Welcome to the website of trained performer Jessica Hernandez. Fuelled by a passion for acting, storytelling and clowning, Jessica Hernandez is on an exciting journey to explore how these three disciplines interrelate and inspire each other
Services
Take a look to see what I can offer...
Acting & Storytelling
From my extensive experience with performing and touring theatrical shows for children and young adults, I have learned how hard it can be to please a young audience! By using every acting 'trick of the trade' to make stories and their characters come to life (without any technical aids), I can vividly engage the children's power of imagination to create unforgettable and often first-time theatrical experiences.
Clowning
As a Nose to Nose - trained Clowning Workshop facilitator, I have worked with doctors and nurses, teachers and have shared many a laugh with groups of people with learning disabilities and/or mental illness. Clowning workshops are also a hugely fun and powerful team-building activity for any group or company. I provide a safe working environment in which we can discover our inner clowns by celebrating our insecurities and practicing openness and spontaneity through improvisation and play.
Testimonials
We’ve just finished our third collaboration between Jessica and Newton Dee with the musical of Aladdin, taken from the Walt Disney film, and it was a great success. Working with Jessica is always a joy and a learning experience. She can get some really amazing performances from our villagers, helping them to sing complicated musical numbers they could never accomplish on their own. And, they always enjoy the experience of being pushed to achieve beyond themselves and produce a performance they never thought they could do. Her principle motto is “Enjoy what you’re doing’, and this motivates the whole cast to really give their all to the group numbers, even with people who haven't sung in a musical before. She is invaluable in carrying the whole singing/speaking side of the show, always showing great enthusiasm and warmth towards all of us that spurs us on to give our best. Her warm-up exercises at the beginning of each rehearsal always get the juices flowing and the tiredness of working all day is thrown aside to achieve full-hearted participation. These three musicals we’ve done, mostly with the villagers in Newton Dee, would not have happened without her.
Sincerely - Russell Pooler
Jessica has worked for the past three years for Artsability working with mixed ability groups at several of the Aberdeenshire Day Services. Her improvised games are fun and confidence building, and her scenarios inspire participants to try out their own 'Clowning Moments' in pairs or small groups. Clowning allows a certain freedom of self-expression by just being you, and enjoying taking part, which means that it suits people of all levels of ability. Jessica's stories of Winnie the Pooh' enthrall everyone, who listen wide-eyed with amazement as she brings the characters to life. There is usual as rush from eager group members to take part in the reenactment of her very interactive storytelling.
Justyne Sirett - Artsability Co-ordinator
Artsability promotes performance arts opportunities for adults with learning disabilities in Aberdeenshire with training and outreach programmes to suit the needs of the Day Services. Core Drama Group 'Acting Up' lead the annual outreach programme with the various Creative Groups whether it is in Dance, Drama, or Music. Professional Arts and Drama Workers are involved to work on specific projects or performances as required.
