TESTIMONIALS, REVIEWS, ARTICLES
Tricia is a wonderful, intuitive and skilled acting coach who can work with any neurodivergent actor across stage and screen. Tricia has a unique gift that can find the true spark from any actor, irrespective of perceived differences and make them shine. She is a total joy to work with and any director, casting director or producer would be lucky to have Tricia as part of your team. Nick Llewellyn Artistic Director, Access All Areas www.accessallareastheatre.org
Tricia is one in a million, an Acting Coach worth her weight in gold. Tricia empowers Neurodivergent Actors like our son Leo to access their true potential and deliver great performances!!!. Tricia’s unique experiences, training and career sets her apart and gives her the full range of skills in her toolkit. She is able to work caringly alongside Neurodivergent Actors. We have witnessed first-hand how Tricia’s core qualities including patience, positivity and creative solutions enable her to liaise smoothly between production and actor understanding the needs of each in a dynamic environment while also keeping work safe, rewarding and fun. It’s a recipe for success!!!. Tricia’s amazing attitude, abilities and actions inspire trust and confidence making her highly recommended indeed!!!. 5 Stars ★★★★★” James and Yumi Long Parents and carers of neurodivergent actor LEO LONG
Working with Tricia was a complete and utter joy. Tricia was an invaluable member of the team and essential in creating an environment where our neurodivergent actors felt comfortable and confident throughout pre production and the shoot itself. She was a key component in ensuring some incredible performances and was not only informative but warm, kind and highly inspiring. Tricia worked closely with Leo Long and played a huge part in helping him achieve such a strong BIFA Nominated performance. Tricia is tactful with her input, a leader, and a hugely talented acting coach who I can’t wait to work more with in future. Eddie Sternberg. Director, I Used to be Famous
But every performance is outstanding in Tinuke Craig's sensitive and lively production right down to the smaller characters such as Dayo Koleosho's regular passenger, Philmore. Sarah Crompton WhatsOnStage Jitney. Old Vic, London 16 June 2022
It has been such an honour to get a small glimpse into your work and skill as not only an actor but as a leader and mentor. I know I would enjoy any tour with you and I’m glad to have shared this one together. David Sinclair Company manager Alexander Zeldin Company (NT)
Also on the call is acting coach Tricia Hitchcock, who supported him throughout the process. She works with Access All Areas, a theatre company for autistic and learning-disabled actors based in London. “As a creative coach you take on acting technique as well as the person.” After their first meeting (“in a Pret a Manger” says Long), they did four half-day workshops together. “We started right at the beginning,” Hitchcock says. “Talking about what acting is.” Later they began to explore Stevie the character. “Who is Leo and who is Stevie? That is very important with neurodivergent people.” I ask Long: what are the similarities between himself and his character? He beams. “Two similarities. One, they play music, drums. And two, wanting to leave home, being independent.” Cath Clarke; The Guardian 8th September 2022
Hitchcock worked with Long “like any acting coach, just with a heightened awareness of what needs he might have. She spent a lot of time upfront just getting to know him, and how he responds, and what works, and giving him the confidence to come into our arena, and us the confidence to welcome him in, and create the right environment,” McCarthy says. Hitchcock also worked with other cast members, in particular with Skrein and Eleanor Matsuura, who plays Amber, Stevie’s mother. The filmmakers opened their shoot with scenes about a drum circle that Stevie belongs to, which included several neurodiverse non actors. Hitchcock delivered a speech to the crew at the start of the shoot that “created a really special dynamic, where you had these big burly grips and gaffers, and suddenly everyone just got over themselves for a day, and realized how special it was,” McCarthy says. “It was a risk starting with that, but it actually galvanized everyone on set, and created a really nice tone for the [seven-week shoot].” Collie McCarthy Producer Variety Article: I Used to Be Famous
Phillips’s standout performance from teenage years to the adulthood of Dwight, who has autism, was truly something special to watch Nicole Vassell. Independent theatre critics' top ten shows for 2022
Leo Long is nominated for Breakthrough Performance sponsored by Netflix for his role as an autistic drummer with an incredible gift in I Used to Be Famous. BIFA Breakthrough Awards 2022
Lee Phillips at the Kiln Theatre