The Research
When I first asked that question back in 2017 I expected to be directed to a set of guidelines, some research, probably a few books on the subject. Instead I found that the answer was simple: we know very little.
Since starting my PhD I have found myself engaging with practitioners, clinicians, and researchers from all over the world, trying to get a picture of how we navigate the complexities that an embodied practice such as acting presents.
It became clear to me very quickly that this work is only the start. What I and many colleagues experience when acting is intimately tied to what our colleagues have to deal with, and many of their mental health experiences have never been examined in research. Directors, stage managers, agents, casting directors, designers… there are so many people who deal with the challenges of creative practice with very little support or guidance.
It has been exciting to see things starting to change, and to be part of that change. At the heart of this is the hope that the young performers I help train will enter into an industry that is better equipped, better informed, and more willing to ensure people are not harmed by their work, and that those of us who enter the workplace with pre-existing needs are not discriminated against.
There is a lot of work to do.
Thank you for taking the time to look at what we’re doing, for taking part, or for sharing it with your colleagues. What we learn here will feed into a growing understanding of what needs to change for people to be safe and included in our creative workplaces. We can do so, so much better. We just have to figure out how.
The structure of the research
This project is being carried out in several phases, with each phase shaping the next. This is called an iterative research project.
The idea behind this is to make sure that the research is being guided by the people whose experiences are being investigated so that any findings reflect those experiences as accurate as possible. Hopefully this will also make any results more useful as well.
The project is also carefully designed to allow people to take part confidentially or anonymously. We are very aware that the nature of acting work can mean actors come under a lot of scrutiny from the public and their peers, and that many feel that talking about these kinds of challenges put them at risk of discrimination. It has been a priority to ensure that no-one is put at risk by taking part.
Phase One: Survey
The SURVEY is currently open
This research starts with a survey in order to get an overview of what actors are experiencing. It is designed to build on existing work, filling in a few gaps and enriching what we know. It asks questions in both medicalised and non-medicalised terms, so both what diagnoses you might have received and space for you to use your own language. This is very important to some people, particularly those with severe, complex, and enduring mental health challenges.
Some of the questions can be quite challenging so please take care of yourself while you are taking the survey.
Phase Two: Delphi Study
A Delphi Study is a kind of consensus study, which means it aims for a group of people to come to agreement about the answers to a series of questions. It normally involves 10-20 people, and is run online. For this project the initial questions will be developed from the results of the survey in phase one. Once the questions are known participants with relevant experience and knowledge will be invited to take part.
Phase Two is NOT underway yet, but if you would like to be considered as a participant for this stage of the research please CONTACT ME and I will let you know when we get started. Please be aware that the nature of a Delphi Study allows specific answers to be given anonymously, but participants are known to the researcher.
Phase Three: Workshop
The final phase of the project is to bring what’s been identified into the room. The exact nature of the workshop will be developed from the first two phases. Once the topic and design are in place participants with relevant experience and knowledge will be invited to take part.
Phase Three is NOT underway yet, but if you would like to be considered as a participant for this stage of the research please CONTACT ME and I will let you know when we get started. Please be aware that the nature of a workshop means participation cannot be anonymous, though what people share in the room may still be anonymised for publication.
Sharing what we learn
This research is being undertaken as part of a PhD so it will be written up into a thesis and made available through MMU. This is expected to be completed in the second half of 2027.
To find out about other ways we are sharing what we learn from this work please have a look at our News pages.