We sat down for an exclusive interview with Josie Young, producer and host of the In Dialogue – The Theatre-Maker’s Guide podcast, and Digital Media Coordinator at Scottish Youth Theatre.
In Dialogue – The Theatre-Maker’s Guide is a special four-part series bringing together insightful conversations with young creatives actively shaping the future of Scotland’s theatre sector. The first episode was released on Wednesday 22 October.
Stream all episodes of In Dialogue by Scottish Youth Theatre by searching for it wherever you get your podcast or by clicking on the link.
In Dialogue – The Theatre-Maker’s Guide feels like such a great idea – giving young artists a platform to share real, practical insight. How did the concept for the podcast first come about?
From talking to emerging theatre-makers through our programmes, we knew that Scotland’s young creatives needed responsive resources that shared insights on what it takes to start a career in the theatre industry. And who better to talk about what’s going on than the young artists themselves? And podcast as a medium is great, because it allows us to really delve into the artist’s story whilst the listener can be going about their day – absorbing practical tips while on the bus or doing the dishes. The amount of information you feel like you need to know when embarking on your career in theatre can be extremely overwhelming, but with this, we hope to make it as convenient and as accessible as possible.
What gap did you feel needed to be filled in the conversation around emerging theatre-makers in Scotland?
I’ve been in many rooms with more establishing theatre-makers, where their advice and anecdotes are outdated – which they admit themselves. There is a gap for a platform where the experiences of emerging and early-career artists are elevated. A space that is aware of the way young creatives currently need to navigate the industry that also integrates the expertise of those who are further ahead in their career. We should be mindful that the sector is ever-evolving, so it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. That’s what these podcast conversations try to get at – the rich diversity of voices, skills and experiences in the industry now. We need to hear from people who are actively experiencing and carving their own trajectory in the sector, what the barriers that got in their way were and, ultimately, what pivotal moments in that journey stood out for them.
The episodes cover everything from auditions to collaboration to upscaling – all the nuts and bolts of creative life. How did you choose those themes, and what do you hope listeners get from them?
We conducted a survey last year to gather feedback and experiences from young artists across Scotland. From there, we were able to understand what some of the most urgent topics that young theatre-makers wanted to learn more about were and set our sights on the podcast as one of the means to address that. We hope by listening that audiences will get up-to-date and relevant insights that could inspire their own decision-making and career trajectory. We pair our topics with artists who have first-hand experience of them or are working in that form and can therefore relate to the barriers that face young artists in Scotland right now. There isn’t any sugar-coating here but, equally, there is a lot of hope and inspiration in these stories too.
Has there been a moment, story, or piece of advice that really stuck with you personally?
There is a quote in one of the episodes in the current series from artist Indra Wilson. They say; “I wanted a platform that was going to level me up and… start my career on. That feels quite like, we shouldn’t talk about that, we shouldn’t talk about what we’ll gain.” I think this really gets to what the heart of the episodes are about and what faces many emerging artists today. That it feels like there is a shame in ambition and making choices in what will benefit your career. What we want to provide through this series is transparency; to enable artists to not only think creatively but strategically. Finding space and time to get into the position that they want and to not shy away from talking about that.
If someone tunes in for the first time, what do you hope they take away after listening?
In every episode, you will find diamonds of knowledge and wisdom that could inform your next career move. Be prepared to rapidly open your notes app and think about how you could incorporate the tips into your own journey. These episodes are empowering listens, from young artists who understand how tough it can be when you’re first getting started. But the stories are there to encourage you to advocate for and look after yourself, to leave you feeling inspired and motivated to take that next jump in your own career. Make sure you listen to In Dialogue – the podcast for emerging artists by Scottish Youth Theatre. Stream wherever you get your podcasts.