Showbiz Mums

Zoe Birkett (The Bodyguard, Priscilla, Moulin Rouge, Great British Bake Off) chats today about her experience of doing a job share split when she played the role of Tina in Tina: the Tina Turner Musical with the lovely Karis Anderson. She talks about how well they got along and how she made the juggle of performing and parenting work for her family.We spoke about Zoe's pregnancy and her preference to give birth back home up North, and when she felt she was ready to rejoin the industry post partum. Zoe was so honest and open about how she felt getting back into the industry - and has been absolutely smashing it ever since.Find her at @zoebirkett@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

This episode I chat to Jackie Hughes (Groundhog Day, Wicked, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry) about how she manages the juggle of parenting her two boys and performing 8 shows a week. Currently in the Original West End cast of Paddington, Jackie shares her experiences of pregnancy, childbirth, returning to work, and the support network she relies on. Find her @jaxhughes1903 and as a coach for @prepyourrep_ldnOriginal 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

Katie covers her pregnancy journey as Swing and cover Nini in Moulin Rouge and her return to theatre after a C section.She shares her experiences of navigating work during pregnancy, and the challenges of postpartum recovery. She also discusses the financial and psychological pressures of returning to life as a mother working in the West End.Katie highlights the importance of advocating for the rights and entitlements of working mothers in the industry.Follow her @katiedeacon92Original 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

Chiara has appeared in Sweeney Todd, Jerry Springer the Opera, Legally Blonde and Sister Act amongst many other shows. In this conversation we discuss what it was like for her to perform in Come From Away at 37 weeks pregnant and how well the company treated her and any adaptations that were made to accommodate the pregnancy.Chiara was in a same sex relationship for many years and explains her fertility journey, along with her wife at the time. She is now navigating single parenthood and expresses how difficult it can be to make the decision to be in a show when you are the main caregiver at home.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Trigger Warnings06:19 Performing While Pregnant13:31 Professional Challenges and Pregnancy Experience26:56 Career and Family BalanceOriginal music by Steve Rushton

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

Emma has appeared in Kinky Boots, Sister Act, Wind in the Willows and is currently Alternate Donna in Mamma Mia in the West End. In this conversation she covers the challenges of maintaining a career while raising her son, Bruno and her experience of pregnancy and childbirth. The conversation also delves into the unique experience of being a stepparent and highlights the importance of support and flexibility in the industry.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Career Balancing Act31:13 Parenting Challenges and Sleep Training45:34 Being a Stepparent and Balancing Work58:09 Pursuing Career and Parenthood@emmasingsitallOriginal 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

This conversation covers the challenges of juggling a career in theatre with motherhood, including the impact of pregnancy on career, the journey of pregnancy and its impact on the industry, the challenges of labour and postpartum, returning to work, and the experience of touring with a newborn baby. Steph delves into the challenges of parenting while on an international tour, the postpartum experience and recovery, the process of returning to work and achieving work-life balance, and the advocacy for parental support in the industry.TakeawaysJuggling career and motherhoodChallenges of pregnancy and postpartumNavigating work and parenting responsibilities ResilienceChallenges of international touring with a babyYou can find Steph online @thatstephparry@showbizmumsOriginal music by Steve Rushton

Showbiz Mums - Introduction