Responses to our four-session acting skills programme

We ran our Acting From A Script acting class over four Mondays in February and November 2025, as part of the New Venture Theatre Brighton’s outreach programme. We’ve been delivering this course for the last four years.

Each week, thirty or so participants gathered for two hours’ dive into script work.

Participant responses

“Tonight I have had so much fun being a Director and Actor – totally smashed it and so much positive energy and feedback – absolutely loved it.” Steven Valentine

“Great to perform a monologue on Monday evening, written by Philippa Hammond, really had fun with it and thoroughly enjoyed going from polite to VERY angry with a huge dollop of sarcasm in the middle. I’d like to perform more with this range.” Tristan Wolfe

“Fantastic evening at the New Venture Theatre participating in their evening class.” Sophie Methuen Turner

“it’s not every night that you can masquerade as an estate agent that turns into a ghost and then into a Dalek! Working from a script ‘Haunted’, together with Ashley and Phil, we embellished it a little! Just wanted to say thanks to Philippa Hammond and Thomas Everchild for a brilliant acting class tonight at New Venture Theatre Brighton. It was wonderfully freeing and friendly and so much fun. I really recommend it to anyone, experienced or new to acting.” Alexxa Flexxa

Working with actors:

‘she brings out the best in any performer’ Antonio Aakeel

A brilliant testimonial from Antonio:

“Philippa has a keen understanding of classical and contemporary text.

With a wealth of knowledge in language and performance, she brings out the best in any performer who collaborates with her.

We’ve been working together … dissecting scenes and running through character techniques that has hugely impacted my development as an actor … performing work I am incredibly proud of.

It is a joy to work with Philippa and I’d recommend her wholly to many others seeking similar guidance as a performer.”

Antonio Aakeel, Actor

Confident Public Speaking and Presentation Skills training and coaching in person and online

With Philippa Hammond

“After trying and attending evening after evening and session after session of public speaking training courses I found the perfect one for me.

Thankyou!

For the first time I have the right tools and the right mind-set for me to deliver my messages, clearly, calmly and professionally.

You have taught me more in 3 hours than I have learnt in the last 2 years.”

Nigel Bowcock

Director, Acre Landscapes Ltd

Confident Public Speaking and Presentation Skills training and coaching in person and online

With Philippa Hammond

“As someone who is confident in life and in business I lacked something which I feel is looming over me – the prospect of being in front of a camera and talking on video!

I found Philippa through local google search and after an initial consultation call I felt at ease and confident that I had found the right person to help me.

I found my tuition with Philippa as an experience that just kept giving!

My confidence and understanding the lessons and homework given to me grew each week.

Now I have gone from feeling and sounding like a bumbling, stumbling robot on video to my more natural, charismatic self – feeling more confident to give speeches without the need to use a teleprompter gadgets etc.

Definitely worth the investment and Philippa is genuinely a lovely person with a rich history which makes her great at what she does today.

Thanks again Philippa!! :)”

James Stalley

Founding Director Pure Choice Partnership

‘I came away feeling like I could conquer anything’

Danielle Evans, Miss Brighton 2021

‘You have taught me more in 3 hours than I have learnt in the last 2 years’

Nigel Bowcock, Director Acre Landcapes Ltd

‘Highly recommended’

Issac Theophilos, author of the Amazon bestseller book ‘How To Get Outstanding.’

‘You were a great help to me’

Elvira Gabos, Southern Water, Water Industry Award winner 2019

‘A massive confidence boost’

James Clammer, author and Carnegie medal nominee

‘An experience that just kept giving!’

James Stalley, founding director Pure Choice Partnership

‘Philippa was so easy to work with’

Stephanie Cronin, founder/owner Summers Photography

‘Philippa offers excellent, practical advice in a friendly manner’

Cathal McCabe, solicitor, Sherrards Employment Law Solicitors

‘Equipping you with the necessary skills to conquer public speaking’

Rachel Nicholas, solicitor, Sherrards Employment Law Solicitors

‘It’s life-changing to have the confidence and know-how to speak well in public’

Corinne Card, co-founder Full Story Media, trainer, speaker, digital PR

‘Philippa’s training has made an enormous difference to all aspects of my public speaking’

Deborah Kempson Wren, Managing Ourselves leadership coaching

‘I cannot speak highly enough of Philippa’s talent to bring out the best authentic ‘you’’

Paula Gander, holistic therapist, owner Rejuvenate Naturally

‘Philippa is a fantastic coach’

Colm Mckee, director at CMK Planning

‘Lots of useful tips and advice … gave me greater confidence’

Harry Sherrard, company director, Sherrards Employment Law Solicitors

‘Gave me the confidence to hone my message and present it clearly’

Samantha Wilding, public affairs & stakeholder engagement Lead, B&CE

‘My public speaking performance and gravitas were greatly improved’

Colum Dain, Bank of America

‘Tailor-made tips to help you improve your public speaking and presentation skills’

Feras Alkabani, University of Sussex

‘She really took the ‘nasty fearful’ part out of public speaking and provided tools to help succeed at it’

Ashley Walters

‘I came away with practical tips on how I can continue to improve my delivery of presentations, workshops and panel discussions’

Sarah Juckes, children’s author and content creator at Jericho Writers

‘Expert input to help improve my public speaking skills in front of large groups.’

