Come walk in the neurodivergent world with your amicable host, Jess. Diagnosed with auADHD (Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), she doesn’t want sympathy or live a life of ‘what ifs’, but has instead created a beautiful show, titled Spectrum, that is filled with colour, joy and laughter, and helps people learn about the world she has grown up in. This is not just a wonderful one-woman show, but a celebration of her life and the amazing things she has discovered along her journey so far.

With a plain piece of white canvas and dressed all in cream, the only colour that Jess appears onstage with is a rainbow-coloured headband. She starts her story by smearing paint on the canvas and describing the colour she is using. Of course, this colour has plenty of positive attributes to it, but sometimes it can also have some negative connotations too. This is the start of her story, and told metaphorically, she recounts how people were told to build castles (at a young age) while she was left holding a bowl of water. This doesn’t seem to bother Jess; she is six after all, but one thing that she really notices is that people around her carry hammers. What do these hammers mean? Are they for building up or breaking down? Over the course of a whirlwind 50 minutes, we find out what the castles, bowl of water and hammers mean to Jess, and along the way, we watch her dance, paint and recount the important moments in her life. Jumping from an innocent 6-year-old girl to a more understanding 11-year-old, her difficult teenage years, early twenties and the ripe young age of thirty-three (but don’t tell anyone). 

This is a beautiful story that is lovingly told with grace and humility. Jess has this transcendent voice that draws you into her story and makes you wonder with excitement what will come next. Hers is a story not to be pitied, but to be admired. From this life she has led, she has created a memorable piece of art (figuratively and literally). Aided by some wonderful sound and lighting, Spectrum is a show that deserves high acclaim, which will hopefully be recognised by judges when awards are handed out.

***** Five Stars