By Phoebe Kozinets
Hi amazing people who clicked on this blog. I’ll give it to you straight- the ONLY thing on my mind today is the WICKED MOVIE!!!!! I’m beyond excited to see it. One of the very first things I did after moving to London was get a ticket to go see Wicked by myself, sat in the third row. I started weeping when Elphaba and Glinda clutched hands during Dancing Through Life, and didn’t stop until the final curtain closed. It was one of the best nights of my life. And now we are all seeing Wicked on THE BIG SCREEN MAMAS! It takes me back to being a kid at summer camp being told I couldn’t sign up for 8 slots in the campfire talent show each night to perform a different song from Wicked as a solo. That little diva I was felt no stage fright. I wonder if Ariana and Cynthia felt stage fright before their first day filming?
We are gonna chat here about tips, tricks, and stories about overcoming stage fright in improv- featuring interviews with Steve Roe and Isabelle Glinn (two icons)!
Stage fright is something that everyone experiences differently, and it can manifest in both physical and mental ways. When I am feeling nerves before a big show, it often feels like a quickened heart rate, sweaty palms, and negative thoughts starting to creep in. When stage fright pops up in the moment, I find that deep breathing, grounding my body, and trying to replace the negative thoughts with positive affirming thoughts helps me to be successful! Often holding a positive mantra or visual can help as well. If I have time to do some quick writing in a journal, or chat to someone about how I am feeling- that always helps too. Even just quickly sharing a fear or anxiety with someone else on your team can help you realize it isn’t based in reality by saying it out loud. As a kid, my mom always told me that the feelings of being nervous and excited are very similar. To help me reframe nerves, she would tell me to turn the butterflies in my stomach into ladybugs of excitement! I’ve used this with plenty of young children before performances, and they always love the visual (thanks mom). But the same principle works with us too, reminding yourself that the nerves show you really care about what you are about to do- and that it is a huge blessing to be doing something you care about- is a great reframe!
But don’t just take it from me, here are some thoughts from Hoopla’s Director Steve Roe!
Q: Steve- what does stage fright feel like in your body?
“Stage fright can feel like stress or anxiety, but it shows up differently for everyone. Some people go into fight mode—your heart rate spikes, you feel restless, and you want to pace. Others might go into flight mode—you just want to leave the room. And then there’s freeze mode—where your brain goes blank, and no thoughts come to you at all.”
Q: How do you prepare to deal with stage fright before a show?
“I learned the importance of rituals from reading about athletes. Every athlete has their own pre-game routine—it doesn’t matter what it is, but they all find something that works for them. That’s how I approach my shows. My ritual starts the night before. Ideally, I don’t have caffeine or alcohol the night before because I know it’ll make me anxious the next day. On the day of the show, I try to exercise outdoors, and when I’m heading to the venue, I listen intuitively to what my body wants to do and honor it.
For example, I always walk a different route to the venue, so I’m not just on autopilot. If it’s summer, I’ll find a tree in a park and lie down, looking up where the branches meet the sky—there’s something about seeing a mix of tree, cloud, and sky that grounds me. If it’s winter and cold, I might walk without a coat to feel the cold air—it wakes me up. And if it’s raining, I have a few ‘hideout spots’ near certain venues where I’ll do a seated meditation. I focus on letting go of any stress from the rest of my life and remind myself that I’ve chosen to be there. I also like to do a walking meditation.
By the time I step into the venue, I’ve usually done enough emotional preparation to feel present. Once the warm-up starts, I let go of all the build-up. Once I’m in the show, I like to focus on just one part of improv per show, for instance listening or who/what/where or playing with emotions, but just one thing consciously.”
Q: What tips would you give a performer experiencing stage fright while performing?
“If you’re in the middle of a show and stage fright kicks in, there are a few things you can do to get yourself back in the game.
- Focus on just a few improv basics. Listening, Yes And, Commit, they are all there to help improvisers and you don’t have to think about everything in improv, just pick one thing and focus on that.
- Adjust your body language. When you’re offstage, check how you’re standing. Don’t hide in the corner, cross your arms, or look closed off. Open up your stance, uncross your arms, and stand on the balls of your feet like you’re ready to jump in. Sometimes just shifting your posture can help you feel more prepared to act.
- Be obvious. If you’re feeling stuck, focus on doing the most straightforward thing you can think of. For example, if the suggestion is ‘pub,’ just walk into the scene and say, ‘Can I get three pints of lager?’ The audience doesn’t need you to be clever—they just want you to show up and play.” There’s loads about Being Obvious and Not Trying Your Best in Keith Johnstone’s book Impro.
- Take a support role. If stepping into a full scene feels overwhelming, start with small support roles. Play an inanimate object—like a chair, a lamp, or even a tree—or join as a supporting character. Be someone’s assistant or their lower-status friend. These roles let you ease into the scene without the pressure of leading it.
Q: Can you share a personal experience with stage fright?
“Over 10 years ago, before I had all my pre-show rituals in place, I was invited to perform at the Slap Dash International Festival in an improvised musical. I was so excited—I’d been looking forward to it all week. But on the day of the show, I felt awful. I was walking to the venue, and I kept thinking, ‘Why do I feel this way? I’ve been so excited for this. What’s wrong with me?’
Eventually, I was outside near Waterloo, and it had just stopped raining. Immediately I was drawn to a phone box covered in water droplets from the rain, that were illuminated by the shining sun. All I wanted to do was stare at the drops. I didn’t know why, but as I focused on the drops, all my stress melted away.
