Did you miss us? This week Megan and Jordan are on a mountain in Corfu! So the audio is dodge… Sorry :/ Welcome to the holiday special, what’s special about it you ask? How much less depressed we are! Tune in to hear tales of Acting Up abroad such as: adding horse riding to our spotlight skills, little German boys and hermit crabs, holiday reading material, taking shots in matching fits and please don’t fart on planes. But inevitably the question arises - are you ever truly on a break from actin...
Jul 19, 2024•38 min•Ep. 29
This week Megan and Jordan discuss two of the most essential pillars of the industry: the casting directory - Spotlight and the performers union - Equity, who are taking action against Spotlights “Tax on Hope”. This episode includes discussions on what Equity is, the things they are fighting for, how it can benefit you and how it is has helped members previously. Megan and Jordan also debrief on Spotlight and its undeniable monopoly on the industry, how essential it is in their own careers and e...
Jul 04, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 28
It’s finally here: the episode that attempts to tackle the immense subject that is being a working class actor in the industry. A historic episode indeed, as Megan and Jordan both shed actual, real tears on the pod. The episode includes a dumb beginners (Jordan) guide to the class system, private school privilege, cosplaying the poor for funsies, talking proper and the horrifying statistics that make the dream seem impossible. But it’s not all doom and gloom, we of course have to celebrate the a...
Jun 27, 2024•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 27
Life is well and truly battering Megan and Jordan, so what else is there to do but the classic Q&A? You asked and they answered. Questions and answers… Q and A… The fans (friends) asked questions such as: What would we do with unlimited funding? Who would win in a fight? Who would we cast one another as? Wildest Auditions? What would we be doing if we weren’t actors? Also including (of course) more soliloquies on drama school - including the grand theft of Jordan’s uniform - and discussions ...
Jun 20, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 25
This week Megan and Jordan are joined by the incredible Vissey Elliot Safavi, Iranian/Bristolian, MOTHER, colleague of Megan and incredible actor - Vis has been Acting Up longer than your hosts have been a thought. Pushed towards drama as a child to help her learn English, Vis started acting so a lady called Edwina could live vicariously through her, and thankfully she did - as it lead Vis to attend the prestigious RADA (in the 90’s!). Vis gets candid about how she’s navigated the industry as an...
Jun 07, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 24
This week Megan and Jordan were meant to talk about pieces of theatre they’ve seen and the experience of watching things as an actor yourself. Which, between multiple tangents and questionable singing, they kind of do? Conversations include having two very different experiences at the same audition, an Acting Up trip to Spirited Away at the London Coliseum, the theatrical experience of seeing Mitski and… WATCHING THE PREMIERE OF MEGANS FILM!!! They delve into the influential productions that sha...
Jun 06, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 23
This week Jordan and Megan are graced by a guest that Megan scouted in a smoking area. You may recall how Morgan directed a one woman show called Fuckboy Fairytales - well, introducing the one woman herself: the wonderful Eleanor Chilton-Sutton. A career sparked by watching Narnia - Eleanor trained at BRIT School, went on to study English and Theatre at university, ended up doing stand-up comedy and of course wrote and starred in her debut work ‘Fuckboy Fairytales’. Eleanor discusses how the sho...
May 30, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 22
Another episode coming at you from Vauhaus HQ, this week Megan and Jordan are joined by certified gorgeous gorgeous girl Adela Mortimer! Trans hottie and fellow Vauhaus model who also (of course) dabbles in acting, Adela talks us through her journey in the industry - from a young diva who always had to play the lead to her involvement with the incredible Take Back Theatre Company and finally how an open casting brought her to model with Vauhaus. Adela gets candid about dealing with anxiety durin...
May 19, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 21
What a treat we have this week! Megan and Jordan are joined by the mother of models, Jordans actual agent and founder of Vauhaus Model Agency - the incredible Toria Brightside. Toria reveals the origin story of Vauhaus, a revolutionary modelling agency founded 10 years ago on principles of ethics, personality and sustainability, and shares invaluable wisdom on how to catch the eye of an agent and what makes a good model. Tune in for discussions of Vauhaus HQ, the developing industry and to disco...
May 16, 2024•55 min•Ep. 20
This week Megan and Jordan (your favourite lowborn actors) are joined by founder, director & writer Meghan Loughran and co-director & director Gray Enever from Lowborn Theatre! From university project to Edinburgh Fringe to a full on theatre company, Lowborn Theatre is dedicated to creating meaningful, nuanced and accurate depictions of working class life, told by working class voices. Gray discusses their journey into directing, from finding acting in their late teens to discovering an ...
