Helen Wallis' Journey: From Performer to Mentor, Building Confidence Beyond the Spotlight

From centre stage to creating stages for others, this episode of the Showbiz Side Hustle Podcast welcomes Helen Wallis, performer, choreographer, business owner, coach and founder of TADAA, The Alternative Dramatic Arts Academy. 

Grab Spotlight on Success on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spotlight-Success-Passion-Meets-Purpose/dp/B0FFH88B1C


Nicole Louise Geddes dives into Helen Wallis' journey from a captivated young girl in a village hall to international performer, choreographer, mother and entrepreneur. 

Along the way, Helen shares candid reflections on risk-taking, motherhood, grief and career reinvention, revealing how each twist shaped her path. 

Discover how performers possess more transferable skills than they realise, and how Helen found greater purpose in helping the next generation shine. Whether you're a creative considering your next pivot or simply need inspiration to reinvent yourself, this episode promises raw, powerful reminders that the end of one act is merely the beginning of another.

Chapters
00:00 Helen on Creativity and Mentorship

05:52 Encouraging a career in performance

07:25 Encouraging adaptability and reinvention

09:43 Importance of transferable skills

13:15 The joy of teaching dance

18:22 Heart-led business leadership

22:26 Finding audition songs back then

24:08 Trusting Your Gut in Business

29:20 Feeling Stuck and Finding Answers

30:40 Taking chances and finding direction

33:16 Documenting memories before smartphones

37:04 Importance of Continued Education

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🎭 Join our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Performerpreneur

📕  Download our free guide - The Dream Big Workbook!: https://ln-k.me/GKCR

🎙️ Listen to the podcast: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2386041.rss

Connect with Nicole:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Performerpreneur

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/performerpreneur

Website: https://performerpreneur.co.uk/

#ShowbizSideHustle #PerformerBusiness #CreativeEntrepreneur #performerpreneur

📕  Buy The Showbiz Side Hustle Handbook: https://ln-k.me/clGQ

🎭 Join our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Performerpreneur

📕  Download our free guide - The Dream Big Workbook!: https://ln-k.me/GKCR

🎙️ Listen to the podcast: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2386041.rss

Connect with Nicole:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Performerpreneur

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/performerpreneur

Website: https://performerpreneur.co.uk/

#ShowbizSideHustle #PerformerBusiness #CreativeEntrepreneur #performerpreneur

Transcript

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SPEAKER_00 0:00

From centre stage to creating stages for others. Today I'm joined by Helen Wallace, performer, choreographer, business owner, coach and founder of Tedub, the Alternative Dramatic Arts Academy. You can read Helen's story in the performer from her best-selling book collaboration Spotlight on Success. It begins with a young girl sitting cross-legged on the floor of a village hall, completely captivated by the magic unfolding before her. What followed was a remarkable journey spanning cruise ships, international productions, choreography, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and ultimately helping hundreds of young performers discover their own confidence and spotlight. In this week's podcast episode, we'll dive deeper into Helen's chapter, My Journey, Their Spotlight, exploring the highs and lows that shaped her path. From pursuing a career in musical theatre and working around the world to navigating grief, loss, motherhood, and major career pivots. Helen shares the lessons that taught her resilience, adaptability, and the importance of always being open to new opportunities. Want to know what it takes to reinvent yourself? Listen in because Helen shares how performers possess more transferable skills than they realise, and how she found an even greater sense of purpose when her focus shifted from standing in the spotlight herself to creating opportunities for others to shine. Today, through Tada, Performance Coaching, Choreography, and Mentoring, Helen is helping the next generation step confidently towards their dreams while building a lasting legacy of creativity, courage, and community. Welcome to the Spotlight series, where each week we meet one of the brilliant co-authors and creatives behind Spotlight on Success, the Perforpreneur book that's redefining what success looks like both in and out of the showbiz Spotlight. I'm your host here, Nicole Louise Geddis, and in these special episodes, we learn even more about the stories behind the sequence. Raw, honest, powerful reminders that the end of one act is only the beginning of another. So listen in as we chat challenges and triumphs and inspire you to shine in any spotlight you like. Please welcome the dynamic and brilliant Helen Wallace to the spotlight. Thank you so much for having me. I'm so excited for this. It's brilliant. And it's all because you jumped in to the second edition of Spotlight on Sorry Success. And actually, Helen, you were the first person to hold your hand up. You were like, I need to be involved, I need to share my story, I've got something to say. Um what was that feeling? What was that understanding? What motivated you to be part of the second edition?

