first person

102 articles
Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Between Acting Jobs: Cultivating Creativity and Self-Development

Build a Creative Routine That Survives the Downtime. We actors need to be creative and well-rounded to do our work. However, the nature of our work means that we are, quite often, unemployed. The lack of work sometimes takes a toll on our creativity and development, just like an abandoned garden gathers lots of dead […]

first person
john currivan
mental health
Self-Employment
Between Acting Jobs: Staying Afloat with Your Side-Gig

John Currivan talks us through the importance of the side-gig – and how to make sure it helps keep you afloat between acting jobs! The performance industry can feel like a wide, lonely ocean. When we’re working, it feels like we’ve hopped onto a luxury cruise liner; we can barely feel the boat rocking. When […]

finances/legal
first person
wellbeing
Getting Work
How to Create Your Own Screen Work

Step-by-Step Guide to Filming Your Own Showreel Content: Jacobs Morgan gives us the low-down on creating your own filmed work If you have a good idea and an iPhone/camera, then the world’s your oyster… Matthew Jacobs Morgan Now is a very exciting time. We have the ability to be autonomous; to make our own content […]

film
first person
making work
Self-Employment
Producing for the Fringe: The Not-So-Sexy Essentials

Spotlight’s own Ilayda Arden on the essential but not-so-sexy parts of the Fringe: planning, finances and admin Ahhh, The Edinburgh Fringe. The daddy of all arts festivals. The one that ‘You Have to Do Before You Die’ (as people kept telling me years ago). But for performers who want to try their hand at taking […]

edinburgh fringe
first person
ilayda arden
The Industry
How to Prepare Safely for Intimate Scenes

Ita O’Brien asks, “How do you navigate the intimate and sexual content serving the director’s vision while keeping you safe?” There is a fine line between being open or being vulnerable; the shift can happen in a moment. This work demands vigilance, presence and mindfulness in order to stay on the right side of doing […]

auditions
first person
ita o'brien
Getting Work
Dance Auditions: Facing Your Dance Call-back Fear

Ever wanted to ‘get that show’, but didn’t want to deal with the dance call? Jenny Patrone talks through overcoming dance audition fears and how to use the skills you have to your advantage. Dance isn’t just about high kicks and pirouettes. It improves posture, mental health and the benefits are endless. Jenny Patrone Even […]

auditions
dance
first person
The Industry
Don’t Just Be Reasonable: How to Integrate Disabled Performers

Don’t just be “reasonable” says Amelia Cavallo, dissecting the steps you need to consider to create truly inclusive work on stage [In the Equalities Act] there is one sticky phrase, which is “reasonable accommodation”… The problem with this phrase is that there is nothing specific about what is considered reasonable and what isn’t. This makes […]

amelia cavallo
diversity/inclusivity
first person
The Industry
LGBTQ+ Talent: The Importance of Inclusion

Matthew Jacobs Morgan on the difficulties faced by aspiring performers from the LGBTQ+ community, and how role models will aid inclusion and representation Note: I sometimes use the word queer as a shorthand for LGBTQ+ It’s extremely important to have role models who are like you. And the fact that there are so few LGBTQ+ role […]

diversity/inclusivity
first person
matthew jacobs morgan
Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Post-Audition Self Care

Matthew Jacobs Morgan on the things you can do to show yourself some compassion post audition… As part of our series on mental health this Mental Health Awareness Week, here is performer and filmmaker Matthew Jacobs Morgan on the importance of self-care (and how to do it well!) after you’ve had that all important audition. If you’re busy […]

auditions
first person
matthew jacobs morgan
Lifestyle & Wellbeing
An Actor’s Guide to Motivating Yourself Through Uncertainty

Katie Redford offers the advice you need to get through the inevitable uncertainty of the acting world… Accept that you feel uncertain and give yourself credit for doing so. Trying to fight against it and worrying about things that haven’t even happened yet won’t make things any easier. Katie Redford For those of you who […]

first person
katie redford
mental health