Helen Raw, Actor & Singer
Helen has been involved in the entertainment world for over 20 years and set up \'Act One\', a children\'s theatre company based in Fife, when she was only 17 years old. Following the company\'s success and high standard of performance, Helen was invited to take up a post as the after-school drama teacher at Inverkeithing High School. Helen taught in the school\'s Community Centre for 2 years before moving on to run a 2-month drama programme for kids in Minnesota, USA.\r\n\r\nIn 2001, Helen moved to the USA to work as a singer and entertainer for Celebrity Cruises. During her time on board, she had the pleasure of entertaining Patrick Swayze, Richard Roundtree, Molly Shannon and many other celebrities and won the Circle of Excellence Award for Entertainment.\r\n\r\nHelen was only home from her cruise ship life for a year or so before she moved back to the USA in 2006 to continue her acting training, studying the Meisner technique in Los Angeles.\r\n\r\nHelen is the elected Secretary and Press Relations Officer for the East of Scotland branch of Equity based in Edinburgh and performs regularly as an actor and singer. She is also a theatre reviewer for What’s on Stage. \r\n\r\nHelen is proud to be a member of Equity, the Equity Singers Register and the Musicians Union and she appears in Spotlight Actresses.\r\n\r\nWHAT IS HELEN UP TO?\r\n\r\nFILM & TELEVISION\r\n\r\nUpcoming projects are:\r\n\r\n* A short thriller, inspired by true events – filming delayed until mid 2009\r\n\r\nOne of Helen\'s most recent films, \'I Still Like Football\', was premiered at the Filmhouse as part of the Edinburgh Film Festival in 2008. Her last film, 6.05pm, was premiered at the Cameo in November 2008 and won the audience award for \'Best Film\' at the Dominion in January 2009.\r\n\r\nMUSIC & THEATRE\r\n\r\n\'Men...What\'s The Deal?\' is the working title of Helen\'s new one-woman show, coming soon. Since her personal life has taken a nose dive recently, Helen has decided there is no better way to get over it than to produce a show about her experiences! Never one to shy away from a drama Helen has jumped headlong into this new project and is working with a stand up comedian and some great musicians to create a gem! The show will feature many new songs, a live band and a lot of laughs.\r\n\r\nHelen is also going to make a concerted effort to get cracking with her studio album during 2009, which will be an eclectic mix of blues, folk, jazz and musical theatre. She may even make an album of her new show! You heard it here first.\r\n\r\nTEACHING\r\n\r\nHelen is a visiting acting tutor on the 1 year ‘Musical Theatre Intensive’ course run through Dance For All and is the after school drama teacher for James Gillespies Primary School in Edinburgh. Helen also owns and manages Raw Talent Productions Ltd, a company offering on-camera acting classes, 1-1 acting coaching and practical help for students with their ‘Standard Grade/Higher Drama’ studies.\r\n