Prolific Talent Management is a year old!
Here are some of our achievements over the last year, and we can't wait to see what the future holds!
MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU!
From @rosnrow@timbrynsmith
and our friends at @theactorsworkshopnottingham
My friend @luluonice sent me this today, on what turned out to be #TNBCDay (Triple Negative Breast Cancer). I've never seen the photos from this shoot shortly after my treatment finished, and had no idea where they ended up.
Triple Negative Breast Cancer is the rarest form of breast cancer, and is considered harder to treat, more likely to recur, and has the lowest life expectancy.
I made incredible friends with some amazing women along the way, several of whom we have lost in the three and a bit years since I was diagnosed. I'll never forget them, and I hope that one day #TNBC (or any breast cancer) doesn't have to be such a scary diagnosis, with such awful treatment. But these days, I consider myself a #TNBCsurvivor
Emotional Range Self-Tape Exercise:
I rediscovered an old self-tape (I file them all, and sometimes watch them back years later - there's often something to learn!)
This one asked for multiple takes of two lines from the script, portrayed in different ways, with different motivations/emotions.
This is a technique I often teach actors when self-taping, especially if it's a very short script, it's good to give two or three options with different motivations behind the line.
And if it's a longer script, and you feel like you're "stuck" or your rendition is stale, then it's good to practice this exercise with one or two key lines before pressing record again. You might surprise yourself by finding something fresh you can bring to your self-tape.
And in the interest of transparency... No, I didn't get it. In fact, as is so often the case, I didn't even get a rejection.
And yes, it's a wig.
#SelfTape #ActorsLife
In preparation for my Dad's funeral, my sister found this quote he'd written amongst his paperwork. It reminded me of this song, recorded while on tour with Mad About The Musicals, with @mikecourtney01
(Plus @richiec_drums on drums, Bruce Knight on keys, @josh_weaverrr on keys 2? @hayescmarc on bass, Nichola Lagan and @kerryodowd05 on BVs, and probably lots of other people I should have tagged).
This recording isn't perfect - if memory serves it was taken from the feed to Rich's in-ears, so not mixed for audience consumption (@grantwitton was always brilliant at that side of things!) I found it on an old hard-drive a few months ago, and tweaked it a bit. But I love the song, and the sentiment, and when I read Dad's quote, I figured I'd share it.
When dementia took hold, Dad never forgot to ask "have you been in any shows lately?" (usually multiple times per visit). He got to see this show, with this song, even if he didn't remember it later. His little quote is far too accurate.
Alick Henville Priest:
11st July 1937 - 11th December 2025
Dad's funeral will take place on Wednesday 21st January at 1.15pm,
Hutcliffe Wood Crematorium
Periwood Lane
Beauchief
Sheffield
S8 0HP
You are welcome to join us for tea and cakes afterwards (from 2pm) at:
The Waggon & Horses
57 Abbeydale Road South
Millhouses
Sheffield
S7 2QQ
I'm not sure there's anyone on Instagram who would need to know, but if anyone is joining the family for tea and cake, please let us know numbers, so we can supply enough food.
I can barely bring myself to post this (not least because I know an awful lot of very musical people, who will confirm I am certainly no pianist!!!)... might even delete later. But in the meantime, playing my creaky piano has become a bit of a new year tradition, and I'm wishing a very happy new year to everyone I know. Thinking of all those (including my Dad) who won't be joining us in 2026. It's been a rollercoaster year with more heartbreaking losses than I can count. But also some incredibly proud highlights, including the launch of @prolific.talent , which has already achieved more than I dreamed possible in such a short time frame, and I can't wait to see what the future holds.
Deer on a Winter's Day at Normanby Hall Country Park.
Keeping busy on one of many sad anniversaries in December. This one being the hardest of them all.
#HappyAnniversary to @theactorsworkshopnottingham - 15 years old!!! Have a brilliant day celebrating!!! And here's to a PROLIFIC 2026!!! @prolific.talent wouldn't exist without the Actors Workshop coming first, so we wish you a fantastic celebration!!!