May 09, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 19
This week Megan and Jordan are joined by our first stranger! Brought to Acting Up by the podcast itself, introducing actor Ollie James Smith. From being naughty at school to boxing for England and then finding acting when you needed it most - Ollie gets candid about how he turned his life around and began an exciting career that started with a talent for mixology and has taken him onto some incredible sets and into rooms with his heroes. Tangents include the awful t-shirt Jordan bought Megan, us...
Apr 23, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 18
Leading on from the discussion of The Method, this week Megan and Jordan are now asking: why is Hollywood so obsessed with Biopics? Bohemian Rhapsody, Elvis, Priscilla, Oppenheimer, Blonde and most recently Amy to name but a few - the film industry is well and truly saturated with Biopics, but seemingly never without controversy. But why? And how do we as actors fit into this body of work? Who could you play and how do you accurately replicate them? Lengthy tangents include Jordan’s green hand, ...
Apr 22, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 17
Today Megan and Jordan are joined by the the dramatic, operatic and potentially aromatic Jenny Perry! Opera singer and actor and model and in a band (stream Brand New Legs!) AND the list goes ON - Jenny is, was, and will be busy. From climbing through musical grades to starting a band at Uni and finding your agent in a Tim Hortons, Jenny spills on their experience navigating the industry as someone working class, non-binary and an ex-weener. Tangents include women playing Peter-Pan, driving like...
Apr 18, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 16
This week we are back to just two besties in bed, and Megan and Jordan are diving under the covers and into the infamous and controversial - Method Acting. Everyone has an idea of what it is, from sending your coworkers dead rats to the spirit of Elvis living in your accent - but is that truly The Method? From how it began and is implemented into actors practice to the infamous actors who just took it too far, Megan and Jordan consider their own position on the technique. Tangents include, Jorda...
Apr 11, 2024•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 15
This week Acting Up is graced by the presence of actor (muso?) Matt Wake! From cricket to creating, Matt explores his journey into the acting industry, from a secondary school where it was actually cool to do drama and eventually into the professional arms of our very own Megan. Discussions include the Straight Acting Drama School Experience and the impact of covid, agent relationships and devising your own work - “If you can act, you can write”. Tangents include don’t talk to Jordan until she’s...
Apr 04, 2024•50 min•Ep. 14
This week Megan and Jordan are joined by actor and long time bestie of the pod Ben Donovan! A career that began thanks to Kiera Knightleys stunts and led Ben into the drama school class of Acting Up, Ben delves into his life in the industry! Including: the perks of being a twin, the dark time (post graduating), improvising on investment banking and accepting your place in the industry. Tangents include dying and leaving behind only a podcast, the perfect audition lockscreen and the infamous yell...
Mar 25, 2024•45 min•Ep. 13
This week Megan and Jordan are graced by the presence of Nathan Francis! And this Kens job… is Film! Nathan enlightens us on the wonderful world of the 3rd Assistant Crowd Director (professional vibe crafter), from breaking into the industry fresh out of college to addressing the masses on set. And the sets? CRAZY ;) Nathan also discusses the friendly push that lead him to creating his own work and the leaps of faith that followed. Tangents include hot gifs of Henry Cavill, walking into stranger...
Mar 18, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 12
This week Megan and Jordan are joined by actor/director Morgan Chalmers! A fellow graduate of Musical Theatre and colleague of Megan, Morgan walks us through her life in the industry - from using your acting skills to pretend you like customers to playing a page 3 model when you can’t see. Tune in for tales of hotel adverts, vocal haemorrhages and the journey into directing as an actor. Diversions include unwelcome yoga retreat posters, The Willy Wonka Experience and, once again, fairy porn! You...
Mar 14, 2024•58 min•Ep. 11
This week Jordan and Megan sit and chat with 1st Assistant Director Brad Yorke. Brad is here to enlighten us all on the secret world of Assistant Directors, the sometimes under-appreciated and always essential schedulers of the film world. Having chosen films over planes, Brad has worked in the industry for two years and though his projects are mostly too exciting to name, we can in fact reveal he was 1st AD on a very special film starring the very special Megan ;) Make sure to check out Brads p...
