Trigger warning - explicit sexual violence threat reference at 23 mins. Weight discussion also occurs.

Four time Olivier Award nominee Emma Williams joins the podcast this week to discuss what it's like being on tour with Top Hat, away from her 6 year old daughter, Izzy.

Emma was so generous with her time and we managed to cover so much in the chat, including how she copes with being away, how difficult her pregnancy and post partum period was, and the industry's body image pressures.

We ended up chatting about the challenges and empowerment associated with nudity in performance, the impact of COVID-19 on career and family, the financial strain and work-life balance of an acting career, the joy of comedy and variety in roles, and the mental load of motherhood.

You can find Emma online @williamstweet

Original music by Steve Rushton

Chapters

• 00:00 Balancing Career and Parenthood
• 06:03 Challenges of Parenthood in the Theatre Industry
• 12:00 Challenges of Returning to Work After Childbirth
• 18:07 Body Image and Industry Pressures
• 31:29 Impact of COVID-19 on Career and Family
• 45:37 Work-Life Balance and Financial Concerns
• 51:28 Parenting in the Digital Age
• 58:24 The Pursuit of Creative Endeavors
• 01:03:29 Challenges and Realities of the Acting Industry
• 01:14:31 The Impact of Self-Tape Auditions

Chiara has appeared in Sweeney Todd, Jerry Springer the Opera, Legally Blonde and Sister Act amongst many other shows. In this conversation we discuss what it was like for her to perform in Come From Away at 37 weeks pregnant and how well the company treated her and any adaptations that were made to accommodate the pregnancy.

Chiara was in a same sex relationship for many years and explains her fertility journey, along with her wife at the time. She is now navigating single parenthood and expresses how difficult it can be to make the decision to be in a show when you are the main caregiver at home.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Trigger Warnings
• 06:19 Performing While Pregnant
• 13:31 Professional Challenges and Pregnancy Experience
• 26:56 Career and Family Balance

Original music by Steve Rushton

Marianne has appeared in Chicago, We Will Rock You, Cats and The Wizard of Oz amongst many other productions. She's most well known for her incredible portrayal of Mrs Wormwood in the RSC's production of Matilda the Musical, where she performed up to 5 months pregnant and then came back to join the production after the birth of her son.

This conversation delves into the unique challenges of job sharing in the theatre industry, highlighting the financial impact, logistics, and work-life balance. It also explores the decision-making process and challenges faced during pregnancy and career in the theatre industry, as well as the experience of returning to work and coping with personal loss and vocal health issues.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Job Sharing and Theatre Industry
• 09:40 Challenges and Decisions in Pregnancy and Career in Theatre Industry
• 19:24 Returning to Work and Coping with Personal Loss
• 31:16 Balancing Parenthood and Work
• 40:08 The Job Share Opportunity
• 54:36 Embracing Job Sharing in the Theatre Industry

Original music by Steve Rushton

Emma has appeared in Kinky Boots, Sister Act, Wind in the Willows and is currently Alternate Donna in Mamma Mia in the West End. In this conversation she covers the challenges of maintaining a career while raising her son, Bruno and her experience of pregnancy and childbirth. The conversation also delves into the unique experience of being a stepparent and highlights the importance of support and flexibility in the industry.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Career Balancing Act
• 31:13 Parenting Challenges and Sleep Training
• 45:34 Being a Stepparent and Balancing Work
• 58:09 Pursuing Career and Parenthood

@emmasingsitall

Original music by Steve Rushton

Lauren has many theatre credits including Gypsy, Sister Act, Mamma Mia and 42nd St. After having her daughter, Robyn, she decided to open up the conversation of job sharing and why flexible working can be beneficial for working parents and carers.

This conversation delves into the challenges of parenting and working in the theatre industry, with a focus on job sharing as a solution. Lauren shares her journey to motherhood, the complications she faced during pregnancy, and the experience of returning to work. We discuss the need for openness to change in the theatre industry and explore the impact of rehearsal schedules on childcare, the importance of creating a supportive company culture, and the balancing act of returning to work while raising a family.

Lauren can be found @lauren_k_hall

Also mentioned in the episode @applauseforthought and @pipacampaign

@showbizmums

This conversation covers the challenges of juggling a career in theatre with motherhood, including the impact of pregnancy on career, the journey of pregnancy and its impact on the industry, the challenges of labour and postpartum, returning to work, and the experience of touring with a newborn baby. Steph delves into the challenges of parenting while on an international tour, the postpartum experience and recovery, the process of returning to work and achieving work-life balance, and the advocacy for parental support in the industry.

Takeaways

• Juggling career and motherhood
• Challenges of pregnancy and postpartum
• Navigating work and parenting responsibilities Resilience
• Challenges of international touring with a baby

You can find Steph online @thatstephparry

@showbizmums

Original music by Steve Rushton

Showbiz Mums - Introduction