Michelle Brooks is a Black British Writer and a graduate of the prestigious ROSE BRUFORD acting programme. Michelle's journey in the industry is nothing short of remarkable.With a background that includes stints at BBC Entertainment in Salford and BBC Promotions in London, Michelle honed her comedic prowess under the guidance of luminaries like Logan Murray, Funny Women, Amused Moose, and Comedy 5050. Her dedication to her craft paid off in 2019 when she collaborated with Comedian Simon Watt and...
May 28, 2025•48 min•Season 3Ep. 2
In this inspiring episode of Performers Who Pivot , Grace chats with the multi-talented Marsha Carrington — founder of Pinnacle Performing Arts and Styled by MJC . From dancing on Top of the Pops to helping people style and organise their homes, Marsha shares how she’s gracefully pivoted her performance career into two thriving creative businesses. She opens up about: - Overcoming shyness and building confidence- Healing from personal loss and embracing spirituality - The power of trusting your ...
Apr 16, 2025•55 min
Just Say Yes with Tammie Webster In this episode of The Performers Who Pivot Podcast , we’re joined by Tammie Webster, a data analytics expert by day and a passionate performer alongside her corporate career. Tammie discovered acting in her 30s after a challenging life experience and has since embraced it as a creative outlet. Tammie shares how saying “yes” to new experiences has opened doors to acting, action combat, and writing. Her story highlights the power of balancing a thriving profession...
Jan 04, 2025•47 min•Ep. 22
Welcome to 'The Performers Who Pivot Podcast,' where we celebrate incredible journeys of transformation and creativity. I'm Grace Viora, your host, and I'm thrilled to introduce Arlo Carter to this episode. Arlo Carter hails from a council estate in the picturesque Shires of the West Country in England. In 2020, the National Youth Film Academy honoured him with the title of Emerging Brit. His acting credits include a role as Alan Fisher in ITV's Doc Martin and a recent lead role as Logan in Joac...
Apr 03, 2024•37 min
Welcome to 'The Performers Who Pivot Podcast,' where we celebrate incredible journeys of transformation and creativity. I'm Grace Viora, your host, and I'm thrilled to introduce Dyonne Antonette Josiah, a talented creator who started her artistic journey nearly two decades ago. Dyonne, once a performer, has gracefully pivoted her talents towards writing children's books. Hailing from Islington, North London, Dyonne discovered her passion for storytelling early on. Struggling with dyslexia at 16,...
Jan 23, 2024•40 min•Ep. 20
In this episode, I speak with Sophie Methuen-Turner. Sophie is a Brighton-based, Spotlight actor. She has appeared in a Channel 5 documentary this year, and is going on tour next year, to London, Oxford and Italy. Follow Sophie’s journey on Instagram. Grace Viora is the host of The Performers who Pivot podcast. She is an actor, writer and entrepreneur. Grace started her award-winning company DramEd to enrich children through the arts in education. Grace shares her blueprint and brand with perfor...
Dec 21, 2023•33 min
Welcome to The Performers who Pivot podcast. In this special episode, we embark on a one-of-a-kind journey. as the roles reverse and the student becomes the interviewer. In a heartwarming and insightful conversation, we delve into the stories, lessons, and experiences that have shaped both the teacher's career and the student's growth. Discover how the guidance and passion of this exceptional educator ignited the spark that set our host on a path of creativity and fulfilment. As the spotlight sh...
Sep 04, 2023•37 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Today's episode features a special guest, Dr Feyisara Mendes, the kind of Doctor you visit when you are concerned about your health. She has a medical portfolio which includes lifestyle medicine and women's health. However, this Doctor is equally passionate about writing and performing for stage and screen after a recent pivot back into the arts. Since paying homage to her calling to the screen and stage, Dr Shaz has secured representation by one of Britain's leading award-winning acting agencie...
Jan 22, 2023•31 min
In this episode I share how show business is similar to running your own business. Hello and welcome to the Performers who Pivot podcast brought to you by your host Grace Viora. This podcast is for actors and performers who are navigating two careers at the same time, maybe one performing arts career and one business to fall back on, or a business to have alongside your performing arts career or perhaps you want to leave the performing arts industry altogether. Still, you don’t want to retrain, ...
Oct 14, 2022•20 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Ideas + Action = Success, and the ego belongs in the back seat…most of the time. Fear is a friend of ego; their job is to protect but is it overworking? In this episode, I touch on navigating your ego.Hello and welcome to the Performers who Pivot podcast brought to you by your host Grace Viora. This podcast is for actors and performers who are navigating two careers at the same time, maybe one performing arts career and one business to fall back on, or a business to have alongside your performin...
Oct 02, 2022•17 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Hello and welcome to the Performers who Pivot podcast brought to you by your host Grace Viora. This podcast is for actors and performers who are navigating two careers at the same time, maybe one performing arts career and one business to fall back on, or a business to have along side your performing arts career or perhaps you want to leave the performing arts industry all together but don’t want to retrain so you are exploring how to progress using the skills you already have. Our objective is ...
Sep 24, 2022•20 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Hello and welcome to the performers who pivot podcast brought to you by your host Grace Viora. This podcast is for actors and performers who are navigating two careers at the same time, maybe one performing arts career and one business to fall back on, or a business to have along side your performing arts career or perhaps you want to leave the performing arts industry all together but don’t want to retrain so you are exploring how to progress using the skills you already have. Our objective is ...
