Phase One: Interviews
Phase one of this project involves the lead researcher carrying out a series of interviews with professional actors aged 18 and over discussing how their mental health relates to their working lives. Interviews are relaxed, confidential conversations with the lead researcher.
Things you need to know about being interviewed
Interviews are usually carried out by video call (i.e. on Microsoft Teams).
They usually last between about 30 minutes and an hour, but it depends how much the interviewee wants to say!
They are recorded so the researcher can transcribe and anonymise them. Recordings are saved on a secure university server and are deleted as soon as transcription is finished.
You can take breaks and pauses if you need to, or stop entirely if you change your mind during the interview.
If you change your mind about taking part after the interview has finished you can email the lead researcher and have part or all of your interview removed from the project for up to two weeks after it’s completed.
For the purpose of phase one we are using a very specific definition of a professional actor currently working in the UK (see below). We acknowledge that this definition is subjective and we know that it does not encompass the full breadth of professional life. We are using it to help us really focus in on a group of people doing a particular kind of work in a particular geographical region in order to get clarity in the results.
As the research progresses space will be made for this definition to develop and change if needed. If you do not currently fit this definition but do further down the line we hope you will still consider taking part in later phases of the research.
For the purposes of phase one a professional actor currently working in the UK is defined as:
A person who is being paid/has been paid/is due to be paid to perform by embodying the persona of another person/being/character where the primary mode of communication with the audience is language and/or actions (as opposed to song, dance or stylised movement) in the UK for a UK based company within the last 18 months, even where it is only one aspect of the performance that is captured (such as acting in a radio play).
Interviews will be taking place from August 2023
If you are interested in taking part or have any questions please email Alice. Those who are asked to take part will be provided with a full participant information sheet and consent form, and time will be made for any questions to be answered in full.