Joshua Val Martin
Writer
Film, TV & Theatre
Joshua Val Martin is a playwright, from Bolton.
His play THIS IS NOT AMERICA won the 2017 Bruntwood Prize commendation award.
He has written two full-length musicals - I’M AFRAID OF AMERIKANS and A PERMANENT STATE OF EMERGENCY - both both for the final year students of the Central School of Speech and Drama, and directed by Sue Dunderdale. The latter is being performed next year at Hope Mill Theatre, as part of their Powerhouse Plays programme.
His play A VOCATION: 49 SCENARIOS FOR GAY MEN, has been performed frequently, including at The Arcola Theatre by The Miniaturists, at the Contact Theatre by Take Back Theatre Collective and at Bury Art Gallery, performed by artist Jez Dolan and commissioned by Manchester Pride. He also made a piece of visual narrative art for an exhibition curated by Jez Dolan - ‘Ten Instructions for Queer Artists’ (Gallery 78, Reykjavik Iceland).
Currently, he is working on an episode for a new SKY television drama.
This year, he will perform and tour his play TELL ME IF I TALK TOO FAST, and his play IN A TOWN SOMEWHERE NORTH OF MILTON KEYNES, which was in the Bruntwood Prize top-40 in 2015, will also be touring.
Josh trained with RTYDS at the New Vic Theatre, and as part of SOHO Theatre and the Royal Exchange Theatre’s respective playwright programmes. Aside from writing, he founded Free Manchester Walking Tours six years ago, regularly sharing Manchester’s story with the world.
In Development
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
TELL ME IF I TALK TOO FAST 2020 | Oldham Coliseum Theatre / Bury Pride / The Edge Chorlton | As Writer/Performer |
TAKING STOCK 2020 | Sky | Writers Room / Episode |
A PERMANENT STATE OF EMERGENCY 2020 | Hope Mill Manchester | R&D Performance |
IN A TOWN SOMEWHERE NORTH OF MILTON KEYNES | Oldham Coliseum / Northampton Royal & Derngate | *Placed in the Top 40, The Bruntwood Prize (2015) |
THIS IS NOT AMERICA | *Winner Special Commendation The Bruntwood Prize 2017 |
Theatre
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
GUIDED MISSILES 2019 | Anthony Burgess Centre | As Writer/Performer |
A PERMANENT STATE OF EMERGENCY 2019 | Central School of Speech and Drama | As Writer |
I'M AFRAID OF AMERIKANS 2018 | Central School of Speech and Drama | As Writer |
60 MILES BY ROAD OR RAIL 2018 | Northampton Royal & Derngate | As Writer |
THIS IS NOT AMERICA 2017 | Bush Theatre (R&D) | As Writer |
OUTLAWS TO INLAWS 2017 | Kings Head Theatre Islington | As Writer |
A VOCATION 2017 | Take Back Theatre / Contact Theatre, MCR | As Writer |
WORD ON A WING 2016 | 53Two, MCR | As Writer |
PAINTED ARROWS 2016 | Irlam Catholic Men’s Club (Irlam Fringe) | As Writer |
AN ODE TO US 2016 | Take Back Theatre / Royal Exchange, MCR | As Writer |
WHY? FESTIVAL 2015 | Contact Theatre, MCR | As Associate Artist |
UNEARTHED 2015 | New Vic Theatre, Stoke | As Assistant Director |
I BELONG TO THE STARS 2015 | Royal Exchange, Manchester | As Writer |
NOW DEPARTING 2015 | Kings Arms Theatre, MCR | As Writer/ Director |
BACK SEAT BETTY 2015 | Kings Arms Theatre, MCR / LOST Theatre, Stockwell | As Writer |
BRASS 2014 | Leeds Varieties | As Assistant Director |
UNION 2014 | Belinda’s Showbar | As Writer/Director |
STRANGEWAYS 2014 | University of Manchester / Kings Arms Theatre, MCR / LOST Theatre, Stockwell / Edinburgh Festival Fringe | As Writer/Director |
Reviews
‘This play is political, topical and necessary. It has a huge heart and is angry but also clear-eyed and tremendous fun… this is a play which demands to be produced’ The Bruntwood Prize (In a Town Something North of Milton Keynes)
‘He has created a vibrant, complex character who speaks a vivid often poetic idiolect: tense, sad, funny, angry, vengeful, needy’ British Theatre Guide (Back Seat Betty)
‘The final scenes present memory as a viscerally violent force, leaving the audience unnerved. Well worth the trip, as long as there’s a pub nearby.’ EdFringe Review (Strangeways)