Mar 07, 2024•42 min•Ep. 10
This week Megan outs Jordan as an actor/model. The prequel to Acting Ups Manchester excursion: Jordan reveals how she fell into modelling (Megan pushed her), how it’s going and how it compares to the wonderful (woeful) world of acting. From Megan’s photography career to headshots vs modelling shots. To pay or not to pay? Tangents include getting licked at The Box, wearing fangs to a graduation ceremony and that Jordan won’t be friends with you if you’re ugly. You can find us as @actingupthepodca...
Feb 29, 2024•48 min•Ep. 9
This week Megan and Jordan are joined by friend of the podcast and fellow drama school survivor: Kizzi Kitchener. Kizzi comes clean about one of the biggest decisions you can make in the industry… the decision to quit. From being raised as dancer and going to drama school to ultimately deciding it’s not for you and running away to sea. We can only apologise for the diversions which include Glee, rose toys and being victims of the patriarchy. You can find us as @actingupthepodcast on all socials ...
Feb 22, 2024•47 min•Ep. 8
This week Megan and Jordan discuss children in Hollywood, from the incredible performances to the tragic exploitation. Child actors have been around as long as films have. Do we wish we had done it? How are the children protected? Is it even necessary to have children in the industry? Taking on a case study each and discussing the incredible stories of Brooke Shields and Drew Barrymore, we explore the harsh realities of being a child in the public eye. Side notes include the coming out as a tumb...
Feb 15, 2024•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 7
It’s time to re-download Subway Surfers, this week we’re off to REDDIT. A podcast classic for children of the internet, Megan & Jordan delve into the depths of the Am I The Asshole & Acting Subreddits. From cats ruining self tapes to gay Shakespeare and spectacularly unsupportive parents, the Jury of podcasters is out. Diversions include being 50% chips, a Skidmore Veganuary and Varjak shouting. You can find us as @actingupthepodcast on all socials ;) We are @megan_alderson_ & @jorda...
Feb 08, 2024•50 min•Ep. 6
This week… RHYS TINNEY IS ACTING UPS FIRST GUEST! Close and personal friend of the pod Rhys Tinney joins us to discuss their journey into the industry from working class beginnings, starting “late” and navigating the industry as a non-binary individual. They get candid about auditions, dance classes, cruise ship contracts, “boy day!” and the realities of representation. Megan and Jordan contribute womb discussion, saying WOO 28 times in the introduction and inappropriate laughter. You can find u...
Feb 01, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 5
This isn’t a ‘how to’ podcast… or is it? This week Megan and Jordan delve into the audition process. From casting to self tapes and the elusive in-person recall, we get real about the highs and lows of auditioning - including but not limited to: Kicking over tripods, sticking lines onto walls and sending a casting director pictures of your pubes. Diversions include Megan’s greasy hair, getting ID’d buying a pipeline punch monster and intense dependency on fantasy escapism. You can find us as @ac...
Jan 25, 2024•47 min•Ep. 4
Megan and Jordan answer the dreaded question: ‘Oh, so you’re an actor? What are you in?’ It’s time to be candid about credits! From short films to long films and the crippling reality of being on a film set one day and behind a till the next. Side notes include having tattoos, the Monday Morning Debrief and more jokes about Megan’s dad. We are actually actors!!! We promise!!!! You can find us as @actingupthepodcast on all socials ;) We are @megan_alderson_ & @jordan.skids Artwork by @those_w...
Jan 18, 2024•39 min•Ep. 3
It had to be done… this week the girls unpack DRAMA SCHOOL. Featuring stories from you! Why did we go? What did we get out of it? Are any of us okay? Highlights include Jordan almost dying, an improvised cartwheel and nepotism pantomimes. Trigger warnings included in the episode, please look after yourselves, resources for support below <3 https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/get-information-and-support/get-help-for-myself/i-need-support-now/helplines/ https://www.mind.org.uk/need-urgent-he...
Jan 10, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 2
Meet your hosts, Megan & Jordan, two broke 23 year olds trying to be actors and learning to be podcasters in real time. We get into where we come from, how we met and why are we doing anything of this. Discussions include imaginary games, Megan not liking Jordan, a two person book club and a mandatory draft for hospitality work. Just a cute and cosy chat between friends. Welcome to Acting Up! You can find us as @actingupthepodcast on all socials ;) We are @megan_alderson_ & @jordan.skids...
Jan 03, 2024•40 min•Ep. 1
