Stephanie Morgan (Upsall)
Cofounder, Company Manager & Coach
Steph is a practitioner with over 15 years’ professional experience in the performing arts. Since 2005, she has worked in theatres across the country as a performer, Venue Technician, Stage Manager, Assistant Director and Director. Most recently, she taught Acting to Undergraduates and Masters’ students at ALRA Drama School and ICTheatre & has been a guest practitioner and lecturer at Leeds Conservatoire.
Steph is an INLPTA certified Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) Practitioner and an mBIT (multiple Brain Integration Techniques) Master Coach - where neuroscience backs up ancient wisdoms. She integrates all her training into her teaching practice to fuel her passion for creating healthy and happy actors.​
Steph trained in the Meisner Technique under Scott Williams (The Impulse Company) and Keith Farquhar (Moment to Moment) and has been teaching her version for several years. Prior to Both Feet, Steph was the Managing Director of West Yorkshire Theatre Network (2009-2016), which offered performance and networking opportunities, rehearsal space and training courses from internationally renowned artists for thousands of actors across the world.
She also is the founder and creator of Bodlondeb Retreat in North Wales, where our Both Feet Retreats take place.
Some thoughts...
I discovered (and fell in love with) The Meisner Technique at the same time as training in Neuro Linguistic Programming which fuelled my fascination of people and their behaviour. What draws me to this practice is that its not about delving into your past in order to connect with your character, for me it's about learning to trust the stories that already sit within you and being open and safe enough to be inspired. Inspired by the words, the circumstances, the other actors, the world around you.
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A stranger once asked me “how do you teach actors how to act?” A question I’d never asked myself. I thought for a few minutes and then I said to him that I don’t train actors to “act”, really what I do is help them notice and strip back their programmed responses so they can be truly open, truthful and available to do their job.
By learning to hold yourself lightly, by releasing the grip on how you think things should be and letting them move how they need you will be able to listen fully to yourself and those you're working with.
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The process is powerful, genius and simple, if you're willing to let go. The fabulous teacher Scott Williams will always be held in my heart for introducing me and training me in this work. I hope you join us to explore, every actor should.
So much of what I do isn’t just acting related, it’s human related which is why I began to extend my work out. We all need to know how to look after ourselves, how to listen to ourselves (and others!), how to be ok with everything we’re full of so it can all move the way it was born to. And we all need those tools to help get us through the highs and lows of life.
When I look back, it’s not a big surprise I’ve ended up where I have - so many of us end up teaching the thing we need to learn the most.
