Latest news with #stagefright
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
What Are You Afraid Of? at Kilkenny Arts Festival: Peter Hanly's stage fright study is provoking, enlightening and enriching
What Are You Afraid Of? Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny ★★★★★ 'I don't know this,' he begins. It's an actor's nightmare. The thing is, it's all of our nightmare, the fear that something familiar, what we know well, where we fit in the world, suddenly disappears. Peter Hanly was an accomplished and well-known actor, familiar from decades performing in Rough Magic productions, at the Abbey, at the Gate and on other stages, and on screen from Braveheart to Ballykissangel. Then, in 2011, at dress rehearsal for Brian Friel's monologue play Molly Sweeney in the Gate in Dublin, he had a sudden, overwhelming anxiety that he would forget the lines he knew well. 'I just couldn't believe that I knew them, that they would all be there waiting for me when I needed them.' Ultimately the terror, the severe stage fright, meant he disappeared from view for more than a decade. 'I was an actor for 30 years, show after show after show, and then it stopped. Did no one fucking notice? Did you not miss me?' READ MORE Now here he is, in this Rough Magic and Kilkenny Arts Festival production, back on stage as actor and playwright – and subject. This is Hanly's story, but it's much more than that. He explores what happened, both in life and in his head. Domhnall Herdman plays his grandfather Tom Hanly, a drapery apprentice at Clerys who died before Peter was born, and here is both provocation and guardian angel. Niamh McAllister is the stage manager's voice, terrorising, taunting, bullying ('Loser. Quitter'), a counterpoint to his grandfather. They are characters are in his head, theatrical devices, his inner voices; part of his anxiety, and performing his anxiety. There are 'real' people, too, including McAllister's myriad and often wickedly amusing therapists he visits in his distress. This manages to be both complex and simple, an exploration of how anxiety works on the human mind, but also a really strong narrative. There's interaction between Hanly, real and imagined characters, the voices, screen versions of himself. It toys with the nature of memory, time travel, inner life and outer life; the interplay between what's happening to him, as his parents' own memories flicker, is tender and illuminating. What Are You Afraid Of?: Peter Hanly, Domhnall Herdman and Niamh McAllister. Photograph: Ros Kavanagh This is both playful and profound. Lynne Parker directs her long-time colleague with sensitivity and sureness and nuance, and a deft comic touch that envelops the audience. It skilfully bounces between the delicacies of the human mind, how exposed vulnerabilities can paralyse a life, and enlightening entertainment. This is clever and very funny. It breaks the fourth wall, connecting with the audience, and there is a delightful self-consciousness in what they are about; 'move the story on,' Hanly is urged. And it revels in accomplished, swish stagecraft: video (Eoin Robinson), sound and composition (Fiona Sheil), set and lighting (Zia Bergin-Holly) and costumes (Sorcha Ní Fhloinn) are all intrinsic to the sophisticated telling of Hanly's story. It glories in all these machinations, but they also serve the telling in a way that is totally appropriate to its theme. The script in hand, the autocue, are part of this theatricality, and part of the meaning. This is an extraordinary piece of work. A totally absorbing, moving and funny piece of theatre made by someone who can no longer act. Oh, but he can: Hanly's performance is deft and complex, vulnerable, honest, warm. 'Who are you when you're not an actor?' he asks himself. The anguish it has taken to get here is clear, as is the extensive development . It's about theatre but mostly about being human. [ Peter Hanly was one of Ireland's most recognisable actors. Then he vanished Opens in new window ] This universality is pointed up from the start, the audience invited to share their own fears on cards, anonymously. This is raw, and rich. It holds the audience with compassion, while provoking, enlightening, enriching. At Watergate Theatre, as part of Kilkenny Arts Festival , until Tuesday, August 12th, and at Smock Alley, as part of Dublin Theatre Festival , from Thursday, September 25th, until Saturday, October 4th
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
James Corden reveals he is 'terrified' of starring in Broadway play ART and 'woke up sweating' worrying about his performance
