08/02/2022
A new production, Wonder Boy, to be staged by Bristol Old Vic in March, tells the story of Sonny, a twelve year old boy living with a high level of stammering. We follow Sonny’s fantastical journey to understand his stammering and to learn how to soar above his difficulties. https://bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/wonder-boy
*Anna Prince* from the Bristol Paediatric Stammering Service and *Debbie Mason* from the Bristol Adult Stammering Service, both of whom also work with Bristol Speech and Language Therapy Research Unit at North Bristol NHS Trust, have been supporting the Director and actors to deepen their understanding of stammering and the issues faced by people who stammer. Together with playwright Ross Willis, who stammers himself, they have been very open and curious to learn more. Ross has made some changes to the script to reflect the Social Model of Disability in relation to stammering – embracing neurodiversity and encouraging society to understand and accept stammering. It promotes the idea that communication is about a whole lot more than fluency.
The play will be anarchic, fun and will celebrate the courage of those who stammer and also those teachers who can make such a difference.
Sonny is twelve. Living with a heightened stammer, he is finding his way in a world ruled by vicious vowels, confusing consonants, and let’s not forget the…