SPEAKER_01 2:26

I think um the the time it came around was really poignant for me. I was taking loads of risk of doing new things. Um I was just, I just had a baby and I just started a master's, and I was like, do you know what? I've got something to say. Actually, I need to put this somewhere because loads of stuff's happened over the years, and I don't have a record of any of it. Um, and lots of the things that I've done in the past was before social media. So I don't even have any photos or any, you know, I've got I've got a diary entry from one of my jobs, and that was about it. And I thought that's this it's time to put it somewhere.

SPEAKER_00 3:03

To leave that legacy, to leave that footprint in the sand, isn't it? For I guess your children, yourself, and but also the hundreds of children that you are coaching, leading, choreographing for, mentoring through today. Um, and we're gonna touch on that as well. But yeah, perfect. I'm so glad you jumped in, Helen, because your story is captivating. Um, it takes us on such a journey because you started off pursuing a performing arts career and you've ended by building this legacy, by building this business. Um, did you always have the end in sight, or has it been a kind of risk-taking opportunity, or did you know where you wanted to go?

SPEAKER_01 3:48

Uh, definitely a risk-taking opportunity. I'm not one to kind of plan, and everything that's kind of happened has just been down to timing and it's just happened at that time. Um, even now, if you ask me what I'm gonna be doing in five years' time, I'd say I have absolutely no idea. It could go anywhere. I don't know. That's exciting though. Yeah, I've always lived like that, and I think that's just the kind of person I am that I just um don't kind of plan things through. I just kind of go, oh, that sounds great. I'll do two feet in and I'm gonna give that everything.

SPEAKER_00 4:20

Do you think that's a performer trait, or do you think that's a personal thing? And were you born with that or have you developed that?

SPEAKER_01 4:29

Oh, I think it's a bit of both. Um, my daughter does performing now, and she's definitely like that. So I don't know if that's the genetic thing or a performer thing. I don't know. She's the same as me. Lots of my friends are very similar, where they're I think with performing, you do have to take risks because you never know if you're going to get the job. So you have to go to the audition, you know, eyes closed, just hoping for the best. Um, so I think it probably is a performer trait. It's something that you kind of it grows within you as you become a performer that you have to just sort of hope for the best, take risks, um, not expect too much, and then be delighted if it comes through.

SPEAKER_00 5:04

And there's been so much opportunity and risk taking in your journey, in your story. Please do go read the chapter, Helen's chapter in the spotlight unsuccess book. But it starts with you really quite young, watching an amateur dramatic musical theatre show, but it sparked so much in you. You were certain at that age, this is what you were gonna do. Um, so congratulations, you did that. What would you say to your nine-year-old self?

SPEAKER_01 5:33

I'd say to her, it's gonna happen. You're gonna absolutely be on stage, and you're and it's gonna be as magical as what you're seeing right now.

SPEAKER_00 5:41

And do you say, presumably you do, that exact kind of word paraphrased to the the children you're teaching now? You know that it can be a dream come true.

SPEAKER_01 5:52

I yeah. So growing up, I was always told you need to have a backup plan. Performing's not a career option, it's just a hobby, blah, blah, blah. Like lots of performers are told. I tell my children the exact opposite now. So I never say to them, it's just a hobby or you need to have a backup plan. I always say to them, 100%, if you want to go to drama school, you want to be on the West End, you want to be on a cruise ship, you want to work in a holiday park, you will be able to do that. You have to work hard for it, and you have to realise it's it's not going to come easy, but you can make that happen if you put the work in.

SPEAKER_00 6:24

What do you think those defining traits are that help young performers become professionals, but equally help professional performers become entrepreneurs? Do you think they're the same, the same traits in both areas? Uh, I think they're similar.

SPEAKER_01 6:41

So you you need resilience, um, you're gonna get knockbacks, but then that to me that's life anyway. So I think that's a just a transferable skill for anyone. If we can build resilience in children young, then they're gonna be ready in adulthood to get knockbacks and come back from that really well. Um, and confidence. I think my my main goal these days is to build confidence and confidence in children. And I do that by helping them to fall in love with theatre, which is just wonderful. Um, but confidence I think gets you everywhere, anywhere you want to go. If you've got confidence in yourself, in your what you want to achieve, in your message, all of those things, then I think you can do anything you put your mind to it.