James Corden has revealed he is 'terrified' of starring in hs new Broadway play and has 'woken up sweating' thinking about his performance. The comedian, 46, is starring in the play ART, Yasmina Reza's comedy about friendship, ego and modern art. The 17-week run from Aug-Dec marks return to the stage for Corden, who won a Tony for his performance in One Man, Two Guvnors in 2012. He stars opposite Neil Patrick-Harris and Jumanji's Bobby Cannavale. But James has been suffering with a bout of stage fright as he discussed his fears around performing in the play at the 92Y Talks event in New York on Tuesday. 'I mean why do a play? I am terrified. I am terrified by this entire experience,' he said. 'I have woken up every single morning sweating thinking about this speech I have in the middle of the play. I go to sleep listening to a recording of it. 'You can ask my wife and son it is painful, my nerves for this entire experience. But I could not be excited about doing it. 'I am nervous as I have got this speech in the play. Pretty much every day I wish I was playing one of the other two parts. I cant tell you how much. I dunno. It is killing me man.' James told how he is 'in awe' of his co-stars Neil and Bobby and said he realised he needed to step up his game after their first table read together. 'These two are a joke, they are unbelievable,' he said. 'They are so good. I was blown away about how accomplished and how good they were. I was like 'This might be a mistake. I probably shouldnt be doing this?' Despite his apprhension about the speech he has to give during the play, James sees his nervousness as a good thing. 'It has to be terrifying. It has to be. Isn't that the thrill of it to be completely out of your comfort zone? What a privilege to be sacred and to be nervous,' he said. 'You are only nervous when you care about something. You are only nervous when something matters. Nerves are the greatest privilege you can have going to work. 'I mean how brilliant to feel something and to do something that you care about and matters. It is amazing and that is the reason to do it. 'This is a very important moment in my life. I know it is. I can already feel that. The challenge of it already feels extraordinary.' James, like his character in the play, is in hi mid-40s and has found rehersals have got him thinking about death. There are great moments of honesty in the play. The play is about three guys on the edge,' he said. 'You are in your mid 40s and it turn into like sniper's alley where you realise 'Oh s**t I am going to die. And other people are going to die' and 'Oh my God who am I? F*ck I better buy a painting to show you I might be somebody of merit. Somehow because I am dying with every passing breath and minute.' James has had a successful career on both sides of the pond, having created the hit sitcom Gavin & Stacey and hosted The Late Late Show With James Corden in the US from 2015 to 2023. 'I mean if you could do go back. It is so easy when you are working to forget the very thing that you ever dreamt,' he said. 'I mean if I could go back and tell my 12 year old self that this would be his life right now. His head would explode. 'He would not be able to believe it that he would be in a play on Broadway. Doing this. It would be unfathomable and you have got to hang on to that every single day. 'The last hour of rehearsals today was hard man. I felt really bad as my wife and kids only arrived yesterday and every day they called me I was like "It was amazing. It was great." 'They arrived today and I got back and was like "Dont f*cking talk to me." But that is it. You have to Google Earth yourself every now and then and realise how lucky you are to be doing something like this.'
Fox News
08-07-2025
- Health
- Fox News
'Old people smell,' lung cancer risks and morning workout warnings
MIND MELT - The heat has a surprising effect on the brain — here's what doctors want you to know. Continue reading… 'SAVED MY LIFE' - Miley Cyrus reveals the unique therapy that help cure her debilitating stage fright. Continue reading… FOLLOW FOX NEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIA Fox News LifestyleFox News Health
Fox News
06-07-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Miley Cyrus reveals the 'powerful' therapy that helped her conquer stage fright
Miley Cyrus has performed for some of the world's biggest audiences — but for years, she quietly battled stage fright behind the scenes. In a recent interview, the pop icon revealed that a therapy called EMDR was instrumental in curbing her anxiety. "Love it. Saved my life," she told The New York Times in May. "I've never had stage fright again. Ever." In another recent interview with Vogue, Cyrus said that EMDR felt like watching a movie in her mind — vivid and emotional, but grounding. Cyrus isn't the only public figure to try EMDR. Prince Harry has shared in interviews that he uses the therapy to process painful memories connected to his mother's death. EMDR — or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing — is an alternative therapy designed to help people process unresolved trauma and emotional pain. "It is a powerful, research-based method that helps people heal from painful or distressing experiences that have become 'stuck' in the brain," Dr. Kate Campbell, licensed marriage and family therapist and founder of Bayview Therapy in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, told Fox News Digital. EDMR "helps people heal from painful or distressing experiences that have become 'stuck' in the brain." "EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, often through eye movements, tapping or sound, to help the brain reprocess those upsetting memories," added Campbell, who leads a team of EMDR professionals. She elaborated, "On a neurological level, EMDR helps shift the memory from being stored in the emotional part of the brain (the amygdala) to the more logical, rational part (the prefrontal cortex)." Once that shift happens, according to Campbell, people are often able to think about the experience without feeling overwhelmed. "The emotional intensity and negative beliefs linked to it begin to fade," she said. The goal is