As the year draws to a close, I’ve been taking some time to pause and reflect on my work as a LAMDA tutor and actor — not just on what I’ve done this year, but on how my teaching has evolved.
If I had to name a single word that has shaped both my teaching and my acting this year, it would be allowing.
Allowing things to unfold.
Allowing myself — and my students — to trust that they are already enough.
A Website That Reflects the Work
Earlier this year, my website underwent a significant redesign. I wanted The London LAMDA Tutor website to reflect what my work has become: more intentional and more personal. Less about reaching the greatest number of people possible, and more about making a meaningful impact with a smaller group of students.
One of the most important additions has been the introduction of one-off sessions, which you can read more about here:
https://londonlamdatutor.com/one-off-advice-sessions/
These sessions have allowed me to work with a wide range of people in a focused, practical way.
This year, I’ve supported:
- Students preparing for drama school and independent school scholarships
- Boys crafting and delivering Bar Mitzvah speeches
- Young people needing a confidence boost at a crucial moment
- Professionals wanting help with a specific area of public speaking or presentation
- Young actors seeking targeted self-tape support
Each session is different — but the common thread is always presence, clarity, and trust.
One Young Actor’s Journey
One of the real highlights of the year has been witnessing the transformation of a young actor I worked with as she developed her self-taped auditions.
You can read her story here:
https://londonlamdatutor.com/stories/margots-journey/
Her journey is a wonderful example of what can happen when a young person stops trying to perform and instead learns to let themselves be seen.
Her mum very generously recorded a video testimonial about their experience, which you can watch here:
Continuing With My Weekly Students
Alongside the one-off sessions, I’ve continued teaching my small cohort of weekly students.
One student recently took her LAMDA exam after an extraordinary journey — moving from being a “talking head” to communicating with her whole body, with a real understanding of why energy, attention, and presence matter.
Watching her discover that communication isn’t about trying harder, but about allowing herself to be affected and connected, has been deeply rewarding.
Allowing Instead of Pushing
A theme that has run through both my teaching and my own acting work this year is this:
When we push emotionally, we push the audience away.
Whether in performance or public speaking, the moment we try to show something, it becomes forced. The audience can feel it immediately.
True connection comes from allowing the moment to affect us — from getting out of our own way and trusting the intention. When we do that, the emotion takes care of itself.
This is something I return to again and again with my students:
If you don’t believe you are enough, it will show.
If you trust that you are, everything softens — and communication becomes truthful.
Working With Adults and Professionals
This year I’ve also continued working with adults, both through tailored one-to-one packages and through LAMDA qualifications.
You can read more about that work here:
https://londonlamdatutor.com/public-speaking-for-professionals/
Many of the adults I work with aren’t trying to become performers — they simply want to feel more confident, more embodied, and more themselves when they speak.
Less Is More
Perhaps the biggest shift of all this year has been allowing my business to become smaller and more personal.
A period of illness this year forced me to slow down and reassess how I work — and, in hindsight, that pause clarified what really matters.
I’m working with fewer people — but going deeper.
(And yes, becoming a mum has definitely played a part in that.)
As I look ahead to the new year, my intention is simple: to continue creating spaces where people can trust themselves, allow themselves, and communicate from a place that feels honest and alive.
Thank you to everyone who has trusted me with their voice, their story, and their growth this year. It has been a privilege.
Warmest wishes,
Liane