Sep 17, 2022•13 min
And we’re back! Welcome to Episode 2 of The Performers Who Pivot Podcast —a podcast dedicated to supporting performers as they navigate careers and business alongside their creative lives. Life as a performer often means juggling multiple passions and finding ways to lend your skills to build a life that truly feels good. In this episode, I’m chatting with Tyan—an actress, writer, creative freelancer for Dramagical Entertainment Ltd, and mother of two. Tyan’s journey is inspiring. She trained wi...
Sep 10, 2022•59 min•Ep. 2
Ian Weichardt is a "northern lad" from Yorkshire. His passion in life is to entertain, educate and tell stories. He is an actor, writer, children’s entertainer, educational practitioner and owner of a successful children’s entertainment business, Mr Ruffles Parties. Most notable acting performances are for the Olivier nominated play The Miser at the Garrick Theatre, West End, T.V. roles in Holby City, Coronation Street, Doctors and D.C.I. Banks, film roles for Razors and Freak of Nurture and BBC...
Feb 26, 2022•39 min•Season 1Ep. 9
In this weeks episode of the Performers who Pivot podcast I update you with my pivots and my personal life. At the end of last year I felt called to pivot back to acting and managed to land myself a TV role! Here I tell you all about it. In this episode I tell you about The Audience Friend This show was brought to you by Grace Viora @performerswhopivot podcast and @DramEduk...
Feb 19, 2022•15 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Jordan Pitt is an actor and award winning filmmaker with over 20 years experience both in front of and behind the camera. He launched ONE UMBRELLA PRODUCTIONS in 2011, premiering his first film 'LOST WORDS' which was shot in the South of France, at the 'Diversity in Cannes' showcase the following year.In 2013, he released his second short film 'AMBITION TO LIVE' which screened at various festivals - London Film Network Film Festival (where it picked up an audience choice award), Portobello Road ...
Feb 12, 2022•59 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Sara-Jane is a Performer and Business owner who has pivoted back into the arts after a long run in the corporate world. Her passion for performing arts started at the age of 3. After graduating with a 2:1 BA honours in Performing Arts, Sara-Jane devised numerous dance and drama pieces for a variety of organizations ranging from directing Musicals such as Bugsy Malone to bespoke pieces written and devised for young children. After the birth of her first child in 2012, like many of us, she opted f...
Feb 05, 2022•46 min•Season 1Ep. 6
B.O.S.S. (Be On Stage & Screen) Acting School is a new cutting-edge drama school founded in 2020 by professional actors, Jennifer Brooke and Samantha Shaw, who deliver classical actor training with a fresh and innovative twist! In this episode we dive into what it's like to pivot from the arts and make a success of business with a friend! BOSS Acting School took off during the Covid_19 pandemic when there started building an audience online. They both still act whilst merging their passion ...
Jan 29, 2022•54 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Uche Abuah is a Nigerian-British actor and producer from London who began acting professionally as a student at the famed Identity Drama School in 2009. She recieved praise for her role as Uwa in the theatrical run of Another Biafra at the Rosemary Branch theatre in 2011. She followed this up by playing the lead role in the 2011, Royal Commonwealth Society's award-winning short, The Unlucky Mother. Uche then featured in smaller indie films such as Woodfalls (2013) and Mum Dad Meet Sam (2014) bef...
Jan 22, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Taja is a West London Actor and Franchisee of Frenzy Drama, a drama school for young people. Taja bought her franchise before the age of 25 and has been navigating both careers to date. She loves travelling, reading and meeting new people. In this episode you will hear about how Taja is navigating two careers at the same time. Her favourite book at the moment is 'We should all be Millionaires' by Rachel Rodgers. This Performers who Pivot episode was brought by DramEd. To find out more visit www....
Jan 15, 2022•42 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Meet Eboni Taylor, a multifaceted individual from the vibrant streets of East London. Not your typical university student, Eboni is a force to be reckoned with—a business owner, a performer, and a beacon of ambition. In this episode, Eboni shares her journey of navigating the complex intersection of academia, entrepreneurship, and the performing arts. Whether you're a budding student entrepreneur or a creative seeking inspiration, this conversation shares insights and actionable advice. Drawing ...
Jan 08, 2022•44 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Tanya Nicole Edwards was born and raised in West London and has forever been a lover of music, she attended Sylvia Young Scool for a number of years as a kid and then went on to dancing with Impact Dance and joining the RBKC choir. After auditioning for The Lion King at the age of 16 she had an offer and made her WestEnd debut making her the youngest adult in history thus far in the cast, for the last 15 years she has been in shows including Dirty dancing, toured Asia with Hairspray, Motown The ...
Jan 01, 2022•45 min•Ep. 2
Welcome to The Performers who Pivot podcast. *Disclaimer - At the time of recording this first episode this podcast was called 'Performers in Business'. This podcast is for actors and performers who are navigating two careers at the same time, maybe one performing arts career and one business to fall back on, or a business to have along side your performing arts career or perhaps you want to leave the performing arts industry all together but don’t want to retrain so you are exploring how to pro...
Nov 20, 2021•11 min•Season 1Ep. 1
