It represents voiceover actors aged five to 16 years old for a range of voiceover roles across TV, animation, ads and branded content

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Manchester and London-based The Voiceover Gallery has launched The Voiceover Gallery Kids (TVG Kids). 

TVG Kids represents voiceover actors aged five to 16 years old for a range of voiceover roles across TV, animation, ads and branded content.

The new division will represent a range of talent, says The Voiceover Gallery, including those with special educational needs such as ASD, ADHD, dyslexia and impaired hearing.

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The company adds that it’s developed techniques to encourage children to be able to give the very best performances – each performer gets their own ‘access rider’ which can include photographs of the technicians who will be present and personalised studio set ups.

In 2022, The Voiceover Gallery founder Marylou Thistleton-Smith cast autistic actor Elliott Garcia, a 9-year-old from Reading in Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go! playing Bruno the Brake Car, its first autistic character. 

This was in response to a specific request from Thomas producer Mattel who wanted authentic casting for this new character.

Thistleton-Smith says: “Every child needs a different approach because for every child it’s a pressured environment where certain outcomes are expected. As a company we are constantly updating each child’s access riders to ensure we can access the observations of our entire team as to what works best to get the best result from each individual. Things like where they like their parent to be – in reception, in view, in the booth with them, or how good their reading is and whether listen and repeat is the most effective tool, and whether they can wear the headphones given their sensory needs.

“There are so many things we consider to ensure the child feels completely safe because, as we all know, when any child is experiencing anxiety their brain function reduces and they won’t be productive. The neuro divergent children may be more inclined to feel anxious more easily but we ensure that every child can create the completely appropriate environment for them to do their best.”