A thought-provoking comedy about disability is to be performed by a disabled actor at Dundee Rep this week.
If These Spasms Could Speak sees cerebral palsy sufferer Robert Softley in a solo performance based on a collection of funny, sad, touching and surprising stories about disabled people and their bodies.
Using his personal experiences, as well as some submitted stories from others, including Dundee man David Tares who has the same condition, the show promises a unique and fascinating insight into real people living with disabilities.
The show spent three weeks at the Edinburgh Fringe, where it received high praise, and is now on tour, coming to Dundee for one night only on Wednesday.
David said the opportunity to be involved in the show was great as he has previously performed on the stage himself, although this time he will be in the audience.
He said: “I have spent three years at the Rep and saw this as a way to get back on the stage. This show really challenges people’s perceptions.”
One of the stories David gave Robert to use is about being at a music festival and managing to make his way to the front of the field to see one of his favourite artists, without realising he wouldn’t be able to get back.
After getting a message requesting assistance to one of the stewards, he was shocked when it was announced on stage. Half of the show will be Robert’s experiences and half will feature his contributors’ stories.
The title of the show comes from a time when Robert was out celebrating his partner’s birthday and got so excited his legs went into spasm and he knocked over a table full of drinks.
Robert usually uses a wheelchair to get about but performs the show using a normal chair and crawls along the stage, which David said should challenge the audience in a big way.
He said: “One of the things about disability plays is it is hard to get people to come in off the street to watch subjects like that.
“A lot of the time it is like preaching to the converted but it would be good to get some people who have never been to a show like this before. It really depends what mind set you go with what you will get out of it.
“I have seen it twice and came away with a slightly different take on it the second time.”
The show will be at the Rep Theatre on Wednesday starting at 7.30pm and is rated age 14 and over.