SPEAKER_00 7:25

I love that, and I say the same thing to my 11-year-old son. It's not necessarily knowing confidently what the outcome will be, but it's exactly what you've just said. It's knowing and having confidence that you can survive the challenge, that you can take the risk, that you can do the thing, and that you'll be okay. Um, and so I think it's a perfect message for the next generation, and one that I like you believe held holds us in good stead to each chapter, um, each reinvention. And in your story, you have reinvented yourself numerous times, and I'm a big advocate for that. I think you know, whose dream is the same as when they were nine? It evolves, and it's exciting to follow that next path, to do that next thing, to take that next leap. Um, you've done that repeatedly, and you were always willing to evolve. Is there any moment that stands out that you were reluctant to, or you just generally jumped and believed?

SPEAKER_01 8:25

Um the only time I was reluctant was when my dad was quite poorly, and I was always afraid of leaving him and something happening. And so I wanted to, I didn't go abroad to Cyprus until I was nearly 26. And I think I would have gone abroad a lot younger to work. Um, I always wanted, I want, I always wanted to do Camp America. I remember that really vividly, and I never ever did it because I was always worried if I left, something would happen to him because I cared for him quite a lot. Um, so my sort of from 21 to 26, I was reluctant because I was always worried that something would happen to him if I was gone. So I kept jobs really local. I was only like a car drive away rather than a flight away. Um, so I think that's the only time I was reluctant to jump two feet in. However, I think he's not here any longer, but I think he would have always said to me, Go do it, go do it, go do it. Because when I did do Cyprus, he found a way to come out to Cyprus to visit me all by himself, even though he was really poorly, because he wanted to see his daughter achieve her dreams. So I think looking back now, I probably should have done it and it would have been okay. But at the time, I just had this um like kind of not guilt but overwhelming tie to stay and look after him.

SPEAKER_00 9:43

And I think that's natural and you know it's beautiful as well because when I look at my life and when I'm working with my clients and reading stories inside the book and the chapters, that's that evolution, isn't there? There's different things that pull us in different directions at different times. And the beauty is that we have choices, we have the determination, the resilience, the excitement. And I think you know, we're always going to be pulled in different directions, but our transferable skills allow us to teach when we need to teach and be in situ. They allow us to travel and go experience new places and new and new worlds. Um, and I do put that down to those transferable skills that the performers have got, and that you're helping that next generation build that confidence, that adaptability. Um, so I, you know, I can completely resonate with that. And people listening should understand and appreciate that life life, right?

SPEAKER_01 10:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:39

So we can set out on a path and a journey, but life does life, and so to be so steadfast in one direction can be detrimental, I guess I'm trying to say. And moving through your life and the reinventions and the transitions, a motherhood would have been a big one for you.

SPEAKER_01 10:57

Yeah, motherhood was huge. Um, motherhood brought me back to the UK, um, something that I kind of I guess didn't see happening. I loved being abroad and I lived, loved travelling. Um, but to be the best mum I could be, and this is purely personal for me, I needed my mum around and I wanted to come home and be near her where she could help me and guide me and support me. And you know, motherhood for the first time is terrifying, and I wanted that support. So that brought me home to the UK, which suddenly made me go, hang on a minute, I can't be in pubs singing, and I can't be doing shows till late at night. How, how does this look now? This looks different. Um, so yeah, that was a huge pivot for me for sure.

SPEAKER_00 11:42

And what did that look like on the other side of motherhood? I know, I've read the chapter. Listeners, go grab the book, read the chapter, but just fill us in a little bit. So we've gone from performer, we've gone to we've gone abroad, we've come home, we're now a mother. What happened next for Helen?

SPEAKER_01 11:57

Uh so I decided to go back to university at the age of 30, something which I do promote to young people now. Okay, you don't have to go to uni 18, you can go later. It worked for me, it doesn't work for everyone. Um, so yeah, I was 30, went back to uni. I wanted to have um a bit more academia behind me as well. And it was at that point that I thought I think teaching is going to be the next kind of phase for me. It didn't happen immediately. I was teaching in schools while I was at uni and did my degree until uh Brooke was three, and then carried on sort of doing some freelance work. Um, but then COVID hit, and for everyone, everything changed again.

SPEAKER_00 12:41

It certainly did for everyone, but you again navigated that, reinvented, worked it out, and bought Tada, which started off with 30 students and now has over 400. I know that you have taught at Move It. I know that you choreograph around the South Coast, you're really sought after and you're doing incredible things. Do share what that success feels like and looks like in terms of what you know being in the spotlight to now being on the other side of the curtain.

