Stage fright

Stage fright or performance anxiety is the anxiety, fear, or persistent phobia that may be aroused in an individual by the requirement to perform in front of an audience, real or imagined, whether actually or potentially. Performing in front of an unknown audience can cause significantly more anxiety than performing in front of familiar faces. Conversely, some performers report minimal anxiety when appearing before strangers, but severe stage fright when friends, family and colleagues are present.

This condition can manifest as long as thirty-six hours beforehand, with classic symptoms such as nausea, dry mouth, and eye twitches.

Back to The Actor's Craft →

Source: Wikipedia · Image: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

CUTEACT

The craft of acting — auditions, technique, and life on stage and screen.

Get new guides by emailOccasional emails. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

InformationAbout Contact Privacy Policy Terms of Service Disclaimer Affiliate Disclosure Cookie Policy

Every species, image, fact, and figure is drawn from Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons, used under public-domain and Creative Commons licenses. No content is AI-generated.