Disability in the arts & pushing boundaries with Joseph Fletcher

Welcome back to season 2 of The Business of Show Business.

On today's I am joined by my long time friend Joseph Fletcher. Me and Joseph trained at college together and I am so proud of the career he has had.

As a hearing impaired performer he has not let his disability stop him. Some of his career credits include Deaf Men Dance, Closing ceremony of the 2012 Paralympics and West End musical Wicked.

Time code:

1: 04 Interview starts

2:20 When did you start performing ?

"Jealousy got me into the business"

3:51 Obstacles Joe faces with being hearing impaired

4:14 "The biggest obstacle is trying to convince people that the job is going to get done"

5:45 Confidence in having a disability

6:30 "We are always told what we need to improve or work on we are never told what we excel in"

7:06 "You have to showcase your best self"

8: 02 Joe's yellow brick road to Wicked

"Musical theatre was never the dream"

 14:24 How do you find another dream when you have achieved yours?

15:58 "Stepping into the uncomfortable places in our business"

17:33 The power of saying no

19:29 The value of our skills

20:35 Opportunities that have presented themselves because Joseph is hearing impaired

23: 27 "I now use my singing calls as an opportunity to have a conversation about my disability and opening up the room for people to ask questions"

25:02 "We are all looking for our representation. We go to the theatre to try and see ourselves on stage, and I don’t see myself on stage, specifically for the West End, I don’t see myself, so I need to help pave the way for other people like me"

27:18 What advice Joseph would give his younger self

27:58 "I wished someone had said to me that even though I am confined by boundaries, that they are not the walls – that’s not your max, you can push your boundaries out, they are not solid"

29: 32 Motto or quote Joe lives by

"Just keep it simple – we get so wrapped up in today’s world, we are so influenced by that and we forget that it doesn’t have to be so complicated"

30:14 "When I get stressed, I spell the word backwards and it spells dessert, pop that kettle on and have some cake"

30:58 "When you can, go above and beyond"

32:30 Social media in the arts

38:17 Where you can find Joseph online.

https://twitter.com/josephjfletcher

https://www.instagram.com/josephjfletcher/

https://www.instagram.com/josephjfletcherphotography/

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