At the end of last year, Joshua Sinclair-Evans was in the cast of the Sky Original film A Christmas Number One, playing one of the boyband members Kevin, and his previous screen roles have included Josh in the 2019 film Spider-Man: Far From Home, Shane in High Strung: Free Dance and the series regular role of Josh in Disney’s The Lodge. Having made his stage debut in The Distance at Orange Tree Theatre, Joshua has since gone on to perform in Rubber and Digging Deep both as part of the VAULT Festival. As well as acting, Joshua is also a dancer, having performed in Derrière on a G String, and he trained at both Tring Park School for the Performing Arts and The Actors Class. Chatting to us, Joshua talks about playing Kevin in A Christmas Number One, his time as Josh in The Lodge and performing on stage.
You most recently appeared on screen in the feature film A Christmas Number One, can you tell us about the film and your character Kevin?
A Christmas Number One was all about the corruption and greed of the music industry and Kevin was kind of the archetype bratty popstar. He was definitely someone with a lot of arrogance and a very fragile ego. He’s one of those people who you never really know how they are going to react, which just made him all the more fun to play.
How did you find your time filming as Kevin and working with the rest of the cast?
The best thing about filming was definitely the other cast members in the boyband. We genuinely got on like a house on fire from the first day, which just meant that it was easier to play around and have fun with it. I also never really get to play the bad guy much, so being able to not have to worry about coming across likeable allowed a lot more freedom with it.
In 2019, you played Josh in Spider-Man: Far From Home, how was the experience on set of the film?
It was amazing being part of something of that scale. You see all the crazy stunts and sets on screen, but when you’re actually there it can be super daunting. I’ll always remember the day we were filming on a double decker bus at the studios in Watford and we had these massive blue screens surrounding it, there were huge lights and wind machines to create a storm. Then we would run out of the bus and there would be mini explosions happening around us.
What was it like seeing the film when it was released and what did you enjoy most about being part of the Spider-Man franchise?
It’s always weird watching something back when you know all the tricks that have been done. There’s a scene where we are on a bus driving alongside a mountain. Whereas in actual fact that was filmed on a sound stage, and to simulate driving there was a guy with a plank of wood under the bus just bouncing it up and down.
Can you tell us about filming as Shane in High Strung: Free Dance?
That was the first time I had actually had to use an accent for a job. So that was definitely an added stress, but everyone on the job was super welcoming and friendly, and I got to see how they can make Romania transform into New York.
How was it filming your episode of Casualty, in which you played the guest role of Sheridan Taylor?
Coming into such a well-established soap does feel a little odd. Everyone has been working together for possibly years and it really is like walking into a family. But what’s great about that is that everyone knows exactly what they are doing so they can guide you around and you never end up feeling like a fish out of water.
What are some of your favourite memories from your time as Josh in the Disney series The Lodge?
That was actually the first job I had ever really done in front of a camera, so the first season I was having to learn a lot about the differences between TV and theatre. Adding to that, having to do dance rehearsals for the first time and recording songs in a proper recording studio, it was definitely a whirlwind experience. But again, it was the cast that really made that job what it was. Everyone clicked, and it just makes it so much easier to act with people you like, as you don’t feel self-conscious about trying things or making mistakes.
What was Josh like to play and is there anything you miss most about filming the series?
The thing with Josh is that he was way more upbeat than I am. So I had to pump myself up each day with some happy, energetic music to get the vibe. I think what I miss most is being in that world for three or so months at a time. It was great going into work every day, seeing the same people, and actually feeling like you know what you are doing.
On stage, you played Jack in Digging Deep at the 2019 VAULT Festival, can you tell us about this?
Digging Deep was a play all about mental health in young men. It was a really important piece of theatre as it highlighted how men’s silence over their own emotions can actually be fatal. What was really amazing about being a part of it was how much it affected people. Just because it was about young men didn’t mean it didn’t resonate with everyone. My grandmother came to see it and it actually changed the way she thought about certain issues.
You have also performed in Rubber at the VAULT Festival and made your professional stage debut in The Distance at Orange Tree Theatre, how were these?
Rubber was definitely a one-of-a-kind show. I was genuinely driving around two audience members at a time in the back of my car, whilst the other actor and I did the play. We would drive around Waterloo stopping at various locations. It was arguably the best lesson I have had in naturalism as you can’t fake driving a car while you’re in it, and you had to constantly react to everyday things like traffic and just people crossing the road.
I’ve been lucky that I have loved every job I’ve done, and that all started with The Distance. I had never done a professional play before, so as well as doing the play itself, it was just learning what it’s like to be in a professional environment. The rest of the cast had all been acting professionally for years so they definitely took me under their wing, which really helped. The play was also done in the round which was a new experience, as when the audience are on all sides you know there is literally no place to hide.
As a dancer, you were part of Derrière on a G String, what was this like to do?
Being hired as a dancer is something I never thought would happen. Derrière on a G String was a comedy dance show which mixed dance and physical theatre. The first time we did it, it was also being devised and choreographed at the time, so it was really cool to see how a show develops from inception.
Where does your love of acting and performing come from and how did you start?
I’ve told this story a few too many times now that I am starting to not believe it. But when I was five I saw Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in the West End, and as soon as I saw the car fly into the air I just wanted to get into that car. The only way to get in the car was to be an actor, so I decided that’s what I was going to do. I do also think that The Lord of the Rings films really cemented that I wanted to be an actor, as I was just obsessed with how they had created a whole world on screen, and I am still desperate to be a part of it.
Can you tell us about your training?
I had been doing amateur productions and classes since I was about five, and then went to Tring Park School for the Performing Arts when I was 16. After that, I did what I count as the best training I’ve had which was The Actors Class run by Mary Doherty. I still do workshops here and there, as I fully believe that you’ve never finished learning.
Do you have any favourite TV shows and films to watch?
My favourite TV shows are quite varied, I love Euphoria and Watchmen, but I’m also a repeat watcher of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. In terms of films, my all-time top films are without a doubt The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
What are you hoping 2022 brings for your career?
What I love about being an actor is that you basically have no idea what will happen next. I’ve been lucky that my career has been really varied, so I’m just excited that I haven’t a clue what’s next.
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