Satirical Show About Disability Rights Comes To Bristol

Inclusive Welsh theatre company brings Puppet Fred to Bristol theatre on 10th anniversary tour

A darkly comic satire about a puppet navigating society and disability rights comes to Bristol Old Vic this March.

Puppet Fred’s life starts to unravel when his Puppetry Living Allowance is threatened.

All Fred wants is to live an ordinary life. He wants to find love, get a job and be part of society.

It’s described as a “subversive examination of bureaucracy” told through humour, puppetry and sharp political commentary.

The show from Welsh theatre company Hijinx in association with puppetry experts Blind Summit, debuted ten years ago. It’s been created by an inclusive ensemble of Disabled and non-disabled artists.

Rows around disability benefits and inclusion have be ongoing in the country over the last decade.

In a current backdrop to disability benefits being slashed for young people, a narrative blaming Disabled people for being Disabled and new cut backs to support for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, the show remains more relevant than ever.

“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,” Director Ben Pettitt-Wade says

“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.” 

Celebrating its ten years in production, the show has toured across the UK and performed in more than 20 countries across Europe, Asia and North America.

The show is cast with three Learning Disabled and/or Autistic performers from Hijinx.

Hijinx Actor Lindsay Spellman is among the original Meet Fred cast members. Talking about her experience working on the show she 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 will be in the Weston Studio of Bristol Old Vic from 17 – 21 March 2026

Access
Every performance will be Captioned.

There will be BSL interpreted performances by Stephen Brattan-Wilson on 18 and 19 March.

A post-show discussion will follow the performance on Thursday 19 March

For more information or to book, visit: https://bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/meet-fred

Cast and Creatives
The Director – Owen Pugh  
Puppeteer and Fred – Nick Halliwell 
Puppeteer – Sam Harding 
Martin – Gareth John
Jack- Iwan Jones
Puppeteer – Jennie Rawling 
Lucille/The Maker – Lindsay Spellman 
Puppeteer – Llŷr Williams 

Director – Ben Pettitt-Wade 
Production manager – Tom Ayres 
Producer – Ellis Wrightbrook
Lighting designer – Ceri James   
Original music – Jonathan Dunn 
Puppetry dramaturgs (of Blind Summit) – Tom Espiner & Giulia Innocenti  
Original devising cast – Lindsay Foster, Dan McGowan, Richard Newnham, Craig Quat, Morgan Thomas & Martin Vick 
R&D Devisors – Jon Dafydd-Kidd, Denni Dennis, Ellen Groves & Hijinx South Academy 1 

For more information about Hijinx: https://www.hijinx.org.uk/

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