Be Our Guest with Rachel Walker Mason and Eloise Hodder (The Circle, Sugarbye)

Rachel Walker MasonEver since I can remember I’ve been able to see music as colours when I listen to music or compose a song. I’ve since learned that this condition is called synaesthesia and people often refer to it as “my superpower”.I always felt my happiest and most fulfilled when I was singing or writing music so it felt natural to make it my career path. I’ve never wanted to do anything else as a job and am very lucky that I’ve been able to live my dream, pursuing music through school, my undergraduate degree then a masters in songwriting before starting my career as a freelance songwriter, musical director and vocal coach.During my career, I’ve performed all over the world, coached hundreds of singers from beginners to west end performers, run an artist management company and worked extensively in my community to encourage different generations to bond through the arts. For this, I was crowned Freelancer Of The Year and Woman of the Year. Throughout my life, I’ve struggled with my mental health and when my children were born I was diagnosed with postnatal depression. After recovering I set up Lyrical Light as a songwriting workshop for those struggling with their mental health after becoming parents. It’s a real honour to be able to help people through music.My work now encompasses both of these aspects from co-writing and songwriting, working as a Maternal Mental Health Ambassador and with parents who are suffering from Post-Natal Depression. Eloise Hodder is the HE Programme Co-ordinator for BA (Hons) Performing Arts - Acting at University Centre Weston (UCW). Eloise delivers on the BA Hons degree in Performing Arts which is validated by Bath Spa University.  Eloise also works as a guest lecturer and examiner both nationally and internationally encompassing a range of institutions from The Brit School, to consultant Actor/Director at L’Ecole d’Architecture Universite de Montreal. Eloise trained as an actor and holds BA (Hons) from Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (Franchise University of South Wales) and has a Postgraduate Diploma from Royal Central School of Speech and Drama Applied Theatre specialising in Directing. Eloise is also a member of Royal Academy of Dance and the Institute for Learning. Eloise is an actor, director, interdisciplinary performer and educator. She has worked as the director/creator of Trapped (Donmar and Endeavour), received the Jack Petchey Youth Community Project Award for Delicate Rose tour and has been nominated for a Royal Television Society Award for Gannin’ Yem. Eloise has been an Education Associate for the Donmar, Bush Theatre and Michael Grandage Theatre Company.