SPEAKER_01 13:15

Um, so for me, it feels exactly the same. The buzz and the adrenaline I get from seeing children um do what I love as well, it feels the same. And people often ask me that, they say, Oh, you know, now you're a choreographer or a teacher, don't you miss performing? And I was like, I get I get the same buzz. The same the butt, and I truly mean that the buzz is exactly the same. Um for me, when I see especially children that when the parents come to me and say, My child would never have done that, would never have done that, and I go, but they did. And that for me is is huge. Um, so yeah, I I still actually the success is different, of course. Um, but I love now celebrating other children's success. Um, of course, my little girl, she's really into performing. I love celebrating her success. Seeing her on the stage, I get the same butterflies. I know what it feels like for her. I know exactly what it feels like to be stood in those wings. So I already have those butterflies for her, and I'm like, oh, I can feel your like first night nerves or ever, you know, she she loves that I get, I get it, and I get it wholeheartedly.

SPEAKER_00 14:22

So the chapter is My Journey There Spotlight, which is exactly what you're talking about here. And I love that I asked that question, and your answer was, I feel the same. That's you know, it's incredible. And I genuinely now you've said it, it's true, isn't it? The the feeling of success, and you know, it doesn't change, it's still butterflies, it's still excitement, it just has a different kind of output. I don't know, a different place that it stems from. Um, and you describe your children with such heart, such love. And when I say children, I don't just mean your own children, I mean your whole Tadar community. They are and feel like your children. You talk about them in the book, and you talk about how you're growing their confidence in real time through theatre. What does that mean for anyone listening? How do those transformations appear?

SPEAKER_01 15:14

Um, so they can be small, they can be big. It obviously depends on each child. Um, what I try and do is have a relationship with all the children, which is obviously I can't teach 400 children myself. I have a wonderful team around me. Um, but I do try and take the time to know everyone. So if I was to walk into a class, I will learn everyone's names. I'll make sure I know where they've come from, what their story is, all of those sorts of things. I'm in touch with the parents. Um, if any of my parents are watching or listening to this, they'll be like, yeah, Helen's always on her phone. Like they say to me, put your work phone down, stop working. But to me, it's not like work. I care about these kids. I really care about these kids. I really care about how Tadar can help them, or you know, from choreographing a show, how those children are developing through that show. I genuinely care. So therefore, it's not really work if I'm messaging the parents saying, Oh, they got on so well today, I'm so proud of them, or they did this today. They sang a solo for some children, that could be huge. Or even just to walk in the room. I know for some children that's a big deal. Maybe walking in a room without a parent, or um walking in a room where they don't know anyone, and then making sure. So our message with todar is like you could you will always be accepted, whoever you are, whatever walk of life you are, whatever anything you're accepted in our school. Our school is not strict of uniform, you don't have to have your hair in a bun, all of those things because that doesn't fit everyone. So I didn't want a school like that. There's plenty of other schools that would suit children for that, but for our school, it's for children that perhaps don't want to do that. Um, so yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:48

Um do you think, and again, because I know you well and I've been through this process with you. Um do you think that inclusion piece of your school, that ethos of you know, being accepted, everybody welcome, do you think that stems from the piece in your chapter where you got accepted to drama college, but you didn't have the family didn't have the finances to send you? Do you think there's a there's a there's something in that moment in your life that you've carried with you? And I don't want to put words into your mouth, but you know, I wonder if that making sure everybody's got that option and possibility.

SPEAKER_01 17:27

Definitely like 100%. And um I do there's some families that I've really helped that perhaps have messaged me and said, I can't come anymore, we can't afford it. And I'm like, but it's really important that you come because your child loves it, so let's find a way. Um, so as much as I've got to run a business, of course, and you know, I've got to feed my own children, there are times where I go, no, this is really important that that child stays. It's really important that they still carry on this journey. If that's what they want to do, we'll find a way together. And I think that stems from my dance teacher did that when I was younger because my mum couldn't afford to send me, and she made sure that I still went to dance class because she knew I loved it and she knew that it was a huge passion of mine. And I'll always be so grateful for teacher Kim who made it possible for my mum to send me at times where possibly she wouldn't have been able to.

