Today we’d like to introduce you to Tamara Kissane.
Hi Tamara, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I suppose I started producing my own work as soon as I could gather an audience to watch it. As a child, I’d regularly perform original plays and musicals in my living room wearing ill-fitting sequined costumes my mom purchased at garage sales. My younger sister performed with me; she claims I was a bossy director who relegated her to the chorus and upstaged her constantly. I like to think I outgrew those tendencies.
So, I’ve been making theatre in some capacity for as long as I can remember. It’s always been indie, scrappy work, done on a shoestring with the requisite blood, sweat, and tears. I’ve been an actor, director, playwright, producer, stage manager — even a costume designer once! I’ve always been most interested in developing and performing new work, and I’ve been lucky to create pieces as a solo writer, with a co-writer, and in groups both large and small. The Triangle-area of North Carolina (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill and the surrounding towns) has a wonderful and flourishing community of creatives. It has been a joy to make work here for almost two decades!
In 2017, about two years after the birth of my second child, I realized that I could no longer commit to theatre rehearsals or events. My family obligations meant that I could rarely see a show or attend a party, let alone commit to weeks of evening rehearsals and performance weekends. That was a very difficult realization — I missed that world and my friends. I missed the conversations about the creative process and yearned to connect. The upside is that my soul-searching led me to start the Artist Soapbox podcast, which focuses on creatives from the Triangle-area of North Carolina.
Artist Soapbox gives artists a platform to talk about their work in their own words. It’s my hope that the podcast conversations inspire listeners and encourage them on their own creative journey. I hope that listeners can feel connected to the artistic community by hearing our voices and stories. This year we will release our 150th episode. The Artist Soapbox podcast has been listened to around the world and across the US. It’s been a thrilling journey.
My love for making theatre has expanded into a love for audio drama — thus, my experience in podcasting and theatre have combined!. Since 2019, Artist Soapbox has produced and released two full-length audio dramas (Master Builder and The New Colossus) and an audio anthology (Declaration of Love). Later this year, we will be releasing additional audio shorts and will be spending time in the studio recording a nine episode audio drama series to be released in 2022.
Today, I continue to write for live theatre, as well as writing scripted audio fiction. I support writers who want to create both types of work, and I continue to invest time and energy into lifting up the incredible creatives in my community via the podcast. I’m very grateful.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There continue to be practical challenges such as finding the money and finding the time to do this work. Podcasts are tricky to monetize, so money is consistently an issue. Without a predictable steady income stream, it’s hard to pay a team to help Artist Soapbox expand and ‘keep up’ with the growing podcast landscape. Like most freelance artists and entrepreneurs, I am everyday hustling for my passion projects. This also means that I am deeply grateful for the patrons and supporters of Artist Soapbox because they make this work possible.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I make original scripted audio fiction and live theatre — so I can work in both mediums, and I’m devoted to both. Like many indie artists, I am a multi-hyphenate creative. So I’m a producer-writer-director-actor-podcaster-facilitator. I also have two young children. I am devoted to working collaboratively, locally, and with diverse teams.
How do you think about luck?
I feel very lucky and deeply grateful for the people in my life and for the opportunities I have. I am also conscious and mindful of my privilege. A combination of luck, good fortune, kind people, and privilege got me to this place, and I think about that every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.artistsoapbox.org
- Instagram: @artistsoapbox
- Facebook: @artistsoapboxpodcast
- Twitter: @artist_soapbox
- Other: www.patreon/artistsoapbox
Image Credits
Anna Carson Dewitt and Bull City Photography
