Laurence studied for a PhD in Liverpool and has settled and brought up his family there. Their boys have obviously inherited their father’s insightful sense of humour, displayed when we hear their incredulity on reading one comment about cerebral palsy being hereditary, the eldest boy says, “Cerebral Palsy cannot be passed through genes!”

The youngest adds: “It’s not asthma!”

When Laurence was growing up he had never seen a dad with cerebral palsy so it never occurred to him that he would be a parent himself. However, on meeting, Adele, his future wife, she made it abundantly clear that she wanted babies, as he says during the show – it is a pretty strong opening line!

Laurence takes us on a brutally honest, comical and charismatic journey of what it is really like to be a disabled parent. He also shares with us, his love of all things ‘Doctor Who’, of turning his youngest’s son in his baby walker into a Dalek by using his crutch and a toilet brush, and his sadness that his eldest now prefers football to Tardis. Laurence expands on this transition of his son’s affection from ‘Dr Who’ to the beautiful game, citing the blame on himself – “But aren’t you supposed to brain wash your kids into hating the things you hate?”

Hilarious and moving, this performance asks some tough questions about society and the perception we have of those who do not follow societal norms.
Whether as child or a parent we all know that dads can be embarrassing – its part of the job description – and Laurence has fulfilled his role well. But to call him irresponsible? Never!

An Irresponsible Father’s Guide to Parenting was at The Lowry Theatre, Salford Quays on 19 September as part of Sick! Festival 2019 which runs from 18-21 September 2019.

Read our review of Let’s Talk About Dis from Candoco Dance at Sick Festival! 2019.

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This summer, the Royal Exchange Theatre’s Young Company is staging a promenade production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest at Abraham Moss School in Crumpsall.

The comedy provides an accessible introduction to Shakespeare’s works for teens. It is performed solely by young people aged 15-25 who take the audience on a strange and mystical journey through the deserted corridors of Abraham Moss as they search for the truth hiding in this school. And although light-hearted on the surface, it’s themes of betrayal, magic and revenge explore deeper issues of freedom, power and forgiveness.

It’s Shakespeare, but not as you know him, and director Nickie Miles-Wildin is enjoying the challenge the school setting brings. “School means so many things to everyone – it’s where we grow, find out who our friends are and who we really are,” she says. “The end of it can feel liberating, bewildering, like the end of the world. The Tempest allows us to explore all those things in a magical mischievous setting.”

Nickie’s own version of Miranda was seen at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics opposite Ian McKellen’s Prospero. Nickie is the Royal Exchange’s resident RTYDS director (Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme) and this production is her directorial debut for the company. She is a strong advocate of accessible theatre and the performances feature integrated BSL and creative captioning throughout.

‘This is really exciting for me as a director,” she adds. “I’m excited to share with audiences how we use the deserted school to tell our story. Shakespeare meets Stranger Things meets the Royal Exchange Young Company”.

The Tempest at Abraham Moss School is at Abraham Moss School, Crumpsall from 15-18 August 2018. Tickets are £13 Adults, £11 Concessions and £5 for M8 postcode residents. Visit the Royal Exchange website for details.

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