SPEAKER_00 18:21

I love that. I've got goose pimples. There needs to be, well, there it is. I mean, especially in our industry, I was gonna say there needs to be more people, but it is part of who we are as performers and in the entertainment industry. You know, we do it with such heart that we want everybody to feel that love and sometimes at our own detriment, like you know, following our heart over maybe money or business sense and whatnot. Um, and when it comes to business, you are a heart-led business owner. I'm absolutely sure everyone in this book who has a business is leading from the heart. Um, what part of your performer foundations have you taken into your business? What bits do you think I learned that then without realizing? Because you've been performing in various different places, learned a hundred different skills. Well, what can you go and think, oh gosh, yes, that taught me something I didn't even know I'd need at the time?

SPEAKER_01 19:16

I think it probably is the resilience stuff that you you build up such a resilience from from auditions as a performer, and you have to because you're not going to get every job you go for. And I think even as a business owner, you have to be resilient. There's going to be times that you know people haven't paid their bills, or um, you know, whatever else happens, like life happens, as you know. And I think resilience is probably the thing that I've taken through everything. I am I'm so resilient. There's been stuff happened where I've thought, oh god, I can't do this anymore. And then you go, no, I can. No, I can. I can do this because I've done it before and I will do it again. Um, so definitely resilience. And I think there's a difference as well with um, and neither ones are right or wrong, but I think there's a difference between being a coming from a performing background going into teaching and being a teacher through and through. I think we're very they're they're different roles. Um, I definitely bring lots of my performer experience into my teaching and I try and give stories to my kids. This is why I wanted to do the book as well, because my kids are always saying, Oh, tell me what about you know, or I'm always telling them a story about something. Oh, when I was here, I did this, or when I got this job, or when I went to this audition, and I needed to put it somewhere so I can say, just read the book. All the stories are there. Um and I am always telling stories, and I think it's important that they know because I don't always tell them, they're not always the stories that are the successful ones, and they need to know that. And they need to go, but my teacher told me a story and she didn't get the job, or she didn't get into drama school, or whatever else. Um, but she still did this and she still did that. And I think that they're the stories that stay with kids. It's not always the successful ones that will lead them on their path. Sometimes it's the unsuccessful ones, but the resilience of coming back and trying again, and they know. I mean, I tell them all of my audition stories, and I say, but listen to all these stories. I only got one job out of all those stories.

SPEAKER_00 21:13

Oh, amazing! And and it's making me think actually, social media is so prevalent for this generation that comparing comparisonitis, that you know, seeing success on such a kind of superficial level in some respects, in some in some moments, and those children are seeing that, so they need more stories like like you're telling, like you're sharing, like this book is saying. Um, and it leads me back to the beginning of our careers, your career, when Google, social media, access to the internet wasn't really a thing. So putting those two kind of thoughts together, these children now that have got access to a yes, so much opportunity. Online and information and education, but equally, in equal measures, a lot of kind of nonsense and superficial success to us, maybe not having those kind of highs or lows documented. We just did what we did. What are your thoughts on not having access to that and having to pave your own way, create your own roadmap because it wasn't so accessible?

SPEAKER_01 22:26

So I would say I think we had to be more determined because we didn't have it available. So even now, if I say to one of my students, uh, let's come up with, you know, let's think of an audition song, and I'm guilty of it now, and I go, let's Google what are the most common songs, you know. Um, I do I do tell them stories of when I had to go around to the newspaper shop every two weeks and buy the stage newspaper, and then I had to go through the stage newspaper to learn my craft. That stage newspaper back then was everything that every performer needed and wanted every two weeks. And that I don't think the kids even know what the stage newspaper is now because it's online, but you have to pay for it. Um, it's kind of probably not in their world, but it was our world. It was our entire world, wasn't it, when we were, when we were youngsters. Um, so I think back then we had to we had to be determined because we had to go and find it ourselves. Now, I don't want that to take away the determination of anyone in these this day and age, because of course they're still determined, it's just more accessible now. Which I look back now and I think how what would my career look like if social media did exist when I was younger? And I don't know, because we'll never know those answers. But I think it'd be really interesting to know whether it would have been the same. I don't I don't know. I don't know whether the job the jobs I went for would have been the same, I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 23:46

So I often think something very similar to that. And here's my thoughts, Helen, see what you think. So the 20-year-old self that set up Manic, for instance, with no social media, with no, you know, access to a lot of information. There was information, but no comparison there. I just got on with it. I actually just got on with it. I didn't question anything, I went with my gut, I just did it, and now here I am in my 40s, thinking, oh, you know, there must be a better way. Or so-and-so looks like they're doing things better than I am, and just completely always questioning myself. And so I I guess my message to anyone listening who is in the era of building and maybe not necessarily knowing, just keep a close eye on the information, but also, you know, a close eye on your own feelings and your own guts. And I think that's what your story shows beautifully how much you have just trusted your gut. You've evolved, you've taken chances, you you know what what are your thoughts on that?

