'Theatre should be accessible to all'

Seeing actor Bradley Riches flying high above the audience at Buckinghamshire's Aylesbury Waterside Theatre as Peter Pan, belting out numbers such as A Sky Full of Stars, audiences might be surprised to learn that until he was 10, he was non-verbal.

Now, the 23-year-old is a passionate advocate for neurodivergent awareness, especially during the sensory overload of panto season.

After Riches' autism diagnosis at the age of nine, he started going to an after-school theatre club where he grew up in Surrey.

"When I first joined the group, I didn't use words as a form of communication so I was just there pushing myself out of my comfort zone and being around people who couldn't stop singing," he said.

He added that he "found his voice" by playing characters such as Fizzy in Bugsy Malone.

"Watching American TV shows, I was able to impersonate the voice," he said.

"I had a stammer because I'd never used that muscle before, but I was able to use characters to be like an extension of myself and then this art taught me how to weave that into me, and start speaking as Bradley as well."

Doing a musical theatre degree at Hertfordshire drama school, the Emil Dale Academy, he wrote his dissertation on the challenges for neurodivergent performers, which he said started with auditions.

"Some directors don't want to give you a lot [in advance] in order to see what you come with, but that's not helpful for neurodiverse people," he said.

"You need to know what you're doing, you need to get your brain around it... you just want to see what the room looks like and who you're meeting.

"Little things like that could be so easily managed, it's not like we're asking to change the world, it's just asking to put different things in place to make things more accessible for everyone."

Other challenges include the industry's unpredictability, finding a routine when not working, and sensory aspects like being in a busy rehearsal room.

"I think slowly once you understand the industry and get used to it you start understanding how you can cope with it," he said.

Since graduating in 2023, Riches has appeared on the London stage in new musical Babies, in Netflix's LGBTQ drama Heartstopper and ITV's Celebrity Big Brother.

Peter Pan is his panto debut which brings another level of unpredictability.

"I'm shocked that I am excited for it but I think it's just because it's such a positive experience," he said.

"Everyone has got each other's back, no one wants anything to go wrong and, obviously with time, with different interactions, you know your way out of it. There are worst-case scenario exits."

Riches' neurodivergence also helps him understand the needs of anyone who finds visiting a theatre daunting.

He said it was important to have relaxed performances where house lights were left low and strobe lighting and loud noises or explosions may be removed, and is championing the Waterside's efforts to make theatre inclusive for everyone.

"I think the main thing that a lot of people feel is of being judged, especially if anything becomes too much," he said.

"With relaxed performances there's no judgement, anyone can get up from their seat, you can be as loud or as quiet as you want, you can leave and there's a calm room.

"There are signed, captioned and audio described performances as well, all these are so crucial because everyone should enjoy the panto magic and it makes everyone feel included."

The Waterside also has sensory bags for any performance which include ear defenders, fidget toys, puzzles, and communication cards and this year sign language has been integrated into one of the panto songs for the first time.

Theatre director Grant Brisland said theatre leaders "must have the mindset of removing barriers and establishing initiatives to broaden access for all".

"Bradley's been an inspiration and catalyst for us to unlock more conversations about what we can do to support our neurodiverse community," he said.

"Whilst we have a lot more to do, we're headed in the right direction."

Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.