York playwright and actor Hannah Davies is helping women overcome their fear of speaking in public

IT'S no wonder that public speaking is considered one of the scariest things to do.

For most of us, the thought of standing in front of a crowd of people and talking is enough to raise the heart rate and turn our mouths dry. For a few, it's the stuff of nightmares.

Hannah Davies knows this only too well. The York actor and playwright behind Common Ground Theatre has launched a new workshop aimed at female entrepreneurs – teaching them how to overcome their dread at presenting, networking, pitching or talking about their work, and how to discover their "own voice".

Historically, says Hannah, cultural expectations dictated that women be quiet and hold their tongue and opinions. Despite decades of feminist advancement many still feel uncomfortable speaking out loud.

"If we stand up to speak our minds, it can come at risk to our personal safety. It's part of the female condition and is terrible," says Hannah.

In part she is referring to the fate of female MPs who have found themselves trolled and threatened on social media. Hannah recently spent time in the Houses of Parliament interviewing female MPs including Jess Phillips, Maria Miller and Jo Swinson as research for her latest work, Maiden Speeches.

Hannah, 38, says: "I am interested in women owning their own voice and narratives and stories. So often we are silenced in so many different ways in the world we live in. My work explores this a lot. The institutional silencing of outspoken women is vile."

Hannah, who is also an associate lecturer in playwriting at the University of York, launched her Your Voice workshops earlier this year and will be hosting another on Saturday, September 22, all day at the university's Department of Theatre, Film and Television.

"I have a lot of experience in teaching, writing and performance and I have put together a workshop that draws on all of those areas. It is very playful and gives people the tools to draw on to use in their work, whether networking or presenting.

"It's not a five-point, quick fix, here's how to be the best public speaker.

"The key factor is finding your own, individual sense of voice, rather than imitating someone else's."

The aim, she says, by the end of the day, is for everyone to deliver a five-minute speech to each other.

"The reason people are scared about public speaking is because they haven't had enough practice in a safe enough environment. It is fear of the unknown.

"Presenting and performing is a combination of muscles – and you wouldn't run a marathon without doing the training."

Hannah has some simple tips to share, to break through those jittery legs, racing heartbeat and dry mouth when you stand up to talk.

"One of the best ways to cope with a dry mouth is to run your tongue behind your teeth. It stimulates saliva and you can swallow."

If you are feeling like the proverbial deer in the headlights and paralysed by fight of flight instinct Hannah has another tip. "Think about your big toe! Drop your awareness to the lowest part of your body and it will release tension in your body."

She also advises people make adequate preparations ahead of their public event. "Asking questions helps you prepare mentally. Find out how many people are attending, what the room is like, how the chairs will be laid out. This can help you imagine the situation and stay on top of that fight or flight feeling."

The workshops are aimed at women in business, particularly those who run their own enterprises. "A lot of women set up their own business to fit in around their lives. It means a lot work on their own without the support of institutions and structures and they are not in a position to get training opportunities or present in business meetings where they have to stand up and put themselves out there. The workshops are aimed at women in that situation."

Hannah has advice too for anyone attending networking events and struggling with how to introduce themselves or pitch their business to strangers: "It's good to have a paragraph ready. I know that sounds contrived but if you have a script you can talk about yourself when the pressure is on."

Find out more, or book a place on the Your Voice workshop online at hannahdavies.work