SPEAKER_01 24:52

Yeah, 100%. And there's something that anyone that knows me will say is I always try and do things a bit different. So actually, the comparison stuff doesn't actually bother me because I don't really sit and compare. Um, I like to see other people succeed. I'm more than happy. I think there's enough children to go around for all of these schools that exist in my local area. So I'm one of those that I'm like, I don't believe children should be taught by the same person either forever. I don't think that does anyone any good. I think they need to learn from multiple um choreographers and directors and musical musical directors and things. Um, but the one thing I try and do is I try and fill the gaps. So, what is there not in my area? Rather than what are they doing, let me see if I can do the same. I want to do things differently. So I do think there's a difference today. I do think there's a lot more pressure. Um, everything's documented as well. So if a child is going for an audition, it's very well documented on social media, which we didn't have, we didn't have to worry about that. We just kind of went and we probably um and the time I was auditioning, I didn't even have a phone. You know, I didn't get a phone until I was 16. So it wasn't even like I could contact someone to tell them that I was auditioning unless I phoned the landline, uh, which makes me sound really ancient. Um, but I think there's pros and cons to both. And, you know, I I lived in that world and had to, and they live in this world and have to, and I think you've got to go with what you've got around you, use the tools wisely, use them carefully, um, and don't use them to the detriment of yourself. Trust yourself and your talent. And that's what I say to my kids don't worry what Joe Bloggs is doing and how well they sing that song because you've got you, and that's really special.

SPEAKER_00 26:30

That is special, and it's so, I mean, you know, said with such conviction and passion, like these children that are getting to work and experience your teaching are incredibly lucky because you are living proof, but also so passionately believe that they are gonna succeed. And I love that for them, and I love that for you. When it comes to success, for them, for you, you know, you haven't shied away inside your chapter about some of the difficult experiences. Um and so when those difficult experiences have come about and you've had to navigate them, did it diminish the success? Did it did the feeling feel heavier, or are you able to navigate that alongside?

SPEAKER_01 27:16

Yeah, no, I don't think so. I think, like you say, life life, and um, no one's gonna have a linear journey that go, you know, I want to do this and it's gonna happen. It that doesn't, that's not real life. Um, so no, I don't think it ever did. My my I've always known what I wanted to do, and I have to be in the theatre. I have to. I absolutely even when we got married, I remember saying to my husband, I think I need to get married in a theatre. And he was like, Absolutely, no, not gonna happen. We're going abroad. Um, because that was another obviously passion of ours, and that was a passion of ours together. Theatre's not his passion, and it wouldn't have been right to get married in the theatre, but for me, that's it's all consuming. That it does entirely consume my life and you know, my children's lives. They my my little boy is nearly two, and he I think he's probably on his maybe 16th, 17th show that he's watched, and I mean entire shows that he has to sit in the theatre and watch, and he's under two and can do that because it's what he's done from day one. Um, so it is all consuming. Um, but it's I love great.

SPEAKER_00 28:22

I love that. And it should be that blessing. I'm Wanda. Do you think, in fact, you'll probably be able to see as a mother. Is he gonna go follow your footsteps and Brooks' footsteps?

SPEAKER_01 28:31

Who knows? He sings a great rendition of Twinkle Twinkle, but who knows?

SPEAKER_00 28:37

So let's bring it back to the performers listening today. They've read the chapter, they've listened to the podcast, they've resonated and understood what you're saying, what the other authors are saying, or the different opportunities and journeys, but they feel stuck, they feel stuck on stage or offstage because you've been in both worlds, and they just need that push, they need that next step. Do you put that down to anything? Is there anything they should be doing? Should they be researching, finding a community? What you know, what are you thinking is the the main prongs of next steps? What do you need to succeed?

