Do You Need to Speak English to Work as a Performer Overseas?

Auditions for Virgin Voyages and Princess Cruises have started accepting applications!

These days, more and more companies are holding auditions in Japan, which is great to see.

When I was younger, I actually worked several part-time jobs at the same time so I could save enough money to travel overseas for auditions.

When you think about it, it’s obvious that there are far more audition opportunities if you look at the entire world rather than waiting for opportunities to come to you only in Japan.

Recently, I received a question:

“Do I need to speak English to perform overseas, such as on international cruise ships or at theme parks?”

My answer is:

You don’t necessarily need to be fluent in English.

But you do need at least enough English to understand what other people are saying to you.

Why?

Because as performers, we need to be able to do the job we are asked to do.

If someone tells you, “This part needs to be done this way,” and you don’t understand what they mean, then naturally, you won’t be able to deliver what the company needs from you.

Being able to express your own opinions and have a real back-and-forth conversation is even better.

But if the people you work with start thinking, “Oh, this performer doesn’t understand what I’m saying,” it becomes difficult to build trust, and it may also reduce the number of future opportunities you receive.

Naturally, companies may hesitate to hire someone in that situation.

However, the level of English you need depends on the position you are applying for — whether you are a dancer, singer, actor, or something else.

Singers

For singers, understanding English is particularly important.

There are so many things we need to communicate with our voices — dynamics, vibrato, phrasing, cutoffs, breathing, and many other details.

A lot of these things can only be communicated verbally.

So being able to understand English instructions is extremely important.

Actors

Actors also need to be able to respond to a director’s requests and understand the performance they are being asked to deliver, regardless of how experienced they are.

As performers, we aren’t simply selling ourselves.

Especially in theme parks and musical theater, we have to adapt ourselves to an established character and role.

That means understanding what the director and creative team want directly affects the quality of our performance and, ultimately, how much we are able to contribute to the production.

Dancers

But what about dancers?

If you are a professional dancer at the level required to pass an international audition, you should generally be able to learn choreography by watching a demonstration, even if you don’t fully understand every verbal explanation.

I’ve performed on many international stages, including cruise ships, and I’ve met several dancers who weren’t fluent in English.

However, I honestly can’t say that I’ve met many professional actors or singers working internationally who couldn’t understand English at all.

You don’t need to speak perfect, fluent English.

But once again, being able to understand what the people around you are saying is the minimum level of English you should have.

Actors: Native-Level English Can Be Different

For actors, it also depends on the role you are cast in.

If the role requires you to speak and perform in native-level English, then even if your English is very good, it may still be difficult if it doesn’t sound completely natural.

Acting is already difficult in your native language.

Doing it in another language is an even bigger challenge.

I wouldn’t say it’s impossible, but it can require a significant amount of time and effort.

Singers: Pronunciation Is Especially Important

For singers, if you are going to perform songs in English, pronunciation becomes especially important.

Even if you aren’t fluent enough to have a full conversation in English, you still need to be able to look at English lyrics and sing them with clear, natural pronunciation.

That’s why, in my lessons, I put a strong emphasis on English pronunciation for students who want to work at theme parks or on cruise ships.

I have personally performed in English at both Universal Studios Japan and Tokyo Disney as a Japanese singer, and I have also worked as a singer on Princess Cruises in the United States.

So, if you want to pursue an international performing career, I would love for you to learn from an instructor with real-world experience in exactly these environments.

Because I’m Japanese myself, I understand the specific challenges Japanese performers face when working in English — as well as the techniques and strategies that can help overcome them.

I’m here to support you not only with singing, but also with the skills you need to actually work as a professional performer overseas.

Mayu