Effective help and guidance for people who speak for a living
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MY WORK
ACTING/WRITING
I moved to London at 16 to pursue a career in the performing arts, earning full scholarships to both ArtsEd Sixth Form and Tring Park School. I chose ArtsEd, and it was there my training began. After two years of studying Musical Theatre, I signed with a top boutique agency and began working professionally, whilst continuing training with a stint at the National Youth Theatre. During this time, I realised I wanted to focus more specifically on acting, and then returned to ArtsEd to train on their BA Acting course as the Leverhulme Scholar.
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While studying there, I co-founded 306 Theatre Company and co-wrote and directed our debut play, The Youth We Were Given. I graduated later with First Class Honours. Since then, I’ve performed at leading UK venues including Shakespeare’s Globe, the Arcola Theatre, Bush Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre, Leeds Playhouse, The Lowry, The Traverse (Edinburgh), the Turbine Theatre and more. My stage credits include the 3Weeks Editors' Award-winning play A Wake in Progress by Joel Samuels at the Edinburgh Fringe 2019, the world premieres of A-Typical Rainbow
ACTING COACHING/TEACHING/ DIRECTING
by JJ Green at The Turbine Theatre, Driftwood by Tim Foley (both OFFIE nominated) and The Band Back Together by Barney Norris at The Arcola Theatre. Most recently, I re-toured Driftwood nationally. My screen work includes the ITV series Code of Silence, short films: Sweetheart, Murphy's Law, You Got a Face On (nominated for LiftOff Film Festival at Pinewood Studios) and The Trench — a Cannes Film Festival initial selection by Russian production company Lateral Summer Studio. I also appeared in their interactive series Who_You, as well as an episode of the mockumentary series Paramedics. Most recently, I wrapped on the feature film NOMAD, due for release in IMAX and Cinemas late 2025.
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After being shortlisted for Original Theatre's Playwrighting Prize in 2021 I am in the
process of developing my play Better Yet? My short film PLAYM8 or Ruination in 7
Stages is currently in pre-production. ​​
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My acting CV (Spotlight) and examples of my work can be found here.
Whilst remaining present and active as an actor in the industry I am always grateful to be able to use my experiences and training to draw on and help others as an Acting Tutor. I currently lead the Part Time Acting Acting Foundation at ArtsEd, a position I've
held for the past 5 years. I used to be the part-time Resident Acting Tutor at Identity School of Acting (where actors like John Boyega and Letitia Wright trained). And regularly teach and direct projects at various drama schools such as Performers (formerly the Institute of Contemporary Theatre).
​Drama School projects I have directed include: Faustus That Damned Woman by Chris Bush, A Dolls House and Hedda Gabler both by Henrik Ibsen and All My Sons by Arthur Miller. For ArtsEd, in connection with National Theatre Connections, I directed Chat Back by David Judge at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and co-directed A New Brain for ArtsEd 6th Form. ​
As a coach I have helped students get into top drama schools and conservatoires in the UK and abroad, such as: LAMDA, ArtsEd, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, NYU Tisch, University of Southern California School of Dramatic Arts, Oxford School of Drama, GSA, Performers, Trinity Laban, Royal Welsh to name a few. I also regularly coach working actors in theatre on national Tours, in the West End and on TV & Film.
PUBLIC SPEAKING COACHING
During the COVID pandemic and subsequent lockdown I decided I wanted to put all my experience in Acting, Voice Training, Teaching and Speaking to good use. I've always been driven by helping people and a want to make people feel better, whether it be about themselves, their approach to work or the work itself. It was out of this that James Westphal Creative Development was born. I decided to enrol myself in a Master's programme to deepen my understanding of the mind and of the psychological processes behind performance. I spent 2 years part-time with Brunel University in London on their Psychological Sciences (conversion) course where I graduated in 2025. All of this work underpins my appraoch to coaching people to become better public speakers and communicators.
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I've worked with top companies like Media Arts Lab which is Apple's dedicated and bespoke marketing agency and all manner of proffessionals from CEO's and executives to publishers to scientists to people wanting to give their best man speech the best possible chance. ​
I am fascinated in how psychology and performance intertwine and how we can best harness tools from the creative arts as well as the scientific world to enhance our presence, communication and speech.
VIDEOS AND PRESS
“The emotional core is full of truth, sadness and beauty, and it is this that brings the quiet magic ofthis drama.” - The Guardian on Driftwood (National Tour).
“The performances were so powerful they commanded utter silence from the audience. Therealism, so raw you desperately wanted it to all be ok ... for love to prove strong enough to conquerall.” - National World on Driftwood (National Tour).
"Westphal not only has a voice like James Blunt and Paolo Nutini had a baby, and accomplished skill with a piano, but he also carries off this mammoth backstory with calm comedy." - Hackney Citizen on The Band Back Together (Arcola Theatre, London)
"Displayed with a subtle yet captivating performance from James. A monologue in act two gives us an insight into how the character ticks[...]recited stunningly." - All That Dazzles on A-Typical Rainbow (Turbine Theatre, London)
“We fall for each of the band mates, as we would for our own childhood friends. At some point it feels like we stop watching a play and start watching a concert – and in those moments, the room does feel like magic. ” - Time Out on The Band Back Together (Arcola Theatre, London).