not to forget the experience, Campbell noted, but to help the brain "understand, integrate and release it, so people can move forward with more clarity, confidence and peace." "By revisiting old fears in a safe, controlled setting and reprocessing them through bilateral stimulation, the brain can shift those memories from a place of heightened distress to emotional neutrality." The root cause of performance anxiety often stems from earlier negative experiences — like an embarrassing childhood moment, fear of judgment or the pressure to be perfect — which get "locked" into the nervous system, according to Campbell. "Over time, these feelings can build into anxiety that shows up in high-pressure moments, like being on stage or speaking in public." EMDR is especially effective for performance anxiety because it addresses the underlying causes, not just the symptoms, the expert noted. The therapy aims to replace the negative memories and beliefs with supportive, empowering ones, Campbell said. "Many people notice their bodies feeling more relaxed and their thoughts becoming clearer and calmer after just a few sessions," she noted. "That shift can open the door to greater confidence, presence and peace in performance settings." Campbell applauded Cyrus' openness about undergoing EMDR therapy. "It helps to reduce the stigma of mental health and highlights how EMDR is not only for those with deep trauma or full-blown post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)," she said. For more Health articles, visit Cyrus' experience highlights that healing through therapy doesn't have to take years, Campbell emphasized. "With the right support from expert mental health professionals, people can overcome deeply-rooted fears and make space for resilience, clarity and peace."
The Sun
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
The controversial remedy Lorde used to ‘cure stage fright' before Glastonbury set – it can help anxiety and PTSD too
LORDE has opened up about the unconventional therapy that helped her overcome crippling stage fright. The Royals singer kicked off Glastonbury festival earlier today with a surprise pre-lunchtime set to a packed crowd on the Woodsies stage. 4 4 4 Speaking on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert this week, the New Zealand pop star revealed she used MDMA - known by its street name ecstasy – to conquer her fear of performing. Asked how she moved past it, the 28-year-old replied: 'Well, it's MDMA therapy. Truly, like, changed the game on my stage fright.' MDMA therapy, also called MDMA-assisted therapy, involves taking a controlled dose of the drug in a supervised medical setting, alongside sessions with a trained therapist. It's designed to help people process difficult emotions or trauma in a calm, open state. A growing body of research shows MDMA-assisted therapy could help people with a range of psychological issues, including PTSD, anxiety and depression. Trials exploring its potential to treat marriage problems, alcoholism and long-term grief are also underway or imminent. In a controversial world first, since July 1, 2023, some psychiatrists in Australia have been allowed to prescribe MDMA for PTSD under strict medical supervision. This is unlike in Lorde's New Zealand, where MDMA is still illegal for general use and is classed as a controlled drug, meaning having it without permission can lead to jail time. Switzerland also permits limited use of MDMA in therapy, while Canada allows it through a special access programme. In the US, it's not yet legal, with full approval for treating PTSD denied just last year over concerns it was not effective enough. I watched in horror as my son, 16, was killed by super-strength ecstasy – my warning to parents ahead of Glastonbury The UK still classifies MDMA as a Class A drug, meaning it is illegal to possess, sell or prescribe, although campaigners are calling for change. The ban is largely due to concerns over its potential for abuse and side-effects. When used recreationally, it can lead to raised heart rate, anxiety, confusion and, in some cases, dangerous overheating, according to Talk to Frank. There's also the risk of impure street versions. But in a controlled medical setting, where the dose is pure and carefully monitored these risks are minimal. The drug works by stimulating the brain's production of serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline - chemicals associated with feeling good or happy. 4 This creates a sense of calm and emotional safety, making it easier for people to open up during therapy sessions. Experts say the drug helps people face painful memories or fears without becoming overwhelmed, allowing the brain to 'rewire' how it responds to stress. Trials have shown it can be especially effective for people who haven't responded to traditional treatments. The results were immediate Lorde detailed how the treatment helped where other approaches had failed. 'Some of these things live very deep in the body, and you hold on to it,' she said. 'You hold on to a response like stage fright for reasons that no amount of talk therapy or brain use could get at. "But when you bypass that and get to the body, something shifts. And that totally happened for me.' After trying 'everything' to manage her performance anxiety, Lorde said the results were immediate. 'I was like, oh, it's over. I know it's over.'
