Tenth anniversary tour of Welsh classic heading to Wolverhampton

Created by award-winning inclusive Welsh theatre makers Hijinx in collaboration with leading puppetry company Blind Summit, Meet Fred is far from your average puppet show. 

The two foot tall cloth protagonist drinks and swears and goes on awkward dates. He’s also attending appointments at the job centre and is generally trying to be part of society. But when his Puppetry Living Allowance is threatened, his world begins to unravel and he spirals into uncertainty. The show uses Fred’s predicament as a biting metaphor for the real-world challenges faced by the disabled community and in an era of tightening budgets and ongoing debates regarding inclusion and independence, it remains a vital piece of political theatre and a reminder that the fight for disability rights is far from over.

Since its premiere in 2016, the show has toured extensively across the UK and internationally, performing in more than 20 countries across Europe, Asia, and North America and features a stellar cast of performers with and without learning disabilities and/or autism, whose lived experiences bring depth and authenticity to Fred’s struggle.

Director Ben Pettitt-Wade said: “We could not have dreamed when we created Meet Fred back in 2016 that it would have taken us across the world, on so many adventures. At the time of making the show many of the artists we made the show with were facing cuts to their disability benefits, an experience which they brought into the room and ultimately became reflected in the struggle we see faced by Fred. With the threat of cuts to disability benefits again hanging in the balance, Meet Fred is a call to arms for anyone who has fought, and is fighting, against a system not designed for them, as vital now as it ever was.” 

Hijinx Actor Lindsay Spellman and original Meet Fred cast member, said: “Being part of Meet Fred has changed me a lot as a performer and as a person. When I started, I didn’t have the same confidence I do now. Touring for so long has taught me so many skills — performing in different places, meeting new people, getting paid and managing that money, learning to travel and work as a team. I’ve grown so much, and I don’t think I’d have found that anywhere else. I’m really proud to still be part of this show, and I can’t wait to bring it home. We’ve done a lot around the world — now our friends and families here in the UK can finally see what all the fuss is about!” 

Meet Fred is at the Arena Theatre on March 2-3. For more and to book, visit: hijinx.org.uk