★★★★
Cerys Bradley’s work-in-progress show is a ‘pick your path’ interactive performance, where an audience member becomes the central character of a highly-detailed fantasy story. Bradley could’ve easily presented this show as a finished product, for all it’s ‘in development’ citing, it has so much going for it, it’s more accomplished than a lot of ‘finished’ fringe shows.
Bradley creates the safest of spaces in the Wee Yurt, as the wind rages outside we settle down to some unadulterated queer autistic joy. Cerys’s pre-amble is a tight stand-up set that covers how the folk tale of the Changeling is autistic-coded, and their love of Disney’s Mulan (without realising it was a trans story). I always thought Cerys gave A-level Math’s teacher energy (the highest compliment for an autistic reviewer to give a performer) and now they actually are one. Their sardonic, deadpan delivery cuts through everything.
The actual ‘pick your path’ story involved perhaps the most exceptional audience member ever, Grey, whose Irish lilt and equally deadpan humour created some kind of fusion which was jaw-droppingly brilliant. As the story started, I was so happy to see two fellow non-binary people taking centre-stage with such silliness, I beamed from ear-to-ear.
Cerys is too honest; the pick your path story is genuine, meaning the path we got didn’t include the many planned set pieces, as I am meant to give feedback, perhaps make fewer paths and allow for these amazing looking elements to feature more often. There is also a complex hyperlinked text that Cerys refers too, I’d love to see that at work on a screen! Joz Norris’s direction has really highlighted Cerys’s impressive skillset.
The meaning of the hour, acts as a direct sequel to ‘all those late autistic diagnosis stories’, which feel like the end to an adventure narrative, but Cerys says this is actually the beginning, where we go next as self-knowing autistics, is the start of multiple fascinating stories.
I can’t wait to hear more of them!
Queer Tales for Autistic Folk WIP is on at Hoots @ Potterrow – Wee Yurt till August 12th
