Category: News & Advice
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My Casting Story: Lewis Shepherd in ‘Dear England’ at the National Theatre
Actor Lewis Shepherd talks to us about how he won the role of Dele Alli in the National Theatre’s triumphant play ‘Dear England’ Lewis Shepherd is a familiar name here at Spotlight. As a graduate, he took part in the Spotlight Prize in 2022, representing Rose Bruford College and delivering two stunning monologues, including one he penned himself.…
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What to Expect on Your First Day of Theatre Rehearsal
Tips for preparing for your first day of rehearsal, what to bring, and how to overcome nerves. The first day on a new job can be daunting. As actors, we spend most of our time feeling anxious, scared and overwhelmed when we haven’t booked any work for a long period of time. And when the…
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How to Prepare for an Audiobook Job
Skills needed to become an audiobook reader and 11 top tips to prepare for an audiobook narration job. I adore working on audiobooks. It offers the opportunity to play a huge range of characters stretching far beyond your usual casting, and allows for plenty of experimentation with your voice. However, in my experience, audiobooks are…
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Tips for Using Spotlight When You’re a Self-Represented Performer
How to navigate the world of performing when you don’t have an agent, and how to make the most of Spotlight as a self-represented actor. We’ve recently made some changes to Spotlight to make it easier for performers representing themselves to use the platform and self-submit for jobs. In this episode of the Spotlight Podcast, we’re joined…
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The Importance of Positive Representation in the Acting Industry
From disability to gender and female characters, understanding why representation matters in film, theatre and media is crucial. Explore the impact of on-screen diversity, good examples of representation, and the positive effects diverse portrayals in the entertainment industry brings The UK and Ireland are home to an incredible crop of diverse talent delivering scene-stealing performances…
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Tips for Delivering a Natural Read
Founder of the VoiceOver Network, Rachael Naylor shares her advice for voice over artists, including how to deliver a natural read. Sounding natural when you deliver your lines is a vital skill for every aspiring voice over artist. Not only does it showcase your abilities as an artist, but it’s also a desirable skill that…
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3 Exercises to Prepare you for an Audition
Simple exercises you can perform before auditions to keep calm and gain confidence We can all use an extra kick of confidence before something as important as an audition. It can be daunting to enter the room or record a self-tape, armed only with a few pages of a script (if that!) and our own…
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Spotlight Prize 2023 Winners Announcement
Teddy Moore of The Lir and Shannon Watson of The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland win this year’s Spotlight Prize Since the 1950s, The Spotlight Prize has been an exciting opportunity for graduates to perform in front of an audience of industry professionals. And the decision about who got awarded this year’s Spotlight Prize couldn’t have been…
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What UK Actors Need to Know About the SAG-AFTRA Actors Strike
Understanding the SAG-AFTRA strike and its impact on UK performers in the UK. If you’re an actor or performer in the entertainment industry, you may have heard about the SAG-AFTRA industrial action. We’ll break down what the strike means, how it affects performers, and what actions you can take. What is the SAG-AFTRA industrial action?…
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Acting in Soaps
Essential tips for working as an actor in soap opera Soap opera is the musical theatre of television. This is what people often heard me saying to the classes and young actors I mentored during my almost 10-year stint on Neighbours. When it comes to acting – whether it’s in a soap opera, film, television or even…