Actors and stage managers are predominately freelance professionals with irregular work patterns, unstable income, and time spent away from home. This unpredictability can cause anxiety, feelings of isolation and financial hardship. In our 2024 survey, 70% of actors and stage managers reported finding it difficult to manage their mental health and wellbeing over the past year. In 2022, Equity research found that actors were twice as likely to suffer from depression than the general population.

Actors Trust is expanding its mission beyond grant-making to become a responsive advice service. We have created a series of free online wellbeing webinars, in partnership with BAPAM (British Association for Performing Arts Medicine), tailored to the unique challenges faced by actors and stage managers. These sessions provide practical techniques on topics such as reducing stress, anxiety and burnout, setting healthy boundaries, and combatting bullying, harassment, isolation and loneliness.