What Is FESH?

FESH – the Federation of Ethical Stage Hypnotists – is the UK’s established governing body for stage hypnosis. For over 30 years, FESH has worked tirelessly to promote ethical standards, dispel myths, and ensure the art of stage hypnosis is both respected and responsibly performed.

We are proud to be the only stage hypnosis organisation recognised by Equity, the UK actors’ union. In fact, Equity ensures that a senior FESH member is always included on its stage hypnosis committee, underlining the trust and authority we’ve earned.

A Little History

In the late 1970s, a group of thirteen experienced stage hypnotists grew increasingly concerned about the growing negative perception of hypnosis—especially stage hypnosis.

This backlash was fuelled by:

Sensationalist media coverage, often exaggerating incidents to boost newspaper sales.
Legal claims from individuals alleging they suffered illness or injury during—or even from watching—stage hypnosis shows.
Criticism from medical professionals, particularly the British Society of Medical and Dental Hypnosis (BSMDH), who believed hypnosis should be used solely as a serious clinical tool, not for entertainment.

What these critics overlooked was that hypnosis has a long history in entertainment, dating back over 200 years—and in fact, research has shown that audiences are more likely to take hypnosis seriously after seeing a responsible and professional stage show.

To address the concerns and improve public understanding, the founding members created FESH. Working with the BSMDH and the UK Home Office, they helped develop a Code of Conduct for stage hypnotists. This Code later formed the basis of the Home Office’s Model Conditions for Stage Hypnotism Performances, which were distributed to all UK local councils.