When I got to the venue, I saw my friend Andrew Gentilli. I told him what happened, and he said, ‘You’ve just been meditating without realizing it. You invented your own meditation!’ That moment taught me that everyone has their own way of calming their mind—you just have to figure out what works for you. At that festival, I heard so many different rituals from other performers. Some people need to meet up with the cast beforehand and catch up over drinks. For me, I need that quiet time to do my emotional preparation. “
Q: What advice do you give to students dealing with stage fright?
“The first thing I tell students is to look after yourself in the build-up to the show. Do things that help you relax and stay in the moment. And it’s okay to feel a little nervous!
If a student is feeling overwhelmed and thinking, ‘I don’t think I can do this,’ I remind them that they’re not responsible for the entire show. Your only job is to focus on one thing at a time. Maybe your goal for the show is just to step on stage—that’s enough. If your foot moves toward the stage, follow it. If you tell a worried mind not to worry about anything, they’ll worry about everything. Giving them one thing to focus on is much more helpful.
As a teacher, I also think it helps to focus students on practicing the beginning of the show rather than the whole thing. We’ll play fun warm-up games that people already know, get moving, and make joyful mistakes.”
Thank you to Steve for these brilliant and personal answers!!!!! But GET THIS….. THAT’S NOT ALL!!!!
Read ahead to enjoy a chat I had with phenomenal teacher and performer Isabelle Glinn!
Here are some stories Izzy shared reflecting her experiences with stage fright!
Biggest Stage Fright – Drama School Showcase
“The biggest stage fright I’ve ever felt was back in drama school. We were performing in a big cabaret showcase at Crazy Coqs, and I had to do a solo song. It was such a high-pressure situation—there wasn’t much internal support, and it felt like, ‘You’d better get this right.’ I was staying in a hotel in London, and I was so nervous I couldn’t eat anything. I felt completely nauseous, wobbly, and sick to my stomach.
Looking back, the pressure of feeling like it was all on me made it so much harder to handle. Now, I know how different it feels when you’re part of a team that has your back. But back then, I felt like I was on my own, and it was overwhelming.”
First Notflix Show
“I’ll never forget how nervous I was for my first Notflix show. It was at this big venue with loads of people in the audience, and the stakes felt high. But the difference was that I was surrounded by the most supportive team. The other players had my back completely—they made me feel so held and supported. They carried me through that show and helped me look like a hero.
Because of them, I ended up having the best show ever. It was a perfect reminder of how much being part of a strong, supportive team can transform nerves into confidence.”
First CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation Show – Brighton Fringe
“When I did my first CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation show at Brighton Fringe, it was in this massive venue, and I was so nervous. Even though I felt completely supported by the team, I was still nauseous and felt really unwell, even at times during the show.
The funny thing is, the moment the show started, it got better. With improv, you don’t have time to sit in your anxiety once you’re onstage. It’s just onto the next thing, and then the next thing. Shows like CSI, which are more freeform, can give you a little more time to think on the sides before stepping forward, so I sometimes feel the nerves linger a bit more there. But even then, once you’re in action, it shifts into adrenaline, and it’s always so much better than how you feel beforehand.”
Drama School Teacher’s Ritual – “The Power is in Your Hand”
“In drama school, we had this teacher, Johanna, who made us do a wild but amazing pre-show ritual. She’d make us dance to the full six-minute track of ‘I’ve Got the Power.’ At the end, we’d clench our fists and she’d shout, ‘The power is in your hand!’ It was silly, but it was such a confidence booster.
I still use a version of it today. Before a show, I’ll clench my fist and say to myself, ‘I’ve got this.’ It’s a little thing, but it helps me center myself and channel those nerves into confidence.”
Q: What tips would you give a performer experiencing stage fright while performing?
- “Remind yourself that you’re not alone. In improv, we’re always part of a team—it’s never all on you. If you feel nervous, lean on your teammates and trust that they’ve got your back. You’re not doing this solo, and that support can help carry you.
- Connect with your team before the show. Pre-show rituals are a game changer. With CSI, we say, ‘Got your back,’ and it evolves into a fun, personal in-joke. We also take a moment to check in with each teammate before going onstage, which helps us feel grounded and connected.
- Take care of basic needs. This might sound small, but make sure you’ve done all the little things: go for a wee, drink some water, grab a mint, put on some lip balm. It’s amazing how much more relaxed you’ll feel when those basics are handled, so you don’t have extra things to stress about mid-show.”
Q: What advice would you give someone who is struggling with self-doubt?
“It’s so easy to get in your own head, especially if you start comparing yourself to others. My biggest piece of advice is to remember that you bring something unique that no one else can. Everyone has something special that’s only theirs—it might not even feel special to you because it’s so natural, but it is.
Trust that who you are, as you are, is enough. You don’t have to try to be more or do more. Focus on being yourself rather than stressing about getting every skill perfect. You’ve already done the work—just let yourself play. You’re already interesting because you’re a person. That’s enough!”
Q: Any other tips?
“If you feel comfortable, any physical/vocal/grounding warm-ups you can do just before the show are great. Visualize success- picture how it will feel to be celebrating with your team after an amazing show! And remember that this feeling is temporary, emotions are not permanent and the nerves won’t last forever.”
Thank you Izzy for these absolutely brilliant insights! You can follow her on Instagram @isabelleglinn!
Go forth, conquer your stage fright, and remember that YOU ARE POWERFUL AND BADASS AND ENOUGH AND BRILLIANT JUST BECAUSE YOU’RE YOU!!!!!! If all else fails, just picture the audience naked.