★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Originally shown on the BBC in march, and now released on Netflix, this biography of the Disability Right’s Movement in the UK, is excellently shown through the lens of two of its architects Barbara Lisicki (Ruth Madeley) and Alan Holdsworth (Arthur Hughes).
Writers Jack Thorne and Genevieve Barr (Crip Tales, Ralph & Katie) give us the story of how two cabaret performers changed the world. With the domestic backdrop of a disabled couple falling in love, having kids and navigating the world, we are introduced to their activism by degrees. Their differing styles of activism often cause conflict, with Alan militant, emotional and sometimes unhinged and Barbara more strategic and thinking ‘big picture’.
It is immediately striking in both the performance and writing, that the voices of disabled people are centred. There is humour and depth, showing the frustration of how ableist the population at large were (and are), taking the piss out of pitying do-gooders who offer charity. It is totally unapologetic and refreshing; it will be an education to a lot of non-disabled folk, and an uncomfortable reminder of how excluding things were, and not that long ago!
Current disabled activism builds on the work of these pioneers, whether boycotting Spectrum10k, staging wheelchair flashmobs or taking the Government to court over not having BSL interpreters during Covid briefings. We all owe so much to the movement we see documented here. Our disabled forefathers were building ramps so others could wheel!
The mobilisation of mass protest from the disabled community is amazing to see dramatised, it shows how direct action is necessary, and chaining yourself to buses and pavements gets you seen. It shows how invisible we are as a group, and the lengths we have to go to, to be seen.
Supporting roles from Reece Pantry and Nadeem Islam showcase contemporary disabled acting talent, working alongside established disabled actors (and those that were there) Liz Carr and Matt Fraser. There is a strange meta cross-over between actors and their real-life counterparts which is earned, a rarity in this kind of drama. It was Ruth Madeley’s Barbara interacting with her real-life self that cemented this drama for me as something profound.
Amit Sharma and Bruce Goodison’s direction is perfect, mixing 90’s docu-drama footage with magical realism and cartoonish escapades, really bringing across the humour of our protagonists, but never shying away from the importance of their message.
An essential drama that enshrines how important it was to get the Disability (and latterly Equality) Act into law, and how we must do everything to protect it from the forces of darkness that infest our current government.
Then Barbara Met Alan is available to stream on Netflix.
