How Physio Powers Performance: Our Chat with Genevieve Tawiah

Ever wondered what it takes to keep a West End performer moving through multiple shows a week? Meet Genevieve Tawiah, a physiotherapist who's carved out a niche most of us never think about, keeping performers at their physical peak when the show literally must go on.

But here's what really caught our attention: Genevieve's journey wasn't exactly a straight line. The challenges she faced and insights she's gained sparked conversations we couldn't stop thinking about. Conversations about representation, inclusion, and whose voices have been missing. Ready to hear how one physio is changing the game, both on stage and behind the scenes?

Genevieve (@tawiahphysio) started out in the NHS, working in orthopaedics and MSK. It gave her a solid grounding and a better understanding of the people she now sees in clinic. “If I hadn’t had my time in the NHS, I maybe would miss things,” she told us. Which is also why so many elite sports physios tend to work in clinics before they transition into sport, it brings that added perspective.

She never set out to be a physio, she just knew she didn’t want to be a doctor. Then one day she shadowed someone at a clinic in Derby. “I was only there for a couple hours,” she said, “but I was like, this is amazing.” That one moment was enough to set her on the path.

Performance physio came later. A temporary job in London turned into backstage work on shows like Wicked and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. “At no point had I considered that dance or performance was a sector,” she said. “But once I got into it, it just made sense.”

Gen remembers feeling embarrassed growing up and never finding tights that matched her skin tone. “I could not get skin tone tights. That did not exist,” she said. It’s a feeling many experience but don’t often talk about: not seeing yourself reflected even in your gear.

She recalls conversations with taping companies about creating skin-tone tapes, and how some said it was too expensive to rename or redesign products. “They were missing the point,” Gen said. For performers, the pressure to hide injuries is real. Managers want the focus on the show, not someone’s health. “I don’t want to be able to see that you’ve got an injury,” is a common refrain.

But for Gen, tape that matches your skin isn’t just about looks. It’s about confidence and performance. “I feel more secure with it on... it makes me more aware and capable. That extra confidence can boost your performance.” Inclusion isn’t just nice-to-have, it makes a real difference.

Most people think of physio as fixing sports injuries, but Gen’s work goes beyond that. She supports dancers, singers, and actors to keep their bodies and voices in top shape. Vocal physio, in particular, is a niche she’s passionate about, working on the tiny muscles around the jaw and throat that affect how the voice works.

“Vocal physio means treating around the neck and jaw, but it’s not painful,” she explains. “Our voice depends on muscles here and here,” she says, pointing to her throat and jaw, “but oddly, physio training often skips this area. Treating these muscles can free up space and improve voice function.”

Stress also affects the voice. “When we’re upset or stressed, our larynx tightens, which changes our voice,” she says. Vocal physio is just one part of a team that includes vocal coaches and speech therapists, all working together to help performers.

Gen treats performers as whole people. “If someone has voice problems but also back pain or posture issues, that’s connected,” she says. “Pain makes you tight and affects breathing, and breathing is essential for voice. So treating the whole body helps the voice too.” Having worked on shows like Strictly, she calls this work “a beautiful place to be.”

Gen's work goes way beyond fixing what's broken – she's all about helping people truly understand their bodies. For her, Kinesiology Tape isn't just about support; it's a teaching tool that retrains your body awareness and guides better movement. "People say, 'Ah, now I can apply that day to day,' and even after taking the tape off, they can still find it." That's confidence-building stuff right there.

Setbacks? They're just part of the process. "Sometimes you put a lot of energy in and a random injury happens. It feels like you stop, but those steps back are part of moving forward." Self-kindness and taking time to reflect, that's what keeps you going when everything feels uphill.

Looking ahead, Gen's buzzing about new workshops, vocal physio projects, and hitting her tenth year as a physio. "I'm switching things up a bit and seeing what the next few months bring." She's passionate about pushing boundaries, both for herself and the people she works with.

Bottom line? Gen's mission is simple: help performers and athletes become the healthiest, strongest version of themselves. And that message hits way beyond any clinic walls.

And that's it! If you want to learn more about Gen, or have any questions, get in touch! We're happy to help. Because at the end of the day, we're all about connecting you with the right people and knowledge to keep you moving forward.