Spina bifida: Boy in wheelchair praised for Oliver! role

A seven-year-old boy who is paralysed from the waist down has been praised for his role in a performance of Oliver!

Aness, who has spina bifida and uses a wheelchair, played a workhouse boy in a stage production of the musical based on the Charles Dickens classic.

The young star, from Derby, had never acted before taking to the stage.

His mum, Linda, said Aness' involvement in the show had boosted his confidence and uncovered a "hidden talent".

"His head teacher came to watch and she was in tears," Linda said.

"She couldn't [believe] what she was seeing because of all the children interacting with Aness. Nobody saw the [wheel]chair."

Linda and her son have regularly made the four-hour round trip from their home in Derby to the Leeds Playhouse, where he has performed over the last two months.

The performance has received praise from critics, including a five-star review in The Guardian.

"I enjoyed doing the show and singing and being on stage," Aness said.

Aness was born with the most severe type of spina bifida, a defect where a baby's spine and spinal cord do not develop properly in the womb, causing a gap in the spine.

It also causes fluid to build up on his brain.

He spent months in hospital after his birth and had operations to close the opening in his spine. He also had a shunt fitted to drain fluid away from his brain.

Aness now lives an active lifestyle and enjoys playing tennis.

Aness learned about the role in Oliver! through Zebedee, a talent agency for people with disabilities.

"Aness has never done acting before at all but we thought, 'We love Oliver! so we might as well go [to the auditions],'" Linda said.

"The director and the casting directors posted on social media to say it was one of the best auditions they had ever seen."

She added: "He's been able to keep up with everybody and put his all in and give a great performance.

"His confidence has definitely grown and we've managed to see a hidden talent that I don't think I would otherwise have discovered.

"It was amazing to see that he was in his element and it was so beautiful to see that he completely fitted in with everybody else."

Director James Brining said Aness played a "key part" in the show.

"We met over a thousand youngsters from across the north who gave fantastic and inspiring auditions," he added.

Oliver! is showing at the Leeds Playhouse until 27 January.

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