The Soldiers’ Arts Academy presents

Maddie

Written by Josh Merritt

Directed by Nicky Allpress

Accompanied by memories of Abey-baby the cat and irregular texts from Mum, old soul Maddie returns from the coast to London, searching for happiness and answers in the places she has been trying to escape her whole life.

Young, homeless, autistic, with a pathological compulsion to entertain, Maddie employs a talent for impressions, quick-change and illusion to share her life story. But as the coldest winter on record sets in and she is forced to return to her childhood home, she will have to confront the real and hard truth about her past…

This strangely uplifting piece is written and performed by autistic artists; writer Josh Merritt and actress Evlyne Oyedokun explored their own strategies for navigating their lives with director Nicky Allpress, who fell in love with Maddie throughout the Covid pandemic. Developing Maddie over Zoom, the team met for the first time in 2021 and are proud to be showcasing this moving yet playful glimpse into the life of a young homeless woman with autism.


This show is part of Arcola’s festival of outdoor art and performance, Today I’m Wiser. Explore the full programme → 

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★★★★ “joyful”LondonTheatre1