SPEAKER_01 29:20

I think they need to figure out why they're stuck. So once you can figure out why you're stuck, which is probably the hardest thing to do because otherwise they wouldn't be stuck. Um, if you can sort of navigate why you feel stuck. So, for example, just before I went to Cyprus, I had everything like I had a nice car, I lived with some lovely friends, I had a lovely place to live, I had my family around me, but I didn't want to be in the UK anymore. And I couldn't, I can't tell you why, I just didn't, but I felt really stuck. And when I figured out what it was, ah, I don't want to be in this country, and I didn't know why, nothing had happened for me not to be. I just felt like the world was too big for me not to explore it. Once I figured out why I was stuck and I knew what I needed to do, which was go and audition to try and get some jobs, and I did auditions for cruise ships at the time and for work abroad. Um, once I'd figured out why I was stuck and did something about it, it was fine. And I said, right, okay, I didn't know that that was what I was going to do. And when I went to Cyprus, I remember being on the flight. Bear in mind I was going to meet people that I'd never met before. I was, you know, just hoping that the job was real when I got there and all of those things as you as you navigate the anxiety of sitting on a four-hour flight. And I remember thinking, two weeks ago, I didn't think I'd be doing this. I genuinely didn't think I'd be doing this, but it it was a matter of two weeks of auditions for me. I got the job straight away, the contract was starting. I flew out, and you know, then this whole new life began. So I think for youngsters now, or for young people, or for anyone, um, you know, maybe a performer that's pregnant. I mean, that's my similar to my story, or whether it's um, you know, not getting into drama school or not getting the part in the even the local amateur dramatics company, you know, all of these things hit us, is figuring out why do you feel stuck? What can we do about it? Do you need a change? Do you need to carry on? Like, what is it you need to do? And I think that's what I do with lots of my young people is say, right, okay, so you didn't get that, but what can we do next? What do you want to do next? Where does it sit with you? Because my experiences are always going to be my experiences. All I can do is bring that um as a guidance, but everyone's different, aren't they? So everyone's journey is going to be different.

SPEAKER_00 31:36

I've got goosebumps. You're absolutely right. And it's every emotion is a clue, isn't it? And I think people can sit in that moment, in that feeling for too long, but that's an individual kind of moment of reflection. But hearing and reading things like this that you're saying, Helen, are hopefully gonna unlock and give permission and you know, excite and energize, ignite that that curiosity in somebody right now to go, okay. I'm gonna really sit with what this is, and then my life could look different in two weeks, two months, two years. There's no timeline for any of this. It is just the courage to keep reinventing yourself, keep being curious, keep exploring, which is what your story is absolutely about. I'm gonna ask you, Helen, who you hope picks up this book and what you hope they feel once they've read your chapter.

SPEAKER_01 32:29

So I really hope my kids pick up the book. And I by my kids, I mean all of my kids. That's not just my two babies, my all my kids that I teach, all my kids that I have taught as well, because I've got lots of kids, you know, who are in their 20s now who I taught, you know, 10, 15 years ago. I'd love them to see it. I'd love the people that helped me along my way to read it. I really love that. There's, you know, Teacher Kim. I mentioned her. I haven't seen Teacher Kim since I was 18, um, many years ago. But if she was to read it, she'd know that I'm really grateful for all the help that she gave. My mum, um, you know, my own children, I'd love Brooke to read. Brooke cannot wait to read this chapter because I haven't told her everything. Um, she's only 11, but she wants to know where I'm what her mum did, and she asks all the time. And, you know, like I said before, I haven't documented everything. I didn't have social media, you know, I didn't I don't have loads of photos of what I did because half the time I didn't get them developed because it took so long to get photos developed from the camera. Um, and I've told her those sort of stories as well. I said, You're so lucky, you can just take a picture on your phone today, you know, and keep it. Um, so and I also really hope that someone who is a performer and is going through that time of I don't know if I can do this anymore, or I need to change for whatever reason. Um, you know, my move from cruise ships to Mallorca wasn't planned. Glenn's mum was poorly, we needed to get closer to the UK, we just didn't want to come home. Um, but we were we were all set to do another 14 months on a cruise ship. Life, life got in the way, it happened. That was more important, and that changed everything because our move to Mallorca made me a mum, which kind of was planned but wasn't planned, you know. So um I think those people that perhaps there might be a performer out there who's toying with, oh, I think I might want to have a baby, and I don't know how that looks my career. I'd love them to read it. Maybe someone who, I don't know, similar to me, like when I was in Cyprus, there was nothing I loved being in Cyprus, but I wanted to do another thing. I was evolving still. Maybe they're in that place of their life and they need to read this chapter and go, actually, I am going to take that leap. I do need to evolve and I need to do it now. So, yeah, lots of people.

