Have you been asked to speak at a funeral?

Are you thinking of giving a tribute or a reading?

Speaking in public can be a daunting prospect at the best of times. To speak at the funeral of a person who was important to you, be they a loved one, a friend or a colleague, can be very tough. Many people simply don’t think they will be able to cope. They worry about making mistakes, saying the ‘wrong thing’ or simply breaking down under all the emotional stress. Even the most experienced public speakers might find speaking at a funeral challenging.

With over twenty years of experience working in theatre and as a teacher of drama, I am able to help you. I can’t take away the raw emotions that you may feel, nor would I want to. But I can give you strategies to help you stay calm and focussed. I can give you one to one guidance with the following:

• Crafting a fitting tribute
• Choosing the best reading for the funeral (and for you)
• Understanding the words you are reading and sounding natural
• Voice – quality, clarity, and volume

In short, please don’t be put off speaking. If it is what you want to do, I am here to help.