Recently, I went to see a satirical puppet show called Meet Fred by the Hijinx theatre company.
Founded in 1981, Hijinx has gone on to produce theatre with a focus on promoting opportunities for actors with learning disabilities and/or autism. They say their primary belief is that theatre is for everyone. This ethos runs through the acting, the writing, and the themes of their work.
System breakdown
The play follows Fred, a puppet who is fully functioning at the beginning. But when a date with a could-be romantic interest goes wrong and he fails as a children’s entertainer, he begins to fall through the cracks. To add to Fred’s woes, his benefits – Puppetry Living Allowance (PLA) – are taken away in the form of one of his puppeteers being removed. His legs are literally cut out from beneath him.
We, the audience, see what happens when the system breaks down and the strings previously being pulled begin to fragment: a once happy, flourishing puppet is almost suicidal.
Fourth wall
The show makes brilliant use of the rupture of the fourth wall between the audience and the action by having the director make regular appearances throughout as a character.
A stagehand called Martyn, who has Down syndrome, would come and move the set around in between scenes and often almost forgot to do his job. On stage at one point, the director appeared to get annoyed with him. These interactions were hilarious and must be seen to be fully enjoyed.
The ‘off-guard’ moments achieved wonderful depths of comedy which added to my warm reception. They explain why, even after a decade, the satirical puppet show is still going strong.
Still relevant
A wonderful piece of satire, Meet Fred demonstrates the damage caused to an individual when the system fails them. The system flaws portrayed are as relevant today as they were at the play’s inception in 2016. As someone who has additional needs, I sympathised deeply with Fred, and the range of emotion the play evoked is a testament to the excellent writing.
Please do go and see the show as it travels throughout the country. It is deserving of an audience’s attention and support. Ticket prices are play-what-you-can, which in this troubling economy is very kind and allows for all to access and appreciate it.
It is suitable for 14 years and above and those who enjoy puppets, satire, and the best of good theatre.
For more info on Hijinx theatre company and the Meet Fred tour dates, be sure to check out their website: Hijinx.org.uk.
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