S2 Ep9: Drama School Isn’t the Only Door

S2 Ep9: Drama School Isn’t the Only Door

In this solo episode of The Drama Coach Podcast, I’m following on from my conversation with Ethan and Katie, who are studying Drama, Theatre and Performance at the University of Lincoln, to talk about something I think a lot of young performers need to hear: Drama school isn’t the only door. This is not an anti-drama-school episode. Drama school can be brilliant for the right person, at the right time, on the right course. But it is not the only valid route into acting, theatre, performance or the creative industries. For young performers, the pressure to find “the route” can feel huge. Drama school auditions, recalls, rejections, university choices, gap years, training options and comparison can all become overwhelming. This episode is here to offer a calmer, more honest perspective. In this episode, I talk about: * Why there is no single perfect route into acting * The pressure young performers can feel around drama school * Why not getting into drama school does not mean you are not talented * How “not yet” is different from “never” * Why university drama can be a brilliant and valid option * The value of making work, devising, writing, directing and collaborating * Why actors need life experience, curiosity and resilience * How to make any route active, not passive * The comparison trap for young performers and parents * Why the route matters less than what you do with it This episode is especially useful for older teens, parents of young performers, drama students, university applicants, drama school applicants, gap year students and anyone feeling unsure, disappointed or behind in their acting journey. This episode is sponsored by SceneTribe - the new network for the creative industries. SceneTribe is built around your credits, your collaborations and the work you’ve actually done, helping performers, crew, creatives, agents and producers build profiles and discover opportunities through real creative connections. https://scenetribe.com/ Follow The Drama Coach: Instagram: @thedramacoach TikTok: @thedramacoach YouTube: The Drama Coach Website: thedramacoach.co.uk If this episode helped you breathe a little bit, please share it with a young performer or parent who needs to hear that there is more than one door.

S2 Ep8: Drama at University: Is It a Serious Route?

In this episode of The Drama Coach Podcast, I’m joined by Katie and Ethan, who are both studying Drama, Theatre and Performance at the University of Lincoln. This is a really honest conversation about what drama at university is actually like - from choosing a course, moving away from home and making friends, to dealing with pressure, comparison, rejection and the big question of whether drama school is the only “serious” route into the industry. Katie and Ethan speak brilliantly about finding a course that felt right for them, why university drama can offer a broader experience, and how studying drama can build confidence, communication skills, independence and resilience - whether you go on to act professionally or take those skills into another path. We talk about: * Why Katie and Ethan chose university drama instead of drama school * Whether drama school is still seen as “the route” * The pressure young performers can feel when choosing their next step * What their course actually involves day to day * Screen acting, Shakespeare, devised work and performance modules * Moving away from home and growing in independence * Making friends and building a support system at university * Rejection, comparison and staying resilient * Why there is no single path into acting * Side jobs, finances and staying realistic * Advice for teens considering drama at university * Advice for parents supporting those big decisions This episode is especially useful for teen performers, young actors, parents of young performers, and anyone wondering whether drama at university can be a valuable and meaningful route. As always, this is about building confidence, understanding and realistic expectations - whether you’re a young performer or a parent supporting one. Guest Links / Follow University of Lincoln - Drama, Theatre and Performance: https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/course/drathfub/ [https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/course/drathfub/] Ethan TikTok: @et.armour Follow The Drama Coach Podcast for honest conversations about acting, auditions, training, confidence and the industry - for young performers and the people supporting them. The Drama Coach: https://www.thedramacoach.co.uk [https://www.thedramacoach.co.uk] Instagram / TikTok / YouTube: @TheDramaCoach Music: Soft Music 495878 by nastelbom, Pixabay.

