The Actor’s Greatest Fear: Drying — Understanding Why It Happens and How to Recover in the Moment

Few moments are more frightening for an actor than “drying” — the sudden experience of losing your lines or your train of thought in front of an audience. Even highly experienced performers can encounter it, and the fear of it happening can quietly undermine confidence, creativity and presence on stage.

In this workshop, actor and psychotherapist Nick Gleaves explores what really happens when an actor dries, and how performers can better understand and navigate these moments when they arise.

Drawing on more than 30 years’ experience as an actor in film, theatre and television, Nick has a deep understanding of the unique pressures performers face, and how the highs and lows of the profession can affect both wellbeing and creative freedom.

Alongside his work as an actor, Nick has trained as a Jungian Psychodynamic Psychotherapist at the Society of Analytical Psychology, bringing together his experience of performance with a deeper exploration of the psychological processes that shape creativity, confidence and presence.

During the workshop, Nick reflects on his own experience of drying on the first night of a play at the National Theatre, using this moment as a starting point to explore the psychological dynamics behind drying and the ways actors can work with — rather than against — these experiences.

Through a combination of personal insight, psychological understanding and practical reflection, the workshop offers actors a deeper understanding of:

• why drying happens
• the psychological factors that can contribute to it
• how the fear of drying can affect performance
• how actors can maintain creative presence when these moments occur

Rather than seeing drying purely as a failure, this workshop invites actors to explore how these moments can be understood differently — and how performers can retain their creative confidence and presence even when the unexpected happens.

Who this workshop is for

This workshop is open to everyone but may be of particular interest to performers and speakers at all stages of their careers, including students, early-career performers and experienced professionals.

You do not need to have experienced drying yourself to attend — many actors join simply because they recognise the fear of it happening.

Booking information

This session is free for members of the Creative Industries Community, who can reserve their place using their unique membership password.

Tickets for non-members are £10.

The presentation element of the session will be recorded for those who are unable to attend the live event. However, you must reserve a place in order to receive access to the recording.