Stage fright and an intervention for performers : a study of the phenomenology of stage fright in actors, musicians and other performers, followed by the design and evaluation of intervention for actors in training

Abstract

This dissertation on stage fright in performers (actors, musicians, dancers and presenters) describes three studies. The first study (n=175) is a semi-structured in-depth interview with performers in the Netherlands and Ireland. The second study is a survey among performing arts schools in Ireland, the U.K., and the U.S.A. This survey investigates how stage fright is addressed in the performing arts curriculum (n=60). The third study (n=195) focusses on the design and evaluation of a programme on Mental Performance Preparation for actors in training. This programme was designed to reduce debilitating stage fright (performance anxiety), increase coping confidence and reduce performance interference. The programme was evaluated and the results were compared with a control group. The literature study addresses stage fright in actors, musicians and in the general population. Interventions in social anxiety, speech anxiety, test anxiety, and stress management are discussed as part of the design of the intervention programme for actors.