and professional voice users.
She offers skilled assessment and treatment for people with speech, language, communication and swallowing disorders. This includes but is not limited to adults with speech and articulation disorders and voice disorders.
Clarissa is a singer and non-professional actor herself. She works closely with professional actors and singers on the West End and in TV and Film as well as professional voice users. Clarissa has also conducted research into the importance of providing voice training for teachers as standard as part of initial teacher training.
Actors’ Trust
The entertainment industry can be a collaborative, creative and exciting one, but it can, at times, be isolating and insecure. Actors’ Trust (which used to be known as the Actors’ Benevolent Fund) is here to provide a place of community and support for actors and stage management through our range of grants and wellbeing services.
We’ve been supporting industry professionals across sound, stage and screen since 1882. Today, we continue to make the greatest possible difference to a community that brings so much meaning and inspiration to others.
Whether you are in need of help or would like to support us, we are here and would love to hear from you.
Find out more or follow us on Instagram @actorstrust
BAPAM
The British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) is the largest provider of clinical services to the UK’s performing arts sector, working with actors, music creators, performers, production professionals, dancers and other creative practitioners. The charity provides free, bespoke clinical advice and care from expert clinicians in a range of disciplines, responding to requests for help with mental health, musculoskeletal care, vocal health, hearing concerns and some eye care and dental health issues. With expertise gained in evidence-based practice and research in the field, BAPAM’s free workshops and online resources share knowledge and skills to support good health and sustainable creative careers.
Related events
Sleep has a clear link to how we feel and how we perform. While for some, sleep comes easily, many of us may be impacted by chronic or acute sleep issues. In this session we will explore sleep issues, techniques for improving sleep, sleep hygiene and when to seek clinical advice.
People with neurodivergent traits (diagnosed and undiagnosed) can find themselves with challenges at work. Without support and understanding, it can be hard to communicate your needs. And if the people around you dont understand your approach, you can feel lost and isolated.
This session with dramatherapist Heather Turkington will explore isolation and loneliness for actors and stage management professionals. Heather will take us compassionately through the differences between loneliness and solitude, how to recognise isolation and how to know when to reach out for support.