Whaddup. I'm a performer (currently in Fawlty Towers in the West End). AND I run a business. Because art and commerce can exist together. Quite successfully, in fact. If you're an audience-facing professional, and you want the tips, tricks and techniques used by theatre performers all over the world, then this is the place for you. This is where you get confident, you get charisma, and you start owning the room in a whole new way. This is Showing Up 2.0. It's a vibe.
We must have art
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GOOD MORNING, Reader! It's been a couple of weeks! But I am back. I can't say I'm raring to go. That would be a lie and I'd never lie to you. I'm more...in tabletop position to go. Like a horse would be if it wasn't raring. I've been in South Africa for two weeks and it's been absolutely wonderful - but also pretty full-on with family and friends and commitments and dinners and mini-breaks to the bush. Now, I'm back in London, the Fawlty Towers tour has kicked off in Bromley, and I'm planning a very intimate networking event and workshop for 24 October - more on this later. BUT FIRST.... WE MUST HAVE ART! At her Stripped concert, Christina Aguilera performed Etta James's At Last. It is mesmeric. Love her or hate her, you can't deny that Aguilera's vocals are kind of insane. Powerful. Unique. From a place deep inside her body. Watch this video, and listen to the rooted-ness of her voice. Listen to how she sings the long long melody lines. Think about the breath control that takes. The end of the song, specifically, is one of the most astonishing moments of live singing I've ever heard (at 4:08) When you speak in front of an audience, you need to access a similar rootedness in your voice. You need to have similar breath control. When you have that, all kinds of things start to happen:
I'm going to be putting all kinds of exercises up on a YouTube channel soon, so that you can increase your lung capacity and your breath control. So, watch this space! And now...an intimate gathering... A friend of mine asked me recently why I'm raising money for Gaza. What about the hostages, she said. What about other war-torn areas, she asked. Here's the thing: Choose Love supports war torn areas across the world. Not just Gaza. It helps people in Sudan, Ukraine and Mayanmar. All the details are here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/networking-and-audience-facing-masterclass-24-october-2025-tickets-1616965199439?aff=oddtdtcreator Ash. |
Behind the Curtain
Whaddup. I'm a performer (currently in Fawlty Towers in the West End). AND I run a business. Because art and commerce can exist together. Quite successfully, in fact. If you're an audience-facing professional, and you want the tips, tricks and techniques used by theatre performers all over the world, then this is the place for you. This is where you get confident, you get charisma, and you start owning the room in a whole new way. This is Showing Up 2.0. It's a vibe.
One of the most important things I learned when I was studying voice and performance is this: If your knees are locked, your voice is locked. And it's true. When you stand in front of an audience, take notice of what your knees are doing. If they're locked - I can guarantee you that your voice will be locked too. Here's why: Locking your knees shifts your weight and can lead to shallow breathing. When this happens, it can restrict the proper use of your diaphragm for breath support. And if...
You can listen to this email here: We Must Have Art Apartheid.mp3 I don't have a specific piece of art for you today, Reader. I'm sorry. Rather, I have some musings on why it's so important that we HAVE art. So, I'm going to try and share that with you coherently, on a day, and at a time when I don't feel very coherent at all. I feel quite sad and overwhelmed and helpless. Here we go... I grew up during Apartheid in South Africa. It was a very dark time, the '80s. We really were on the brink...
👂👂👂 You can listen to this email here: We Must Have Art Jack Nicholson.mp3 --- There are three major moments in film history that I LOVE. They are POWER. The first is Gandalf in The Fellowship of the Ring. He turns to face the Balrog on the Bridge of Khazad-dûm in Moria. And he commands, from deep within his soul..."You shall not pass!" It's probably the most iconic moment from all three of the films. The second is a simple, polysyllabic utterance from Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman, but...