About Irene Bradshaw
After a childhood favouring dance, I discovered acting. At 19, I graduated from LAMDA (The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) to become a professional actress.
Regional repertory companies were still thriving at that time, and that's where I developed my performing skills. For the next few years I worked as a ‘jobbing-actress' in theatres all over the British Isles – including the Traverse, Edinburgh; Hampstead Theatre Club, and The Phoenix, London West-End.
Opportunities came along in television. Numerous supporting and some leading appearances in shows such as ‘Z cars', ‘Softly Softly/Task Force', and ‘The Avengers'; plus several individual plays, sketch-work in comedy shows – and played popular character Iris Murdoch in the bi-weekly soap 'United' for the B.B.C. which ran for three years.
In films - I was cast in ‘Waltz of the Toreadors', with Peter Sellers ‘Sky West and Crooked', with Hayley Mills and Ian McShane ‘A Touch of Love', with Sandy Dennis ‘The Bargee',with Harry H. Corbett ‘Oliver' with Ron Moody and ‘Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde' with Ralph Bates...!
Teacher
In 1973 a growing interest in teaching techniques came together with a wonderful learning opportunity.
While at LAMDA, I had studied Voice with Iris Warren and Kristin Linklater, and had good reason to recall that training with gratitude and affection. In '73, Michael Macowan – the Principal of LAMDA - brought Kristin Linklater back from the U.S.A. to train invited former students in her unique method of voice training. Because of my interest in dance and movement, Michael suggested I focus on, and develop, the link between the physical body and freeing the natural voice.
So began a fascinating and rewarding journey. Applying the groundwork done at that time - and working with hundreds of students - I have gradually evolved my own particular approach to the many aspects of voice-work. An knowledge of the ‘physical equipment', the relevance of the ‘spiritual dimension', and learning to trust an ‘intuition' born of experience - all play their part…
I've had the pleasure of teaching the widest age and ability range, in most of the leading London drama academies and stage schools. LAMDA, RADA, The Drama Studio, The Italia Conti Academy of Performing Arts and The Arts Educational. Plus a long, ‘hands-on' involvement with adult education via the renowned ‘City Lit' in Covent Garden, and professional bodies such as The Actor's Centre in London.
Alongside these activities I have always worked privately with clients wanting voice-training and coaching in self-presentation - actors and those from the business world – including pop-video artists, and a recent project with London Underground personnel. In 1996 I was a co-founder of the Kachina Spirit Theatre Company, establishing a new North London ‘fringe' venue - giving me the opportunity to stage-direct, and enabling new writers and actors to show-case their talents.
Travel has been a strong theme in my life, and where possible I've combined it with voice-work initiatives. Holding voice and movement workshops, and working with individuals, I've been able to spend time in the United States, Australia and several European countries. In 1999 I participated in the Stemwerk Theatrewest Voice Festival in Rotterdam.
Working with all kinds of people and assisting in their self-discovery, continues to fascinate me - which in turn constantly refreshes my own spirit, and expands my ability to help. I look forward to our meeting…
