Star helps speakers fight fears
Her film adversaries have included flesh-eating monsters who live in a maze of tunnels and mutant humans.
Shauna Macdonald’s career as an actress has seen her portray extreme fear. Now she is using that experience to help other people overcome theirs.
If the thought of a job interview, giving a work presentation, or making a wedding speech fill you with dread, then Shauna’s new masterclass teaching acting skills for the scared could transform your life.
Delivered by Shauna – who starred in awardwinning horror The Descent – the class teaches those who struggle with public speaking everything they need to know to act their way through nervewracking situations.
Participants are encouraged to acknowledge what frightens them and are given the skills to overcome these hurdles, including coaching to stop them being “betrayed” by their own voices and bodies.
Relaxation skills are also taught by Macdonald, who is one of the voice actors in the new Danger Mouse series, while good oldfashioned clowning techniques are used to show how simple movements, gestures and eye contact can completely change a person’s performance.
“I was a really shy kid. I had a lisp and had to go to speech therapy. I hid behind my sister in social situations,” said Macdonald.
“Then I started going to this amazing youth theatre and it changed my life.
“Now I teach pitch, pause, pace and surprise. Change the pitch and pace of your voice and do a dramatic pause.
“Surprise the audience by suddenly clicking your fingers or throwing a pen.”
If In Doubt Shout’s oneday masterclass will take place in April at Tribe Porty in Portobello, Edinburgh.