How did you start off in theatre?

I followed in the ‘family footsteps’ as an assistant stage manager at Birmingham Rep before training as an actor at Arts Educational Drama School in the early 1980s. While working as an actor, I also took on roles in directing, producing and teaching. In my mid-30s, after a breakdown and a period of chronic depression, I returned to university to pursue an interest in psychology, counselling and social sciences, gaining an MSc. For the past 35 years, I have been a senior lecturer, acting tutor and course director at Rose Bruford, as well as a personal development and well-being coach and mental health advocate/first aider. As a research fellow, I focused on embedding personal development and well-being into the actor’s curriculum and accessibility 
in training. 

What is the best piece of advice you have for drama students and graduates today?

Building a toolkit to support your mental fitness and well-being is crucial. I believe in ‘radical responsibility’ for your physical and mental health. You cannot do this job without it. It is as important as understanding how to use your breath, body and voice.

What would you change about the industry if you could?

We must do better to embed health and well-being into professional preparation and development in drama schools. It isn’t a ‘nice to have’ add-on. This requires a rethink in how we fund and deliver curriculum. 

As a co-founder of the Association of Acting Coaches and Educators UK, what are your hopes for the organisation? 

Our mission is to make acting training safer for everyone. Many professionals in the training industry are freelancers, lacking support for their ongoing education in a rapidly evolving landscape. AACE UK will provide this support by adopting AACE International’s code of conduct, member guide and application process. Our goal is to educate and support acting coaches, teachers and practitioners, both in the training sector and industry-specific contexts. Additionally, we aim to foster an exchange of educational resources between the UK, Canada and other future AACE divisions worldwide.

For more information about the Association of Acting Coaches and Educators UK, visit: aaceuk.org