Book: Leonora Brooks
Music: Leonora Brooks
Lyrics: Leonora Brooks
Directors: Leonora Brooks and Edward Turner
Authentic, funny, charming and deeply emotional – I’m Autistic: A New Musical is a triumph from start to finish. As an autistic reviewer and musical theatre fan, this is the kind of production I have dreamed of seeing onstage for years.
This is a neurodivergent-led production – and it shows in the best way. Autistic writer Leonora Brooks delivers a powerful and realistic script alongside lyrics that convey experiences which all too often go unnoticed by allistic (non-autistic) people. Even better, many members of the (incredibly skilled) cast are neurodivergent and all neurodivergent characters are played by neurodivergent performers – something that really should be a norm by now, but unfortunately isn’t yet. The result is an electrifying show that will resonate with audience members who have similar lived experiences while also being an accessible introduction to the topic of autism for those who are unfamiliar with it.
It should be noted that autism is a spectrum and each autistic person has a unique blend of traits associated with autism. In this particular musical, the focus is on three autistic young people who do not have learning disabilities – and the show is well aware of the societal aggressions and ignorance this sub-group faces, with a barrage of comments from secondary characters such as “you just don’t seem autistic” to “oh, but you’re low on the spectrum, right?”. The show makes it easy to see how this kind of stereotyping can have real-world impacts, such as a GP denying one character access to a formal diagnosis – and therefore preventing her from accessing any practical support.
On the flip side, there’s also a condescending kind of pity that comes from seeing autistic people as a source of ‘inspiration porn’ – another character’s (useless and infuriatingly neuronormative) guidance teacher decrees “You’re like Superman!”, and the student’s snarky response “Yeah, if Superman had chronic social dysfunction instead of laser eyes…” really gets across the frustration of being perceived in this unhelpful and inaccurate way.
This student, Chloe (Olivia Jenkins), is confident in her identity as an autistic young person – but she is ostracised and bullied at school for not masking enough to conform to her peers’ expectations, and her well-meaning allistic father has no idea how to help. Chloe’s best and only friend views her as something like a shameful secret, and the show does not shy away from the horrific impact of these issues on Chloe as the situation escalates. (Please do check the content warnings if you need to.)
On a slightly lighter note, Nat (Gabriel Phelan) wrestles with the challenges of dating as an autistic person – from struggling to distinguish between flirting and joking, to being oblivious to the ‘obvious signals’ that his friend Sophie wants him to make a move, to coming out to her as autistic and struggling with sensory overwhelm from inaccessible date venues. Their budding romance is charming in its awkwardness, and the characters’ chemistry (despite their overwhelming self-consciousness) makes it easy to root for them as a couple.
Meanwhile, university student Lauren (Liberty Ashford) embarks on a journey of self-discovery after reading an autistic woman’s memoir and realising that her own experiences are uncannily similar. (Late-diagnosed is a term for anyone who wasn’t formally diagnosed as a particular neurotype during childhood.) The emotional rollercoaster and practical challenges this prompts will doubtless ring true to anyone who has gone through this process. Unlike Chloe, however, Lauren has the unwavering support of her girlfriend and queer non-binary bestie, who lift her up when she struggles with self-doubt. Their solidarity is beautiful and offers some hope for a better, more inclusive and supportive future.
Every single actor in the cast did a fantastic job – and each role (no matter how small) was given the care it deserved to shine, which made the whole performance a joy to watch. The music is solid and the singers’ performances take the songs to emotional heights that are truly impressive. The staging was excellent, with the lighting and movement making the most of a minimalist set and ensuring that audience members on all three sides of the stage had a worthwhile view throughout.
Special kudos to the performer who stepped in at the last minute to take on the role of Nat’s father due to cast illness. This was a particularly difficult role: in just a single scene it portrays the way that neuronormative allistic parents can spiral into toxic self-centred ‘Autism Parent’ mindsets, often resulting in ableist abuse of their autistic children, while highlighting the impact of poor coping mechanisms (alcoholism and absenteeism) on family life in a way that feels as though it comes from a place of very genuine emotional difficulty, but without excusing it or making the character overly sympathetic.
Overall, I’m Autistic: A New Musical is compelling, powerful and authentic – a must-see.
Runs until 23 August 2025
The Reviews Hub Star Rating
100%
Authentically autistic, utterly unforgettable