Join us for a series of expert-led workshops to support actors and stage management professionals in building skills for improved mental health and sustainable creative practice. The sessions are facilitated by experienced practitioners who regularly work with performing artists.
Each of the six sessions focuses on a specific challenge, practical techniques for self-care, and support strategies. Each session works as a one-off or you can join all six.
Best of all, these workshops will be held online, so you can join from the comfort of your own home (and feel free to have your camera on or off as you prefer!).
Managing Stress, Anxiety & Burnout
Coping With Rejection
Navigating Alcohol and Substance Use
Embodiment, Body Image and Self Esteem
Respect, Rapport and Boundaries at Work and Beyond
Vocal Health
This session focuses on evidence-based practical skills and draws from performance experience, research findings, psychology, and proven vocal health clinical pathways. Participants will learn how to avoid vocal problems and identify the signs and symptoms if they do occur, how to manage issues, promote good health, and where to go for help.
- What can cause vocal problems
- Avoiding vocal overload
- Practical tips for taking care of your voice
- When and where to get help
Facilitator: Sally Dennis, speech and language therapist
Sally Dennis is a HCPC and RCSLT registered and BAPAM approved Voice Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) with 20 years of clinical experience working with people experiencing voice difficulties, injuries and disorders. She has a particular interest in voice therapy and vocal rehabilitation for the Professional Voice User, seeing patients in the NHS and in her private practice in Altrincham, Liverpool and Manchester. In her role as Voice lead at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust she works closely with ENT laryngology colleagues seeing patients in specialist diagnostic laryngoscopy voice clinics with stroboscopy including a BAPAM recognised dedicated specialist voice clinic for singers, performers and professional voice users together with Singing Rehabilitation Coach Carrie Birmingham.
She regularly attends SLT, ENT, BVA and BLA conferences and courses for keeping updated on voice care practices, and has contributed by sharing her work on treatment endoscopy and service delivery models. She has presented on accent method for vocal health at the 2024 Autumn AOTOS conference and is guest lecturer at the Royal Northern College of Music presenting on vocal mechanics and vocal health for studying performers.
Actors’ Trust
The entertainment industry can be a collaborative, creative and exciting one, but it can, at times, be isolating and insecure. Actors’ Trust (which used to be known as the Actors’ Benevolent Fund) is here to provide a place of community and support for actors and stage management through our range of grants and wellbeing services.
We’ve been supporting industry professionals across sound, stage and screen since 1882. Today, we continue to make the greatest possible difference to a community that brings so much meaning and inspiration to others.
Whether you are in need of help or would like to support us, we are here and would love to hear from you.
Find out more at: www.actorstrust.org.uk
or follow us on Instagram @actorstrust
Actors’ Trust is supported by our Royal Patron, His Majesty King Charles III
Actors’ Trust is the working name of The Actors’ Benevolent Fund
BAPAM
The British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) is the largest provider of clinical services to the UK’s performing arts sector, working with actors, music creators, performers, production professionals, dancers and other creative practitioners. The charity provides free, bespoke clinical advice and care from expert clinicians in a range of disciplines, responding to requests for help with mental health, musculoskeletal care, vocal health, hearing concerns and some eye care and dental health issues. With expertise gained in evidence-based practice and research in the field, BAPAM’s free workshops and online resources share knowledge and skills to support good health and sustainable creative careers.
Find out more at www.bapam.org.uk