Conversations with Michael gives voice to autistic teen

What if someone had a whole world of thoughts, feelings and dreams inside them but struggled to share them with the people around them?

That is the question at the heart of Conversations with Michael, an original Namibian theatre production set to make its world premiere at the National Theatre of Namibia next week.

Presented by PLAYMAKERS, the 45-minute multimedia production promises an evening of storytelling, music and visuals that goes beyond the usual theatre experience. It explores love, loneliness, friendship and the deeply human desire to be understood.

The play follows Michael, a non-speaking autistic teenager, and his tutor, who arrives at their first lesson carrying a letterboard and hoping to help his pupil communicate.

Despite having trained in 'Spelling to Communicate', the tutor is unsure whether the method will work in practice.

What follows is a journey of discovery as Michael begins using the letterboard to express his thoughts and feelings. The more he communicates, the more the tutor learns about his inner world, including his longing for friendship and greater independence.

The power of theatre

But this is not simply a story about finding a way to communicate.

It also asks audiences to reconsider the assumptions they make about people whose experiences differ from their own. Director Sandy Rudd, who has worked on several projects with autistic children since 1975, said the idea grew from a desire to explore why society sometimes responds to difference with fear instead of compassion.

"Working with Michael and discovering his experiences has been an eye-opening process for the cast and crew," she said. She added that theatre has the power to challenge perceptions and help people become less quick to judge.

Bringing a true story to the stage

The production is based on the real-life experiences of Mike and his communication regulation partner, Veronica Muinjo. It incorporates Mike’s own words, spelled out on a letterboard during sessions with the creative team alongside dialogue written for the stage.

The challenge for Rudd was to tell a real person’s story with dignity and respect without reducing his experiences to something audiences could simply pity. The result is a production that promises both emotional depth and artistic creativity, with a story that may linger long after the curtain falls.

Bringing the story to life is a cast featuring award-winning performers Lize Ehlers and Ndinomholo Ndilula, alongside Othello Joseph, who portrays Michael. Ehlers, an eight-time Namibian Annual Music Award winner, leads the musical direction and takes on the role of narrator.

Original music by David Beukes and projected visuals by Stephen Beukes add another dimension to the production, helping audiences experience the characters’ inner worlds. Behind the scenes, Rudd directs a creative team that includes writer and researcher Roya Diehl, producer Odile Gertze and dramaturge Muinjo.

The production also tackles important questions surrounding 'Spelling to Communicate', including concerns about authorship and the possible influence of a communication partner. Rather than ignoring the debate, the play invites audiences to engage with the complexity surrounding the method while reflecting on the hope families place in finding ways to connect with their loved ones.

Audiences can catch Conversations with Michael at the National Theatre of Namibia on 29 and 30 October. A free public dress rehearsal and theatre talk will take place on 28 October, offering audiences an opportunity to engage with the cast and creative team.