Showbiz Mums

Broadway sensation, Rebecca Faulkenberry has appeared in shows such as Rock of Ages, Groundhog Day and Spiderman Turn of the Dark.... (at time of recording!) She talks about her experience with pregnancy, childbirth, and the challenges of navigating her career while being a mum. She provides valuable insights into the intersection of motherhood and professional life and delves into the challenges of navigating pregnancy while pursuing acting opportunities. Rebecca was so generous with her time and please stick around for her update in the last 15 minutes of the episode.*Minor sound issues due to signal, I apologise!Rebecca can be found @beccafaulkenberry@showbizmumsOriginal music by Steve Rushton

*Trigger warning - there is conversation around eating disorders and body image in this episode.Steph Elstob (Wuthering Heights, The Bodyguard and Oliver) joins me to talk about taking her son on 2 International tours, alongside her partner Sam, also a performer in the industry. We chat about how the company went above and beyond in order to keep both Sam and Steph on the show as they were 'too valuable not to try'.Steph also talks about founding her business - the Iris Clinic- a clinic specifically for performers/creatives who struggle with their relationship with food or their bodies.Find Steph on instagram @stephelstob of @irisclinicuk or on the website irisclinic.co.ukOriginal music by Steve Rushton

Sarah Lark (BBC's I'd do Anything, Witches of Eastwick and Mamma Mia) talks all about her experience of working in Les Miserables for over a decade. Sarah is known for being one of the original pioneers of working in a job share in the West End. In this conversation, she explains how she proposed the idea to the company, when Jo Loxton was returning from her maternity leave.@misssarahlarkOriginal music by Steve Rushton

Trigger warning - explicit sexual violence threat reference at 23 mins. Weight discussion also occurs.Four time Olivier Award nominee Emma Williams joins the podcast this week to discuss what it's like being on tour with Top Hat, away from her 6 year old daughter, Izzy. Emma was so generous with her time and we managed to cover so much in the chat, including how she copes with being away, how difficult her pregnancy and post partum period was, and the industry's body image pressures. We ended up chatting about the challenges and empowerment associated with nudity in performance, the impact of COVID-19 on career and family, the financial strain and work-life balance of an acting career, the joy of comedy and variety in roles, and the mental load of motherhood. You can find Emma online @williamstweetOriginal music by Steve RushtonChapters00:00 Balancing Career and Parenthood06:03 Challenges of Parenthood in the Theatre Industry12:00 Challenges of Returning to Work After Childbirth18:07 Body Image and Industry Pressures31:29 Impact of COVID-19 on Career and Family45:37 Work-Life Balance and Financial Concerns51:28 Parenting in the Digital Age58:24 The Pursuit of Creative Endeavors01:03:29 Challenges and Realities of the Acting Industry01:14:31 The Impact of Self-Tape Auditions

Marianne has appeared in Chicago, We Will Rock You, Cats and The Wizard of Oz amongst many other productions. She's most well known for her incredible portrayal of Mrs Wormwood in the RSC's production of Matilda the Musical, where she performed up to 5 months pregnant and then came back to join the production after the birth of her son.This conversation delves into the unique challenges of job sharing in the theatre industry, highlighting the financial impact, logistics, and work-life balance. It also explores the decision-making process and challenges faced during pregnancy and career in the theatre industry, as well as the experience of returning to work and coping with personal loss and vocal health issues.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Job Sharing and Theatre Industry09:40 Challenges and Decisions in Pregnancy and Career in Theatre Industry19:24 Returning to Work and Coping with Personal Loss31:16 Balancing Parenthood and Work40:08 The Job Share Opportunity54:36 Embracing Job Sharing in the Theatre IndustryOriginal music by Steve Rushton

Lauren has many theatre credits including Gypsy, Sister Act, Mamma Mia and 42nd St. After having her daughter, Robyn, she decided to open up the conversation of job sharing and why flexible working can be beneficial for working parents and carers.This conversation delves into the challenges of parenting and working in the theatre industry, with a focus on job sharing as a solution. Lauren shares her journey to motherhood, the complications she faced during pregnancy, and the experience of returning to work. We discuss the need for openness to change in the theatre industry and explore the impact of rehearsal schedules on childcare, the importance of creating a supportive company culture, and the balancing act of returning to work while raising a family.Lauren can be found @lauren_k_hallAlso mentioned in the episode @applauseforthought and @pipacampaign@showbizmums

Showbiz Mums - Introduction