SPEAKER_00 34:45

Helen, your chapter is 5,000 words. There was a word count, everybody, because otherwise, you know, we could have all wrote whole books. But that's my last question for you. Do you think you've got a whole book in you? Because this is 5,000 words. This is your life so far condensed into a word count that you know does tell a story, but only surface level in some parts. Have you got a whole book in you?

SPEAKER_01 35:09

Yeah, I reckon so. Yeah. I had I have found it really hard to condense, to be honest. There was so much there's so much more to say. Um, whether or not it's interesting to anyone, I don't know. But for me, like writing it was easy because there was it's just writing about stuff that I absolutely love and am passionate about. And you know, it hasn't all been rosy, but no one's life is. And I think it's important that that's mentioned too, that it's it's not been straightforward, it's not been a linear journey. Um, it may look that way sometimes, but it's not, and that's okay, and that's fine.

SPEAKER_00 35:47

I think there's definitely a whole book in there, and I can't wait to read it. Um, if somebody's listening and thinking they'd like to have this opportunity in the future um to write their chapter, would you recommend it? One million percent.

SPEAKER_01 36:00

It's been so cathartic, like just and like remembering things that are so poignant and going, oh my goodness, that is why that happened. Yeah, it's been really it's been really lovely. And like for me, like I dedicate my little chapter to my dad, um who's so missed, and he is a big part of the story. I haven't mentioned him too much in the book. Um but yeah, 100% I'd say anyone do it because it's it's just such a lovely experience.

SPEAKER_00 36:34

Are you on the cusp of another reinvention right now, or are you happy where you are? What's happening with Helen?

SPEAKER_01 36:42

Um, so we're on a little reinvention. Um I'm doing a master's at the moment. I'm back at GSA doing a master's in theatre, which people think I'm mad for. They're kind of like, Why are you doing a master's in something that you already do? But for me, it was it was just about broadening me. Keep I I say to my kids, you've got to keep learning. Everything's changing, the the industry's changing all the time. Um, and you've got to keep up with things. I want to be current, I want to be authentic, I want to be the best that I can be for the children that want to come to my school. So I always promise that I will try and give them the best training I can. And I don't think I can do that if I haven't continued my training because I don't know everything, and you know, there's still so much to know about theatre and things like that. And that's been really great for me. So I've really enjoyed my master's, which finishes in August. I hand my dissertation in in August. Um, but yeah, there's there's a few things in kind of in the pipeline, but I won't say too much at the moment because they're all kind of bubbling away. But yeah, 2728 looks quite interesting.

SPEAKER_00 37:49

Oh, I'm excited to hear, and I'll be on that journey with you. You can't get rid of me now. Um, please do share your website, social medias. We'll pop it all in the show notes. But if anyone's listening, they want to know more about you, or they want their child to join your school, or they want to see where they can work with you next. Um, where do they find you, Helen?

SPEAKER_01 38:08

So, probably social media is the easiest place. We're todayuk on Instagram and Facebook. That's probably the easiest. I am very um present on my phone. So um, our phone numbers on our socials, our emails on there, our websites www.tadar.info. You can grab um, just send us a message on there as well. Um, but yeah, I also want to thank you because I think your journey is great and I love to celebrate in this with you as well, because this is your celebration too.

SPEAKER_00 38:38

No, you're a superstar. Honestly, I'm like you. I do it for the bigger ripple, the bigger, you know, message. But it's it's incredible when people come together and and do these magical things. So, yeah, it's been it's been a journey and it's not the end, it's just the beginning. That's very exciting. Helen, thank you so much for chatting to us today. Thank you for participating in the second edition. I can't wait to celebrate with you in London. And um together our journeys will now coast side by side forevermore. Thank you so much. Big love. And you there you have it. Thank you for joining us on today's episode of the Spotlight series, where stories shine and success gets redefined. If you loved what you heard, hit like, follow, or subscribe. And be sure to grab your copy of Spotlight on Success over on Amazon. And don't forget to tag us at Performapreneur across all socials. If you've been inspired today to step into a new spotlight, you can find a whole community ready to support you at performapreneur.co.uk, as well as up and coming events and even more about each author. Until next time, stay bold, stay brilliant, and continue to shine.