“A career of two halves.” From actor to counsellor and back again.

The first half of my working life was spent performing as a singer, dancer and actor in theatres, TV, cruise ships, end of pier shows and holiday venues in the UK and abroad. I later progressed into the management of other performers, producing and choreographing many shows over the years and then setting up and running my own successful actors agency.

Helping people to develop, grow and to achieve their dreams has always been a hugely rewarding part of the work that I do and was unquestionably key to my decision to start counsellor training (as a hobby!) in 2004.

“Every blade of grass has its Angel bending over and whispering, “Grow, grow.” (The Talmud. Chapin & Chapin, 2012).

“Finding me-more.”

Twenty two years on and the study of the human condition is as fascinating as ever to me, but having returned to my roots in acting, singing and performing in 2019, I now use the expertise and knowledge I built across my counselling career working with hundreds of clients, to help me with my character development work and the wider world building work of the show – and I enjoy this immensely.

The parallels between the two careers are surprisingly many and I finally feel at that juncture of personal development where I can assimilate and integrate all the learning from both careers into a cohesive useful model of “being” that is helpful to others in the cast and unique to me.

“I’m beginning to find me. It’s great.” (Rita in Educating Rita. Willy Russell, 1983).

As well as ‘treading the boards’ myself and writing short plays and films, I also enjoy helping other actors with their mental health by creating content that addresses a few of the many dilemma’s that they face in their lives and chosen careers.

If you’d like to talk to me about a project or collaboration, message me at

talk@gerryjohnson.co.uk