Mel Churcher

Author of books for adults, Scriptwriter

Available for:
Interview
Talk
Workshop
After dinner speaking
Commission


Website: http://www.melchurcher.com

Contact: email: melchurcherhotmail.com tel: 07778 77 30 19

Audiences:
Adults, 11-16 (Key stages 3 and 4), 6th Form and college


Details
I was an actor for twenty-odd years, doing mainly theatre and television, appearing in shows like 'Upstairs, Downstairs' and 'Duchess of Duke Street' and leading roles with the National Theatre. In 1986 I started directing and teaching in drama schools and realised I found it even more fascinating than doing the acting myself! I decided that working empirically wasn't enough so I retrained, taking dozens of workshops, a module in phonetics at Westminster University, an MA in Performing Arts at Middlesex University, an MA  in Voice Research at Central School of Speech and Drama and an International Phonetics Association Certificate. I served a full term on the council of the British Voice Association and then continued for many years on their education working party.

I wanted to work with actors and any presenters, performers or speakers on all aspects of communication and always worked as both an acting and voice coach as well as directing in theatre.
During the next decade, I was with the Royal Shakespeare Company's voice department, Shakespeare's Globe education department as well as freelance work with The Royal Court, The Young Vic, Manchester Royal Exchange, Half Moon, Graeae, Birmingham Repertory Company and was resident voice and text coach with Regent's Park Open Air Theatre from 1996 - 2007.

I spent ten years working in most of the major London drama schools including Central School of Speech & Drama, LAMDA, Drama Centre, East Fifteen, Mountview, Webber-Douglas, ALRA and was head of voice at Rose Bruford for several years. I also worked with many American colleges in London including many years with Ithaca London Center and several long stints with University of South Florida in Tampa.

In 1992 I was asked to do acting coaching with the young Kate Maberly on the classic film, 'The Secret Garden'.  Shortly afterwards I was acting coach to Milla Jovovich for 'The Fifth Element' and then began to work extensively as a voice or acting coach on dozens of major movies, working with performers such as Keira Knightley, Daniel Craig, Angelina Jolie, Jet Li, Joss Stone, Sam Riley, Paul Giamatti, Ray Winstone and Clive Owen. (For more names and information on this part of my life - please see my web page: www.melchurcher.com) Recent films I've coached on include 'Eragon', 'Control',  'Sherlock Holmes' and 'The Last Station' which had Oscar nominations.
I run workshops internationally for actors, directors, presenters and speakers. In the last few years I have run regular workshops in Cologne and Berlin. In London I teach at the Actors Centre, LAMDA and Central School of Speech and Drama as well as one-to-one work.

I have done many radio and television interviews and talks.
I'm happy to run workshops on Acting for Screen (for which I need a video camera, separate mic and large monitor), general acting, radio work, voice, breathing and confidence, Shakespeare, Restoration, Ibsen, Chekhov, Pinter and any other text work. Also presentation skills for business people, public speaking (which always comes up in the top 5 of people's fears!), body-language, media coaching and all allied skills

I'm happy to give any talks or Q & As including those for school leavers on applying for drama schools, the joys and pitfalls of becoming an actor and advice on realistic job prospects within the entertainment industry.

I'm always pleased to do radio interviews or similar.

I live in Suffolk mid-way between Ipswich & Norwich but also have an outer-London flat and work in London most weeks.

I am ready to travel anywhere nationally or internationally as long as transport and acommodation (where applicable) are provided. I'm also happy to do last minute engagements if I'm free.

My book 'Acting for Film:Truth 24 Times a Second' was published by Virgin Books in 2003.

I have a second book with a DVD called 'A Screen Acting Workshop' being published by Nick Hern Books in 2010.

	Acting for Film: Truth 24 Times a Second (isbn:0753507234) This is a practical book for actors, directors and drama students. It contains practical work, information and discussions. It is a set book for many drama schools. View in Amazon

Organisations:
Society of Authors, Writers' Guild of Great Britain, Equity, Directors' Guild of Great Britain, Women in Film and Television, BAFTA, European Film Academy, British Voice Association