Claire Griffin, IG Smart Ltd Business Development

For some more in-depth recommendations, see my LinkedIn profile

Networking events

My business networking events attendees say:

‘Brilliant morning … a great presentation on Polish Your Pitch’

Lyndsey Segal, Heads Up Coaching

‘A wonderful exercise in communicating about you and your business!!’

Evelyn Day, Brighton and Hove Businesswomen

’Brilliant Presentation by Philippa Hammond @TalkingSpeaking, thoroughly enjoyable and informative…. Thank you !!!!’

City Business Skills
[I was keynote speaker at the Brighton City Business Club’s breakfast networking event]

I recently delivered my new one hour workshop on reading aloud to an audience for Hove Writers. Novelists, poets, dramatists, non-fiction writers all meeting together for exercises, challenges, hearing and discussing each other’s work.

Being able to read well at literary events, book launches, round tables etc can be so valuable for boosting an author’s reputation.

My workshop was designed to give quick and actionable tips to help any writer feel, look and sound their best to any audience.

It’s now available to groups and 1-1 in person and online.

What they’re saying:

“Your workshop about speaking well at Hove Library was so good, it was what we all needed … everyone was happy, they learned and enjoyed the practice … that paragraph about what the audience wants is like a bible to always have in mind. I also like to receive the tongue twisters and it was fun to try it … it will be lovely if you can come again and give us some text to practice.”

Julia Martínez

“Very warm, knowledgeable, great delivery … practical advice … thank you very much”

Sarah Agnew

“I enjoyed it very much – very useful … she speaks very well … knows her subject well … please could you arrange more of this … very helpful and increased my knowledge”

Marjan

“Amazing … great … 10/10”

Jane

Participant responses to a one day Introduction to Training Design for the Civil Aviation Authority at Gatwick, February 2025. For those SMEs who have some training experience and wish to build their skills.

“I feel I have the knowledge now to keep a trainee engaged and to structure properly, to educate.

Philippa was educating, fun and engaging.

(Most useful?) Training structure, eg ADDIE, SAM

(How will you use your new knowledge skills and mindsets in future?) By structuring a course that suits everyone’s learning abilities.”

Holly Murphy, Aeromedical Officer, CAA

“(Philippa) Engaging manner … Great knowledge delivered well.

I was really interested in what was being taught.

(How will you use knowledge, skills and mindsets in future?) To deliver better training.”

Chris Parsons, Design and Certification Specialist, CAA

“Very well planned and delivered.

(Philippa) Delivery was great, very personable.

(Most useful part of the workshop?) Working with others and discussing different approaches.

(How will you use your new knowledge, skills and mindsets in future?) In team training, new employee training, hopefully in further careers.

Would love to do the extended courses she does.”

Ruth Calman, Customer Care Team Medical, CAA

“I think the trainer was excellent and having an eclectic background gave good working examples. Philippa was very relatable.”

Nic Araujo, Senior Business Analyst, Business

“I have gained more understanding around the topic of delivering training. Enjoyed the session, thank you.

I will refer to the lessons before delivering any on-the-job training and see if I can apply anything covered today.”

Gunita Gruseva, RPAS Surveyor, CAA

(Philippa) Engaging, inclusive, organised.

I will use it when starting preparing a training session.

Roberta Aio, Technical Inspector, CAA

“(Philippa) Genuinely excellent, very engaging

All of it was informative. The training cycle was particularly useful, as was the design elements.

It will inform several aspects of my job. Both my team at the CAA and my engagement with the international colleagues where we are developing training materials.

I found it very engaging and informative. It exceeded my expectations quite significantly.”

Michael Shedden, Policy Lead, CAA

“(Philippa) Very good understanding of the subject and great delivery. Very engaging, open to questions and conversation.

(Most useful?) Breaking into groups the complete exercises. Presentation skills section.

(How will you use in future?) Use training models to help develop future training The materials will be useful for some of the complex changes being implemented.

Really enjoyable, with a good bunch of colleagues from across the organisation that have not met before. Thank you.”

Natasha Hiddleston, Product Owner, CAA

“(Philippa) Very knowledgeable with a great delivery style. Put me at ease and allowed me to learn in a supportive environment.

I’ll be applying this in my work and several upcoming projects.”

Guste Sabateuiskaite, Business Change Analyst, CAA

“(Philippa) Very clear, engaging, inclusive.

(Will use) For the training I’m currently developing.”

Richard Blayber, Licencing and Monitoring Lead (Space), CAA