S2 Ep7: Your Voice Is Part of Your Acting Kit

In this solo episode of The Drama Coach Podcast, I’m following on from my conversation with Rosie Stancliffe, also known online as the Geordie Voice Coach, to talk about why your voice is such an important part of your acting kit. For actors, your voice is not just about being loud. It’s about breath, body, clarity, thought, emotion and connection. Whether you’re preparing for a drama class, LAMDA exam, school production, self-tape, audition or performance, your voice needs care and attention. So often, young performers only think about their voice when something goes wrong - they lose it, strain it, rush, go quiet, or shout instead of projecting. This episode is a practical reminder that looking after your voice is part of being a performer. In this episode, I talk about: * Why voice work is about more than volume * The difference between projecting and shouting * How nerves can affect the voice * Why the voice lives in the body * Common mistakes young performers make with voice * Rushing, dropping line endings and disconnecting from meaning * Why warm-ups matter before auditions, rehearsals and performances * A simple pre-performance voice routine * How parents can support vocal care without becoming voice coaches * Why young performers need to treat their voice with respect This episode is especially useful for young actors, parents, drama students, LAMDA learners, musical theatre performers and anyone preparing for auditions, exams, rehearsals or live performance. This episode is sponsored by SceneTribe - the new network for the creative industries. SceneTribe helps actors, performers, voice artists, crew and creatives build beautiful profiles around their credits, collaborations and creative journey. Find out more: https://scenetribe.com/ Follow The Drama Coach: Instagram: @thedramacoach TikTok: @thedramacoach YouTube: The Drama Coach Website: thedramacoach.co.uk If this episode is useful, please follow, subscribe, leave a review or share it with a young performer who needs a reminder to look after their voice.

S2 Ep6: Finding Your Voice as a Young Performer

In this episode of The Drama Coach Podcast, I’m joined by Rosie Stancliffe, an actor and voice coach from Tyne and Wear, also known online as Geordie Voice Coach. This conversation is a brilliant deep dive into what voice training actually is, why it matters for young actors, and how performers can build vocal confidence without feeling they have to lose who they are. We talk about breath, resonance, articulation, tension, accent, identity, drama school preparation, vocal health, and how voice work connects so closely to truthful acting. Rosie also shares practical exercises that young performers can try safely at home, including ways to explore resonance, support articulation, release jaw tension and begin looking after the voice more thoughtfully. We also discuss accent bias, regional voices, authenticity, and why accents are not just something to “put on”, but are deeply connected to identity, culture and lived experience. Rosie speaks beautifully about helping performers lean into their own sounds rather than feeling they need to smooth themselves out or change who they are. Voice practitioners discussed in this episode include: Cicely Berry, David Carey and Rebecca Clark Carey, Barbara Houseman Jessica Wolfe - https://www.jessicawolfartofbreathing.com/the-art-of-breathing [https://www.jessicawolfartofbreathing.com/the-art-of-breathing] Rosie Stancliffe website: https://www.rosiestancliffe.com/ [https://www.rosiestancliffe.com/] TikTok: @GeordieVoiceCoach Instagram: @georgievoicecoach Follow @TheDramaCoach for more acting tips and podcast clips. Find links, resources and coaching here: https://linktr.ee/TheDramaCoach [https://linktr.ee/TheDramaCoach] Music: Soft Music 495878 by nastelbom (Pixabay)

S2 Ep5: Could Voice Acting Be Part of Your Acting Journey?

In this solo episode of The Drama Coach Podcast, I’m following on from my conversation with Kate Harbour to explore whether voice acting could be part of a young performer’s acting journey. Voice acting isn’t just about doing funny voices - it’s still acting. It asks for imagination, clarity, character, listening, truth and play. Whether your child loves animation, audiobooks, gaming, storytelling or character work, voice acting can be a brilliant way to build confidence and develop useful performance skills. This episode is not about becoming a professional voice actor overnight. It’s about getting curious, trying things out, and discovering what voice work can teach you as an actor. In this episode, I talk about: * Why voice acting is still acting * The difference between “doing a voice” and creating a character * How voice work can help performers feel freer and less self-conscious * Why clarity, pace, imagination and intention matter * Simple ways to explore voice acting at home * How recording yourself can become a useful acting tool * Why voice acting is playful - but still requires craft * A gentle reality check about professional voice work * How voice work can support confidence, storytelling and character skills This episode is especially useful for young actors, parents of young performers, drama students, voice-curious performers, and anyone wondering how voice acting might fit into wider actor training. This episode is sponsored by SceneTribe - the new network for the creative industries. SceneTribe helps actors, voice artists, performers, crew, creatives, agents and producers build profiles around the work they’ve actually done, the credits they’ve built, and the people they’ve collaborated with. Find out more at scenetribe.com Follow The Drama Coach: Instagram: @thedramacoach TikTok: @thedramacoach YouTube: The Drama Coach Website: thedramacoach.co.uk If this episode helps you think differently about voice acting, please follow, subscribe, leave a review or share it with another young performer or parent.