I’ve seen this industry from almost every side. Child performer. West End leading lady. Screen Actor. Teacher. Chaperone. Performing arts school Principal. And I’m a mum of two now too.

I’m Megan and I’ve spent more than 20 years in and around the performing arts industry. I started professionally at 10 years old. I trained at the Sylvia Young Theatre School, worked in television as a child and adult and went on to perform leading roles in the West End and on UK tours. However, my parents weren’t from the industry. They were just parents trying to support a child who loved performing and we went into it all completely blind and there are many things I wish we had known.

My parents gave me every opportunity they could, but like so many families, they didn’t always know which questions to ask, who to trust or what options were available. They even remortgaged our family home to support my training. Looking back, there were funding routes we didn’t know about, decisions we might have made differently and plenty of mistakes we could have avoided.

That experience is why Showing Up exists. I am sharing everything I know about being in the industry as a child and beyond, to help parents have the leg up that I never had.

I will absolutely not sugar coat anything, or promise to make your child a star, but I will ensure that every parent that watches my video course is able to make informed decisions based on the very best, most up to date information and all first-hand lived experience over the last 20+ years.

As a former child actor, I know what auditions and rejection feel like, as well as the requirement to deliver professional standards in a grown-up environment while still enjoying childhood.

As a West End performer, I experienced the realities of becoming an adult cast member and sustaining a demanding lead role, 8 shows a week, at just 17.

As a screen actor, I learned how to turn around a self tape in a matter of hours, how to work a demanding shooting schedule and memorise pages of dialogue the night before.

As an accredited RAD, IDTA & Acrobatic Arts teacher and performing arts school Principal, I’ve supported hundreds of young performers and their families with training, performance opportunities and advice on entering the industry professionally.

As a licensed chaperone, I understand the legal requirements and safeguarding considerations for professional work with children, alongside areas lacking regulation where parents and guardians need to be aware.

And now as a parent, I understand the never-ending worry and multi-layered thinking behind every decision a family makes, considering the impacts on siblings and family life.

Today, more than 250 children attend my performing arts school each week and it is ever growing. This video course was initially born out of my need to summarise my advice for those students and parents exploring the world of professional work at my own school, but now I am sharing it with you too.

There is a lot of brilliant advice out there about becoming a better performer. Showing Up is different. It’s for the person driving them to the audition. Paying for the lessons. Making the self tape. Reading the contract. Choosing the agent. Picking them up after a “no”. And wondering whether they’re doing the right thing.

I won’t promise your child a career in the performing arts. Nobody ever can. I will also be real with you about how tough it can be and help you consider if it’s truly the right path for you to take, whilst also reminding you that it’s OK to change your mind at any time if it stops being the right thing for you and your family.

What I can promise is that I will share the most important things I’ve learned, including the mistakes I made, to ensure you don’t go into this blind. It’s the advice I wish my parents had when I was 10 and now, I hope it can help you…