My guest today is AWFC member Simon Ward

www.simonward.info

Simon is a psychologist, musician, actor and educator based in Sydney, Australia. 

He trained at the Royal Academy of Music in the UK in musical theatre & voice, and with the Actors Centre Australia. He is an accredited Estill Master Trainer with Estill Voice International. Simon has performed in and directed musicals in London’s West End, on the BBC, and in cabaret in London & New York City. He has toured throughout Australia in musicals, plays, opera and extensively in cabaret. In addition to a busy performing and directing schedule, Simon gained four psychology degrees and works as a Clinical Psychologist with young people and creative arts professionals, and is a founding Wellbeing Committee member for Media Entertainment and Arts Association (MEAA). Simon is a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts, and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, a member of the Australian Psychological Society, and is Vice President of International Representatives for the Music Theatre Educator’s Alliance. Simon lectures in singing & voice at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts; and in musical theatre, singing, and psychology for performers on a range of acting, music theatre and dance courses around Australia. He regularly presents and consults on psychosocial wellbeing in the creative arts industries and higher education, in voice science and psychology, mental health for teachers and health workers for various performer health organisations internationally.

In conversing with Simon, I felt I only scraped the surface of his wealth of knowledge and expertise hearing him talk about the art of cabaret, the craft of using self as a foundation for character, and the psychology behind audience interaction and containment.   

My guest today is AWFC member Andrea Rankin (she/her)
https://www.andrearankin.ca/

Andrea is an artist, educator, facilitator, and coach whose work bridges the performing arts, trauma-informed pedagogy, and relational learning. As an actor, singer, and songwriter, Andrea has performed leading roles across Canada, including four seasons at the Stratford Festival in both new works and classical productions. A graduate of the Stratford Festival’s Birmingham Conservatory, Andrea holds a BFA in Acting from the University of Alberta and a Master of Teaching degree from the University of Toronto, where her SSHRC-funded research focused on trauma-informed drama education. In 2025, Andrea co-founded the Trauma-Informed Arts Institute, a professional learning space for artists, educators, and arts leaders, where she facilitates workshops on applying trauma-informed frameworks within artistic and educational settings. Additionally, she currently serves as Professional Learning and Development Leader at the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association. 

We discussed the future of actor and director education, emphasizing the need for self-advocacy tools, communication skills, and proactive well-being strategies.  And one question that begged asking was why actors are willing to subject themselves to unhealthy behaviour in pursuit of their craft?

My Guest today is AWFC member Corey Tazmania

https://coreytazmania.weebly.com/

Corey is a New York based artist whose work intersects movement, performance, pedagogy, and artist Rx strategies. 

As an educator, Corey has taught intimacy, text, movement, and clown at various Universities throughout the Greater Toronto Area, and the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey.

As an actor, she has worked off-broadway, regionally, Toronto, and her work for conceptual artists has been exhibited internationally.

As an intimacy and movement artist, Corey has collaborated with creatives in academic and professional theatre in  Alberta, Ontario, and New York. 

Her choreography received an Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award nomination.

Corey is passionate about creating performance work that focuses on emotional community building which fosters a creative culture of mutual support, 

including her ongoing project, The Clown Grievances which connects ritual catharsis with the art of complaint using clown play, laughter yoga and somatic tools for adults and families. 

We mainly discussed her passion for her clown grievances project and the themes of play and agency for both young people and elders. And our inherent uniqueness that was once a burden in our younger years but is now a blessing.

Our guest today is Graham D’Souza.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/graham-d-souza-958739145/

With a lifetime devoted to the study and performance of the human voice, Graham has over 14 years of professional experience in Voice, Speech, and Literature Studies. Born and bred in Mumbai, India, Graham’s vocation began with a stammer in childhood. Eventually gaining fluency along the way, he went on to work with people across professions including actors across the country. For over 3 years in India, Graham also worked as a speech consultant with NGO’s for the financially underprivileged community in Mumbai. 

In 2020 Graham suffered three consecutive near fatal brain seizures. After months in hospital he made a full recovery. He then found his way to London, where he completed his master's degree and worked across the UK. Graham went on to teach at 13 institutions in 3 years, teaching Voice, Speech Therapy, Literature, and Rhetoric. After 5 years abroad, he finds himself back in Mumbai, with renewed purpose-he founded GramoVox, a praxis of Voice Studies through Communication and Literature.
Graham holds an MFA in Voice Studies from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and a clinical qualification in Vocal Manual Therapy.

Our conversation was a special one for me and Nicole and you’ll find out why when you listen. Graham is much wiser than his years with a passion for teaching that is as inspiring as it is effective. 

Our Guest today is AWFC member Lucy Skilbeck

https://beingwithhorses.co.uk/

Lucy is the Collaborative Projects Lead at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (formerly she was Director of Actor Training for 10 years), she is also a theatre director, coach and equine-facilitated psychotherapist. With over 30 years experience as a director and acting teacher and coach, working in the UK, US, Australia and Europe, and after 10 years running the acting programme at RADA, she has developed a creative practice of reflective enquiry, active curiosity, and playful rigour. She integrates wellbeing into her creative practice, supporting actors to fully explore their potential safely. Additionally, she offers equine-facilitated actor training, Act Like a Horse, and has an equine therapy and personal coaching practice, Being With Horses.

Lucy explained some of her recent research in the field - literally - in the field - with actors and some of her observations. We started with why she felt compelled to train in Equine facilitated therapy and its connection to actor training. 

