From Auditions to Applause Webinar: A Parent’s Guide to Supporting Young Performers

Wednesday 21st May 12:30-13:30 Creative&Wellbeing Week

Sharon Borthwick

Sharon Borthwick is the founder of Borthwick Casting, a leading children’s TV, film, and theatre agency. With a lifelong passion for the performing arts, Sharon opened her own dance school before focusing on raising her children, including managing her son Jamie Borthwick’s acting career on EastEnders. Her experience led her to launch Borthwick Casting in 2016, growing it rapidly from her home into a thriving agency with purpose-built studios. Sharon brings hands-on leadership, regularly working with casting directors, directing self-tapes, and organising professional workshops. Committed to inclusion, she ensures children from all financial, cultural, and social backgrounds can access opportunities in the industry. Drawing from her personal journey, Sharon offers invaluable insight and mentorship to young performers and their families navigating the world of show business

Crystxl King

Newham based Singer/Songwriter and Serial Entrepreneur Crystxl King is a creative fireball. With an applaudable record of live performances including supporting the likes of Omar, Ed Sheeran, Dru Hill and rnb star Joe Thomas, the songstress was also a support act for Doc Brown and De La Soul at London’s Jazz Café, alongside her headlining show at thefamous jazz club ‘B Flat’ in Sardinia, Italy. Her most recent show was live on Channel 4 Big Breakfast alongside Architechs, DJ Luck and MC Neat, Sweet Female Attitude and Pied Piper and the Masters of Ceremonies. Her most recent collab on the remake of 'Body Groove' with 90s garage legends Architechs has exceeded 20 million streams worldwide on Spotify and was played on BBC Radio, BBC Sounds and Capital Dance, being selected as the "Jam Hot"track of the week by Mister Jam!

A Social Entrepreneur, Crystxl King runs the Community Interest Company 'She Inspired Her CIC' in London, dedicated to women and youth.

Juliet Saffrey

Juliet Saffrey is an entrepreneur and founder of Jewels VA, dedicated to supporting professionals across all sectors.

Mrs Saffrey has been instrumental in guiding her daughter, Èva-Marie Saffrey with her early acting career.

Èva-Marie Saffrey’s stage career commenced with her lead performance in Matilda the Musical at London’s Cambridge Theatre, marking a noteworthy West End debut. She went on to appear in Tina – The Tina Turner Musical at the Aldwych Theatre in the role of Young Alline and later assumed the lead role of Jade in the UK touring production of Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World. A recipient of a merit-based scholarship at Italia Conti, Èva-Marie also studied at The BRIT School and gained admission to the Urdang Academy, institutions recognised for cultivating high-calibre performing arts talent.

Èva-Marie has appeared in numerous television commercials and wrote and performed a powerful original song for ITV supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.

Agenda

Welcome &
Introductions

Host’s opening remarks

Brief overview of the Webinar’s purpose and theme

Keynote Speaker
Sharon Borthwick

Insight from Every Angle: Performer’s Parent, Agency Leader & Industry Expert

Bringing together the unique perspective of a performer’s parent, a successful agency founder, and a seasoned professional in the performing arts industry.

Keynote Speaker Crystxl King

Beats, Bars, and Building Community: A Musician’s Path to Impact

Creative and changemaker, sharing the intersections of music, acting community and entrepreneurship

Keynote Speaker Juliet Saffrey

Raising the Spotlight: A Parent’s insights to supporting a young Performing Artist from Childhood to Young Adulthood

Behind every rising star is often a parent navigating auditions, rehearsals, and emotional highs and lows. This talk offers practical strategies for parents

Open chat Conversation

Knowledge exchange and Q&A

Closing Remarks & Call to Action

Summary of key points discussed

Accelerating Action Webinar: A Call for Change
Our Keynote Speakers and Host

Friday 28th March 12:30-13:30

Webinar recording

Evelyn Mensah

Evelyn (Evie)is a Consultant Ophthalmologist at Central Middlesex Hospital, serves as Clinical Lead for Ophthalmology and Co-Lead for the North West London Ophthalmology Clinical Reference Group. A graduate of Imperial College, Evie specialises in medical retinal disease and complex cataract surgery. As a former educational supervisor and college tutor, she has trained and accredited a multi-professional workforce, receiving two 'Best Trainer in Ophthalmology' Health Education England awards. Evie is a trustee of the Moorfields Lions Korle Bu Trust and has developed a diabetic retinopathy management course for West African Ophthalmologists (WACS). She runs a Laser simulation course for WACS and London Ophthalmology Specialist Trainees.

Evie serves as the LNWH Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) Expert. Evie established the sickle cell retinopathy network (SCR.net), to address the paucity of knowledge on sickle cell retinopathy in the UK, and advocates for antiracism and social justice on social media, working towards an antiracist NHS and decolonised healthcare to reduce inequities.

In October 2024, Evie was appointed as the President for the Ophthalmology section of the Royal Society of Medicine. During her two year tenure she hopes to foster closer relationships between ophthalmologists and the wider multi-disciplinary team.

Ruth Barlow

Ruth is a Paediatric nurse who has a specialist public health qualification in health
visiting/school nursing. Ruth has a track record of consistent leadership across a number of organisations. She has
successfully led service change delivery, resulting in regional and national interest.

Ruth worked in a number of settings as a coach and mentor.
Working at strategic nurse leadership, Ruth led as senior responsible officer for
clinical governance

Ruth is committed to ensuring the ‘user voice’ is a critical part of service planning and
delivery. She believes in demonstrating cultural humility and reciprocity that embraces the
unique perspectives that are filtered through family norms and values.

Tracey Le May

Tracey is a Public Health Lecturer at the University of East London. As a young woman, she aspired to be a wife and mother but gradually challenged those societal expectations.

Now, she is passionate about empowering others, especially women, to remain open to the possibilities of who they are ‘destined’ to become.

Tracey has led the delivery of a number of community and student programmes, focusing on Public health outcomes, health and wellbeing objectives and resident participation in research.

Tracey actively seeks out enrichment activities for under and post graduate students, which builds capacity for VCS organisations, facilitate knowledge exchange and promote intergenerational working across a number of programmes

Mavis Wenham
Host

Mavis Wenham is a social entrepreneur and consultant with extensive experience in community development and social care. She is the Lead Creative at ANKH Place CIC, where she focuses on developing, delivering, and evaluating services for the community.

In addition to her role at ANKH Place CIC, Mavis serves as a non-executive director with a focus on patient care contributing to the improvement of healthcare services in the Newham area.

Mavis has held various directorial positions in organisations highlighting her commitment to social causes and community well-being and demonstrating her dedication to community engagement, personal growth, and the promotion of well-being.

Agenda