GAP Workshops
The Global Impact Award
GAP Workshop is a free-of-charge professional development program created to support and advance trans actors, particularly those based in the UK, in entering or re-entering the entertainment industry. The workshop was founded by casting director duo Lucy Allen and Tom Payne, also known as Allen & Payne Casting, in response to the lack of accessible, industry-facing opportunities for trans performers.
GAP Workshops provide expert-led sessions on audition techniques, self-taping, and navigating professional environments, offering attendees invaluable guidance and insight from multiple industry perspectives. Many participants have shared that GAP Workshops gave them the confidence to pursue opportunities they had once felt excluded from, helping them overcome fears about entering the industry.
Since its inaugural course in summer 2022, the program’s impact has been remarkable: just under 50% of attendees have gone on to secure their first professional screen credits, sign with reputable agents, gain places with respected acting groups such as the National Youth Theatre’s Rep Company or at leading drama schools such as the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Notable alumni who gained their first credits following the course include Hannah Jones (What It Feels Like for a Girl), Phoenix Stone and Elliot Douglas (Heartstopper) and Ezra England (Disney’s Extraordinary, Andor).
Tom and Lucy’s work has already received national recognition, including being named finalists for the Positive Role Model (LGBT) Award at the National Diversity Awards 2024. They additionally continue to use their platforms to champion LGBTQIA+ inclusion beyond the classroom and casting room with both have spoken at major industry events, including at the esteemed BFI Flare Festival 2024, engaging in impactful conversations on gender, sexuality and the need for greater inclusivity and visibility within the screen sector for marginalized communities.
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