Exceptional acting is all about the layers underlying the surface.
My bespoke coaching services are crafted to help you discover the rich, complex layers that transform good performances into unforgettable ones.
Whether you’re perfecting a dialect that needs to melt naturally off the tongue, preparing for that career-defining audition, or simply wanting to indulge your passion for the craft, I offer a bespoke coaching experience that’s as satisfying as it is transformative. Think of it as the premium chocolate selection of acting coaching – each session carefully curated, luxuriously tailored, and designed to bring out your most delicious performance yet.
Scroll down to discover how we can unwrap your potential together.
Mastering dialect requires meticulous attention to every nuance of sound and rhythm, so you need to develop the ear first.
Bringing characters to life through authentic dialect requires more than just words – it’s about precision, authenticity, and emotion.
As a voice and acting coach, I help actors refine their performances for auditions or to prep before performance, whether for animation, video games, or on-screen roles. My expertise extends to linguistic advising and dialect coaching, ensuring accents and pronunciations feel natural and immersive, and identifying the required prosody.
The rhythm and melody of each language is different. I have worked on series such as NCIS, guiding actors to deliver authentic linguistic and cultural nuances. Whether it’s perfecting a foreign accent in English, enhancing vocal delivery, or deepening character interpretation and exploration in another language, my coaching helps performers unlock their full potential.
Most of my work in dialect coaching involves coaching actors in foreign languages or accents. The first step requires isolating and placing the vowels and the consonants correctly in the mouth, linking each word back to their meaning, then identifying the tonic accents, and the potential emphasis stresses, before exploring and attempting every emotional avenue within a script, freeing the actor to then learn the script by heart. Readying them to attain whatever performance the director may ask of them on the day.
Audition coaching is all about standing out, delivering more than the obvious, nailing the brief and delivering all the emotions the director expects, adding the little “Je ne sais quoi” that will land your audition in the right folder…
This specialised coaching service for professional actors helps you prepare prior to recorded or live auditions.
What started as a friendly favour to actor friends has become, through lovely recommendations, a sideline I enjoy. The aim is to put the actor through their paces on the audition script but in the safety of my one-to-one class. I always start from the inside out first. Script analysis – character extrapolation – following the layering system, to the higher layers of social pressure, societal effects etc. This allows us to attain absolute knowledge of the piece, from all perspectives and make effective choices to reach and exceed the expectations of the casting director.
Acting is the sum of a multitude of complementary skills, which like all skills needs to be refreshed from time to time and after periods of inactivity.
Another benefit of word of mouth is recommendations, which have kept me busy. Some actors wish to refresh their acting skills; Some to feed their desire to act. Some to maintain skills they don’t get to use enough. Some perhaps because they just need that professional nudge that says: “Yes, yes, you are good enough to give it a go. Well done, now start acting. ” And some think it’s absolutely worth the expense to meet with me and play once a week, and gently feed the monster… I enjoy it; I know my regulars do.
With every new actor, I start by identifying weaknesses: The tricks, the habits (bad and good), the misreads, the hesitation, the loss of content, the singing etc.
Then we concentrate on developing their storytelling reading skills set (read it again). We go through textual analysis to really understand the lines/story/poem/advert/Haiku/Pack shot line. Then by asking the right questions, how to relate, how to internalise the emotions.
The aim is always to let go of the ME, to better understand the THEY, that is speaking through your throat and mouth, and discover how the YOU can let them in. It’s as close as we humans can get to magic: becoming Other. No wonder WE were damned at birth.
I have a long waiting list, but I’m worth it. 🙂
Mentoring is investing in your career and defining a clear path to achieve your goals, but it’s also the hand that will pick you up and helps you to keep going, month after month.
Mentoring is about business. It assumes you have the skill sets and want to expand your career path. I enjoy mentoring, because it feels good to help people be the best they can be and to impart knowledge and advice. Mentoring represents a small but significant part of my career. I know the business inside and out, and how to navigate its pitfalls and explore its opportunities.
Over the years I have mentored many successful voice actors who wanted to expand their career and increase their income and client base. Typically mentoring involves meeting 1 or 2 hours per month.
Please note: Mentoring is a long term commitment. Please contact me for details.
Your most delicious performance is waiting to come out.
Whether you’re craving the precision of dialect mastery, the confidence boost of audition preparation, the artistry of character development, or the strategic sweetness of career mentoring, I craft each coaching experience to your exact specifications. Like the most exquisite chocolate, the finest performances are never rushed – they’re carefully cultivated, lovingly refined, and utterly unforgettable.
Let’s discuss how we can create something extraordinary together.
Prepare well: Research the industry.
If you have the talent, you’ll make it. But it is not the fast and easy income stream some training system may promise you. It takes time to establish a client list.
It varies widely. I would say that the majority of Voice actors manage to make a living out of it, but many keep it as a sideline until they can make enough to let go of the “money job”. A successful VO will make between £75K and £150K a year. Commercial VOs, On-Air promo voices and prolific Video Game voices earn far more than that.
I charge £150 per individual hour and £125 per hour if you book 4 sessions over 4 weeks.
I usually teach VO for commercial and advertising or Character work for Animation and Video Games. But with over 30 years in the business, I have experience in most genres.
The initial consultation is £75. It lasts about 30 mins, and consists of a Zoom call. I will throw scripts at you to assess your abilities. Then I will let you know if I think we are a good fit and if I think you would benefit from my coaching. I am kind but honest.
Yes, I do. To join the waiting list, you need to book the assessment first.
Send me a message on Coaching@thevoicelikechocolate.com
Yes, I have produced a lot of voice actor’s demos. Mainly for commercial, Video games and animation demos. These tend to be more unique and less formulaic than Demo factories. Also, as a director, I know what casting agents are looking for in a demo. Contact me for more info : -)
I run lip-synch workshops on a regular basis in studios in London.
I only accept professional actors to the Lip Synch workshops, because it is such a technical skill set.
It has to be honest, accurate, show your range, and be targeted. We need to hear YOUR voice, and through your voice, YOUR emotions and YOUR thoughts. I don’t want to give away my recipe for success, but get in touch and we’ll see what I can do for you.
It’s a competitive business. You need to invest your time and money wisely
Feel free to get in touch with any project and questions you may have.
