Category: News & Advice
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Imposter Syndrome and How to Manage It
Spotlight’s Mental Health and Wellbeing manager explains what imposter syndrome is and offers techniques to help you deal with it. Imposter syndrome is one of the most common topics that I coach performers on. I’m fascinated by it – having also struggled with it myself for many years. Feelings of uncertainty are an expected and…
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Audition Sides and How to Prepare Them
We answer your questions about what audition sides are, how to prepare them and whether you need to be off-book in auditions. You’ve been invited to an audition and given sides — this is an exciting moment! But what now? Here’s what you need to know. What Are Audition Sides? Sides are a small section…
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Spotlight Prize Winners 2022
We’re delighted to announce the winners of this year’s Spotlight Prize. Congratulations to Angela Jones of LAMDA for winning Best Actor (Stage) and to Aaron Hodgetts of Guildford School of Acting for winning the prize for Best Actor (Screen)! The two prize winners were chosen from 19 outstanding finalists by an expert panel of judges and walk…
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Spotlight Prize 2022 Judges Announced
We’re delighted to announce our esteemed panel of judges for this year’s Spotlight Prize. The annual Spotlight Prize, originally launched in the 50s, helps to launch the careers of outstanding graduates, offering them a platform to raise their profile within the industry and to win a cash prize. This year one of the 19 graduates…
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Looking After Yourself When Writing
Award-nominated writer and theatre-maker, Alexandra Donnachie, shares her top tips for looking after yourself and those around you during the writing process, from page to stage. Our industry has made huge progress in safeguarding artists and audiences, but as a writer-performer, I’ve found there can be a significant lack of consideration for my well-being when…
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Transforming Young People’s Lives Through Performance
How drama and theatre-making are helping to transform care leavers and at-risk young people’s lives thanks to The Big House and their Open House Project. The Big House (TBH) is a charity that helps transform the lives of care leavers and at-risk young people through the power of performance. Based in Islington, London, they run a…
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Training Routes for Emerging Performers
Thinking of going to drama school but not sure where to start? Read on for an overview of the different training options for performers. There are many training routes for performers into the entertainment industry, from evening courses, foundation courses, Bachelor of Arts degrees, repertory theatre training, diplomas, to master’s degrees. Training is a big…
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Performer Parent Online Coffee Mornings
We’ve partnered with Parents and Carers in Performing Arts to run a new wellbeing initiative for Spotlight members who are also parents, guardians or carers. Coffee & Connect is a great way to meet other performer parents, ask questions, learn new things, share experiences, and of course to have coffee (bring your own!). We’ve put together some FAQs…
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Dealing with Self-pity
Six tips to help you stave off self-pity when you receive a knockback. Let me start by declaring that I am the biggest self-pitier of them all. However ‘woe is me’ you think you are, I’m ‘woe-ier’ and ‘me-ier’. My long-suffering partner deserves an MBE for her patience in the face of the whinging bin-fire…
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Is Understudying the Role for Me?
What it means to be an understudy and whether this role is right for you. Everybody’s saying it: this is one heck of a time to be an understudy! Even as Covid rates subside, understudies and their counterparts are busier than ever and are finally being heralded as the unsung heroes of theatre – a title…