YDF25 Artist 09 Q&A: Joshua K Tarinson

What’s your background?

I’m a Northern, working-class, neurodivergent, LGBTQ+ writer. I am agented by SP Literary Agency for my Children’s Literature, I have a background in HETV in Production and Editorial, and I’ve been studying playwriting for years now. Most recently I’ve managed to have some success and had a short play directed by Rikki Beadle-Blair MBE and performed at Derby Theatre. I grew up in a deprived area and didn’t realise theatre, or the arts in general, was a place for myself.
Ever since reflecting on this and seeing the impact stories can have on people from deprived areas, I’ve wanted to both work in roles that impact my community as well as write stories that represent them.

Who are your biggest influences? Artistically? Who inspired you to become an artist?

The biggest influence in my life, which made me fall in love with theatre and socially politically driven art, was Willy Russel’s Blood Brothers. Before this musical, I had been kicked out of my high-school, had been arrested and luckily given a warning by the police, and had a reputation for being a misfit. My new school took me to this, for free, and it made me realise how there are people out there talking about class, talking about my type of struggles, there’s a way to talk about these issues to a wide range of audiences, and you can do it all with fun & heart. Since then, I’ve been drawn to fun, comedic, and wacky stories with serious socio-political issues threaded throughout.

How have you developed your career? (From student to artist)

After leaving University I started as a runner in TV, whilst writing in my spare time. Whilst studying story structure, and later utilising this as I entered the editorial department in HETV, I joined a playwriting group at Box of Tricks in Manchester, and was shortlisted for OutStageUs 2022 for a short play I wrote.
I later developed this play into a three act play, and managed to get a West-End Director attached. In-between unsuccessfully applying for Arts Council Funding for an R&D, I got onto a Rapid Response Scheme and had the opportunity to write a short play that was performed at Derby Theatre. I became interested in managing workshops, facilitating, and working with local communities through theatre after volunteering at Bolton Octagon Theatre, and have since tried to find the best ways to explore both playwriting and how theatre can impact local communities.

What does your work as an artist aim to say?

I feel compelled to write about class in almost everything that I write. I feel the arts has gradually told everyone from working-class background that they are not welcome. Our stories aren’t told, our voices aren’t heard, our opportunities are often taken by those with more privilege and connections, and we feel out of place if we are lucky enough to get a role within the arts. Due to this, I try my best to always write about class, represent class, or work with the community in a way that impacts those from a working-class background like myself.

Sadly, I am now of the opinion that the arts must change to truly work with, represent, and give opportunities to the working-class or it will die… and if it refuses to do that, if it ignores a huge section of society, then it deserves that death.

What jobs have you done other than being an artist?

Too many. I’ve been a door-to-door salesman, a pizza maker, a cleaner, a warehouse worker, a customer service worker in almost every brand of shop, a variety of non-creative TV jobs, and I’m currently working as a case handler at a legal firm… And they’re just the ones I can remember.

What advice would you give to a young artist beginning their journey to becoming an artist?

Becky – I remember my first public professional dance performance when I was 14, which was at Wembley Stadium in London. We opened for the Harlequins Rugby team match, dancing to live music by musician Tokio Myers who was the winner of Britain’s Got Talent in 2017. The sheer scale of the stadium alone was amazingly overwhelming, and I remember the feeling of stepping out onto the pitch and taking in the crowd and my surroundings for the first time. It was one of the most amazing and inspirational experiences.

What jobs have you done other than being an artist?

Madi – I love film making and videography, as well as social and digital marketing which helps push myself in this industry.

What role does arts funding have to your practice? Could you and would you still be an artist if you weren’t paid to explore your art?

Madi – I will always create, explore and play with my artform no matter the money, the funding is amazing but when it comes down to it, if I’m doing what i am passionate about that’s the main thing. Funding just enables me to branch out to add to my art, like locations, types of cameras and costumes etc.

What advice would you give to a young artist beginning their journey to becoming an artist?

Don’t forget to celebrate every little victory. You may get to a point when you’re juggling a full time non-creative job and freelance roles on the side, or you’re juggling three creative freelance roles, and because of the chaos you can’t see the joy that you’re doing something you’ve always wanted to do.

Also, don’t get distracted by seeing other people’s success. You shouldn’t waste what precious time you have to dedicate to your art in worrying about what other people are doing. It’s human to do it, but you have to fight that instinct or you’ll only find yourself standing still and not moving yourself forward.
Finally, I think the most important thing I could tell any young artist beginning their journey is that they should be kind.
Help each other, offer your time to read that person’s play, or meet for coffee to share information or give advice. The arts are hard enough without us looking out for each other.
Be kind, be patient, be focused, and celebrate the every single victory.

Then answer these Quick Fire questions…