HEY, YOU -- WANT TO JOIN ACTORS FROM ACROSS THE WORLD FOR A TRULY TRANSFORMATIVE RETREAT EXPERIENCE?

Slow down, do less, be more
The Art of Acting Retreat with Helena Walsh
For actors who wish to bring their acting to the next level in a co-creative trusting environment so that you expand into your greater potential.

Imagine...
- How would your acting evolve if you knew how to go deeper?
- How would your practice evolve if you knew how to integrate the here and now into your creative process?
- How would your relationship with the other actor evolve if you became more receptive?
- How would your relationships in your life and art transform if you felt empowered?
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How would your ability to trust evolve if you became curious about integrating your discomfort?
What if you could navigate any circumstance creatively and with deeply empowered presence?

INTRODUCING...

This is a 6-day in person acting retreat led by acting, voice and empowerment coach, Helena Walsh, who has over 25 years experience teaching in the film and theatre industries
Your acting adventure awaits
December 10th to 15th 2023
The Wicklow Escape, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
Here's what to expect:
This unique opportunity brings actors together to grow, evolve, challenge and transform in the stunning scenery of The Wicklow Mountains!
- The Wicklow Escape is an idyllic setting to gather, explore, reflect & deepen your acting process. We will be surrounded by natural beauty and Helena's acting workshops will focus on moving through the spiral of intensity to complexity to simplicity.
- Orientation Practice : The Art of Presence
Daily, there will be work integrating life and art through our six senses, through our “organic intelligence” from our biology to our environment to the group of actors present, to what matters to us individually and collectively about the world we live in. Discovering your alignment with these forces will anchor your work as an artist , actor in a potent, personal and collective creative intelligence. This will invite you to become open to receive the potential for growth & transformation that is already there for you to work & play with in your life & art. - Nervous System Regulation & Integration Work
The work is inspired by Fitzmaurice Voicework®, Organic Intelligence® and Neurosystemics™ and works from the principles of stability, support, pleasure and play. It is a journey into alignment of imagination body and breath, working with the fight / flight / freeze mechanisms that ignite in the actor’s nervous system when working with creative impulse. We will explore the subtle nuances in our rich vulnerability so that the experience of your character is more embodied and alive. - Scene & Character Work
It is a fusion of the relationship of the physiology and biology with the imaginative circumstances of the story. The scene work is about being in and experiencing the story, building a belief in story through specific tools given by Helena to give you an ever evolving deepening of your craft. Encouraging an enjoyable risky leap into the unknown, excited by the danger of trusting something bigger than you to move through you. Stepping into your own potency and in so doing a vibrant empowering expression of the moment.
This retreat is powerful, you're together in a room, it's for a concentrated time. It's an enjoyable, playful, transformative, powerful few days. If this sounds like something that you would really enjoy, then come join us.
Places limited! Don't miss out on your chance to work with one of the most internationally sought after acting, voice and empowerment coaches Helena Walsh
HERE'S WHAT'S INSIDE:
You're going to
love
these

Delicious Food
Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner. Typical breakfast: fresh fruit, yogurt, granola & freshly brewed coffee. Vegetarian / vegan lunch and dinners cooked together.

The Accommodation
We will be staying The Wicklow Escape, located just 60 minutes from Dublin in the heart of the stunning scenery of the Wicklow Mountains.
And just who will be teaching you The Art of Acting Retreat?
Me! I'm Helena Walsh
Voice & Acting Coach | Human Empowerment & Resiliency Organic Intelligence® Consultant.
Helena Walsh is an experienced voice and acting coach who has been transforming personal and collective lives in the international arts world for over 25 years. She studied voice at the International Roy Harte Centre in the south of France and trained in Fitzmaurice Voicework® at Central in London. Helena was appointed as the European director of the Fitzmaurice Institute and was the co-director of the Freedom and Focus Fitzmaurice Voicework® Conference in 2016 and 2018 in Dublin and London respectively.
Helena's passion for helping actors reach their full potential led her to co-create "The Actor's Practice" with her colleague Benjamin Mathes of Crash Acting LA. This ten-week advanced acting process is inspired by week-long retreats they host in Clonakilty, Ireland, and Pelion, Greece. Through this compassionate and transformative practice, actors are able to take their craft to new heights and achieve personal growth that positively impacts all aspects of their lives.
In recent years, Helena has been focusing on nervous system regulation, as she recognized that performance and personal anxiety were among the biggest challenges faced by actors. She discovered Organic Intelligence® in 2017 and has since become a certified human empowerment and resiliency consultant. Combining her expertise in Fitzmaurice Voicework®, Roy Hart, and mentorship from Andrea Ainsworth, Helena takes a holistic approach to the actor's process that helps actors find their authentic selves and embody the text with confidence and pleasure.
With her background in Organic Intelligence® and Neurosystemics™, Helena works one-on-one with actors in the room and with groups to facilitate compassionate, collective change and co-creativity. Her approach helps actors move beyond "what's wrong attention" and into a space of complexity and enjoyment, empowering them to tell their story with authenticity and connect with their scene partners. Helena's expertise and commitment to her craft make her an invaluable asset to any actor looking to take their skills and personal growth to the next level.


