Expert advice and industry stories to help actors navigate a successful career.
The Spotlight Podcast is built for actors and performers who want to build a sustainable, successful career. Each month, we shine a light on the topics that affect your everyday work, featuring practical tips and expert advice from the people who know the industry best.
Join us as we chat with casting directors, industry experts, and fellow performers about everything from working rights and audition techniques to an insider look at how projects are cast.
Listen and subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music or your favourite platform.
Episode Archive
- Self-Assessment, Tax and Expenses Tips with Mark Carr from Streets accountancy.
- Boosting Diversity in the Welsh Arts with Jack Sargeant, Wales’ Minister for Culture.
- Who’s Really Deciding the Future of the Arts? with Lord Chris Smith, the UK’s first Culture Secretary.
- A Creative Vision for Scotland with Angus Robertson Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Culture
- The Secret Life of Agents with Kelly Andrews
- Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Spotlight with Matt Hood, Spotlight’s Managing Director.
- Getting Started in Audiobook Narration with Stefan Szwarc, head of production at 2020 Recordings.
- Performer Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Arts with Adam Bambrough, Founder of Wellbeing in the Arts.
- How Political Parties Shape Cultural Policy with Stuart Andrew MP.
- The Impact of Performer Injury with injury prevention consultant Tome Levi.
- How to Make Your Spotlight Profile Stand Out with Spotlight’s Success Manager, Mel Brown.
- Artificial Intelligence and Performer Rights with Tony Morris from Level.
- Championing Diversity and Inclusivity in the Industry with Mildred Yuan and Sara Sehdev from The Diverse Squad.
- Thriving During and After Drama School with Charleen Qwaye (Fourth Monkey), Stewart Nicholls (Guildford School of Acting), Geoff Brumlik (Bristol Old Vic), Helen Mackay (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) and Christabel Clark (MetFilm School)
- The Gamification of Cinema: Working in Interactive Film with Harry Chadwick and Grace Chadwick from INTERFLIX Media.
- Tips for Using Spotlight When You’re a Self-Represented Performer with Spotlight’s Success Manager, Mel Brown.
- Inclusion and Representation in Theatre with theatre-maker and Creative Edinburgh’s Programme Manager, Zoë Alba Farrugia.
- Winter Voice Care with voice coach and voice artist Nic Redman.
- Progressing Your Voice Career with The VO Social.
- Disability and Making Accessible Theatre with writer, theatre-maker and performer Robert Softley Gale.
- Making Work on Social Media with Jonny Weldon.
- Breaking Barriers with Disability with performer Tommy Jessop.
- Improvisation with Notflix.
- Inclusivity for Transgender, Non-Binary and Gender Non-Conforming Performers with performer, singer and trans inclusivity consultant Aitch Wylie.
- Drag as an Art Form with performer Kevin Grogan AKA Veronica Green.
- Making and Performing Comedy Work with Dave Hearn from Mischief Theatre.
- Casting Young Performers for Screen with casting director Daniel Edwards, young performer Billy Barratt and his mum, performer Carolyn Owlett.
- Managing Anxiety and Stress with mental health and wellbeing expert Bea Grist.
- How Directors and Writers Collaborate in Theatre with Playwright Ella Hickson and Director Natalie Abrahami.
- Surviving an Edinburgh Fringe Run with Barely Methodical Troupe.
- Taking a Solo Show to Edinburgh Fringe with performers Sadie Clark, Isabelle Kabban and Katie Guicciardi.
- Pros and Cons of Having Multiple Agents with young performer expert Ellie Samuels.
- Producing Theatre with Producer Francesca Moody.
- How Parents of Young Performers and Agents Work Together with agent Michelle Kirby and parent of a young performer, Diane Zetterstrom.
- How to Crowdfund with Kickstarter’s Gemma Seltzer.
- Performer’s Working Rights, Pay and Tax with Alan Lean and Stephen Duncan-Rice from Equity.
- Addressing Safety, Bullying and Harassment in the Performing Arts with Equity’s former President Maureen Beattie, intimacy coordinator Ita O’Brien and casting director Wendy Spon.
- Getting Theatre Work for Young Performers with casting director Verity Naughton.
- Telling Your LGBTQ+ Story on Screen with filmmaker Simon Wegrzyn.
- Mental Health Support for Actors with Addam Merali-Younger, Equity’s former Bullying, Harassment and Mental Health Assistant.
- How to Start Writing with Write Like A Grrrl founder Kerry Ryan.
- Voice and Accent Work with Italia Conti’s Head of Voice Nina Zendejas.
- Success in Commercial Casting Auditions with casting director Alex Wheeler.
- Make Money with Your Actor’s Transferable Skills with performer and Performance Link co-founder Sarah Thurstan.
- Making Ensemble-Led Devised Theatre Work with The PappyShow.
- Cultivating Your Creative Passion with casting director and producer Esta Charkham.
- Revamping Your Acting Career with performer career consultant Emma Dyson.
- What to Include in Your Actor Showreel with audiovisual expert Nicholas Peel.
- Young Performer Rights and Licensing with Child Employment Officer Lucy Jones.
- Preparing for Auditions with an Accent with voice and accent coach Josh Mathieson.
- What Makes for a Good Actor’s Headshot? with Spotlight profile expert Kate Poynton.
- Making Your Own Film Work with Matthew Jacobs Morgan and Laura Kirwan-Ashman.
- Getting an Agent as a Young Performer with young performer experts Ellie Samuels and Mel Brown.
- How to Self-Tape on Your Phone with audio-visual expert Nicholas Peel.
- How to Make Innovative Theatre with Dante or Die.
- How Open Door Helps Young People Get into Acting with David Mumeni.
