Does acting attract, create & save emotional wrecks?

When we look in at the world of entertainment we often think about the fame, trappings and opportunities that it can bestow. However this is only part of the picture. Starting, progressing and surviving as a singer, actor, performer can be a tough emotional roller-coaster. For those who achieve a great deal in it, it can bring additional challenges. The challenge of making it in your career can be replaced by maintaining it all in your career. There can be personal, emotional, spiritual as well as vocational challenges.

It’s an area quite close to my heart as I first trained as a coach following my time in media and then as a singer-songwriter. During my time as a singer-songwriter I met so many singers and other performers who struggled with confidence, career and other issues that I retrained as a coach…first working with singers/ entertainers and then branching out to work with people of all backgrounds.

Last week I caught up with Claire Schrader, a former actress and playwrite who now works as a drama therapist and is author of ‘Ritual Theatre’ a book that explores the healing power of drama. Following our general chat about drama and healing, which you can also view on my blog, I put the camera back on to explore the emotional challenges that actors and performers can face. Here’s our chat.