"Her work is extraordinary"
"Helena assisted me in opening up doors to my character’s history & helped to unlock elements to their story. Her work is extraordinary and drives you to build a world around your character through narrative and imagination. Her help and support is like no other. Highly recommend working with this master craftswoman.."
LAURENCE O' FUARAIN
ACTOR

I've been working with Helena since we met in acting school a number of years ago. She's like a wizard that can see and bring out things in you that you might never thought possible without her. Helena has genuinely helped me be a better, happier and more balanced actor and human. Couldn't recommend her and the team enough
Jason Daly
Actor

Working with Helena was one of the best decisions I've ever made. It has transformed my approach to acting, and since working with her I've seen huge self-growth - both as an actor and on a personal level. I'm excited to continue working with Helena and to see where her work and support takes me next.
Aine Flanagan
Actress

Helena’s teachings and support will guide you through a journey of discovery and exploration of the humanity in not only you as the artist, but also in you as yourself. You’ll feel more empowered and fearless as she brings light into the unknown ahead of your artistry’s journey. I’ve been studying with her for a while and all I can say now is that, reading a script, working on character and telling stories have become so nuanced, so humane and magical. So, I can’t recommend her enough. She’s a badass coach and human being!.
Matheus Tonon
Actor

The most brilliantly adaptive acting training imaginable, one of the greats.
Justin Ensor
Actor
Let's Talk Wicklow Escape
The breakdown
The Empowered Self: personal growth & development
Nervous system regulation 1:1's
using Organic Intelligence®
During the retreat, Helena will be working with you using Organic Intelligence (OI) which takes a holistic approach to wellness, emphasizing the connection between the mind, body, and spirit. Actors can particularly benefit from this approach as they need to be in tune with their emotions and surroundings.
Orientation practice is a crucial aspect of OI that helps individuals become more present and aware of their bodily sensations, especially useful for actors who need to be fully engaged in their surroundings. These sessions help you develop crucial skills, such as adaptability, listening, self-regulation, responsiveness, clarity, social engagement, boundary-setting, well-being, and empowerment.


Empowering
The Collective
Group resiliency circles
Neurosystemics™ Resiliency Circles are a valuable tool for actors as they create a space for collective empowerment. In these circles, individuals are encouraged to support and uplift one another, which strengthens the group as a whole. By building a relational field of acceptance, empathy, trust, and vulnerability, individuals in the circle can find enough trust to share their struggles, hopes, and aspirations. This creates a strong foundation of connection and understanding that can enhance group resiliency.
Giving everyone in the group a voice and the space to speak is a crucial component of Neurosystemics™ Resiliency Circles. This enables individuals to share their perspectives, experiences, and insights, leading to more open communication and a deeper sense of community. By doing so, it can lead to greater diversity, equality, and inclusion in the performing arts culture, as everyone's voices are equally valued and respected.
Creative Flow
Daily voice, acting and embodiment masterclasses
You meet with Helena daily for voice, body, character integration work and nervous system regulation work. The work is inspired by Fitzmaurice Voicework®, Organic Intelligence® and Neurosystemics™ and works from the principles of stability, support, pleasure and play. It is a journey into alignment of imagination body and breath, working with the fight / flight / freeze mechanisms that ignite in the actor’s nervous system when working with creative impulse. We will explore the subtle nuances in our rich vulnerability so that the experience of your character is more embodied and alive.


Outcomes
The actor has worked consistently in practice and process and now recognises their own and another actors' boundaries as an important part of trust, equality and skilled listening.
Trust, acceptance and empathy have been established as the code of ethics within the way the actors communicate with each other.
You will feel a great sense of liberation and freedom of expression and innovation and creativity is flourishing and boundless.
The Art of Acting
6-day Retreat
Move away from result and move into process.
YOU. CAN. DO. THIS.
Helena has spent the past six years studying nervous system regulation alongside top experts in the field. Through her work, she discovered that actors faced significant challenges related to performance anxiety and personal anxiety. The lack of structure in their lives and careers, along with the intense highs and lows, often led to a sense of disillusionment.
To address this issue, Helena delved deeper into her research and found that her actors' performances became more intricate. They moved away from intense emotions and embraced complexity, uncovering a simplicity that revealed the essence of a vibrant moment. Instead of focusing on what was wrong, they started to find enjoyment and pleasure in their lives, storytelling, character development, and their relationships with scene partners.
Slow down, do less & be more!
Helena employs Organic Intelligence® in her one-on-one sessions, using Neurosystemics™ to regulate the nervous system of the group.
This approach strengthens the collective field and fosters compassionate, collective change and co-creativity.
The goal is to help individuals find their voice and speak authentically from a place of self-acceptance and self-expression.
Still Got Questions?

What are the logistics?
HOW MUCH IT COSTS?
WHAT IS FITZMAURICE VOICEWORK?
What is Organic Intelligence®?
What is Neurosystemics?
WHAT IS KNIGHT THOMPSON SPEECHWORK?

MY LAST PIECE OF ADVICE
In practice, we open space for stories to happen.
Being in a story requires experiencing it, which is very different to analysing it. For stories to emerge imbued with complexity, you need to offer your body the initial conditions of fostering trust and pleasure - so then you can risk and discover and surrender to the unknown. Trusting your embodied imagination reveals the story to you - so you and the audience are constantly surprised. We practice until it happens.