Our Guest today is AWFC member, Tom Stroud

https://emotionalfluencyproject.com/home

Tom is an award-winning  choreographer with over 40 years of experience in the field. He has performed and toured with companies across Canada and his works have been commissioned and presented by companies, festivals, and presenters coast to coast. For 14 years he was Artistic Director of Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers (WCD) where he spearheaded national and international collaborations that resulted in residencies and performances in Canada, the United States and Mexico. 

In 2005 Tom joined the faculty of the Department of Theatre and Film at the University of Winnipeg.  He currently holds the position of Senior Scholar at the Department of Theatre and Film. His research examines emotion science, embodiment, and the actor’s creative process in contemporary performance practice.

In 2012 Tom began training in the Emotional Effector Patterns under the guidance of master teacher Laura Bond. He is currently an Emotional Body Lead Instructor and a certified Alba teacher. 

Tom shared his journey from restless youth to discovering where he belongs, and how teaching the science and practice of Emotional Fluency Training for Actors keeps him in a joyful place he calls home. 

Our Guest today is AWFC member Joseph Ari'el Towne

https://www.theperformersmindset.com/home

Joseph is an actor, writer, performance coach, and educator with over 30 years of on-camera experience. Known for his dynamic enthusiasm and ability to get to the heart of performance, he has coached actors, on-camera talent, athletes and C suite executives.

As the CEO and Co-Founder of The Performer’s Mindset, he’s taught at USC & UCLA (Los Angeles) Vancouver Film School, Lehman College (NYC), and has been in residency at both George Brown College (Toronto) and Savannah College of Art and Design (in both Savannah and Atlanta.) Most recently, he introduced mindset training at L'Université Sorbonne Nouvelle (Paris.)

Joe continues to blend art, sport, and science to help performers thrive. As the creator and host of The Better Podcast, Joe explores the nuances of creative practice and leads conversations that help us individually - and collectively - develop healthier relationships with our mind, our craft, and the world.

Among the takeaways from our conversation is you are what you eat. The relation that food has to your identity - who you are dictates what you eat… or is it, what you eat dictates who you are? He also shared his insights on how to prepare for entry into a ‘flow state’, his thoughts on fitting in, belonging and his ultimate vision.

Our guest today is AWFC member Nikki Disney

https://www.nikkidisney.com/

Nikki is a drama therapist and artist wellbeing practitioner. 

She has implemented and delivered safeguarding and wellbeing procedures, has lead on access and wellbeing for festivals and worked with artists on boundaries, trauma informed approaches and wellbeing. 

Nikki has worked with organisations such as Derby Theatre, Nottingham Playhouse, The Royal Court and The National Theatre of Scotland.  She has implemented tool kits for wellbeing in the rehearsal room and specialises in themes of trauma, mental health and autobiographical material. 

She has expertise in working with Children and Young People in the Film and Television industry with 15 years of working within therapeutic support for Young People. 

Nikki remains engaged in her artistic practice through poetry, aerial, dance and short films.

Our conversation focused on the importance of setting up rehearsal structures in theatre and in film shoots that can sustain artist well-being during the work.   

Our Guest today is AWFC member Chiara Carlotta Leonetti

https://www.chiaracarlottaleonetti.it/

Chiara worked as a dancer in various theatrical and television productions and served as assistant choreographer for two major Italian musicals. As an actress, she has performed both on stage and in film.

In parallel, she earned a degree in Clinical Psychology and is an EMDR therapist and focuses primarily on unconscious processes, integrating hypnotic and imaginative approaches into her therapeutic work. She currently runs a private practice in Milan, carries out public outreach on psychological wellbeing for actors in Italy, and provides psychological preparation for professional actors in the process of role development.

Chiara had a translater , Lisa Vampa , who added to our discussion. So it’s only fair that I should introduce her as well. 

Lisa is a Medical doctor, a specialist in Nephrology, Jungian analytical psychotherapist and healing practitioner. She has an international background that weaves together medicine, research, psychology, and performing arts. Following a six-year sabbatical dedicated to professional acting training, she began her theatre career in Milan, performing in both English and Italian. Aside from  practicing psychotherapy, she also combines her expertise in medicine, psychology, and acting by teaching Medical Communication at Humanitas University and conducting workshops on “Difficult Conversations in Medicine” for healthcare professionals.

What stood out for me in our conversation was the importance of educating psychotherapists and psychologists on the impact  of embodying a character’s psychology. It was also insightful to hear how hypnotherapy works on actors. 

Our Guest today is AWFC member Alix Sideris
https://www.alixsideris.com/

Alix is a multi-hyphenated artist; a professional actor, movement director, certified intimacy coordinator, writer, director, as well as a somatics practitioner, educator, meditation leader, intuitive body/spirit worker, and even closer to her heart, mother, partner, friend, and proud mentor to many emerging artists. 

Alix is on the board of the National Society of Intimacy Professionals, and teaches Intimacy and Consent workshops. Some recent Intimacy Professional credits include the series 11h11 for Radio Canada, All the Lost Ones for Netflix, Gwen Shamblin: Starving for Salvation for Lifetime, and Rent, Wedding Band, Much Ado About Nothing, and Hamlet all for Stratford Festival in Canada.

Her over 300 hours of present and on-going training includes a commitment to Cultural Sensitivity/Implicit Bias training; Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppression training; and Supporting Trans Actors and Creatives.

We had a focused conversation on personal development or ‘expansion’ of self and ‘uplifting humans’ to use Alix’s words. Which led to us talking about the connection between mind and body and the importance of always ‘investigating’ ourselves.