By Mette Nielsen

“If These Spasms Could Speak”. Such is the title of a one-man performance at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe. A play described in the programme as ”an outstanding solo performance based on a collection of funny, sad, touching and surprising stories about disabled people and their bodies.”

The one man behind it is Robert Softley. A 33-year-old Glaswegian actor and play writer, who migrated to Edinburgh eight years ago. He also happens to be a wheelchair user.

“I wanted to make people look at the world from a different perspective, and make them question what they see,” says Robert Softley, who invites people to stare at “the guy in the wheelchair” throughout the play.

Morphing stories

The story told in “If These Spasms Could Speak” is the story of five disabled people. One of the stories is Robert’s own, and the “rest” of the play has been created through interviews with four other disabled Scots. Then the stories where morphed together into one tale.

“The stories are not divided. The stories are morphed together. And at no point we talk about what impairment this and this person has. It is not important: It is about the life stories,” tells Robert.

He also says that it is a serious comedy, meant to make the audience think and be entertained at the same time.

Made in Scotland

Made in Scotland is a showcase of Scottish performances at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, supported through the Scottish Government. 13 plays have been chosen to show off Scotland’s talent. Robert’s play is one of them.

“Being a part of the Made in Scotland program means that a lot of people, who wouldn’t normally come, will come. That is what excites me the most,” says the Scottish actor, who came into acting by “accident”:

He was studying Business and Management in Glasgow, when a large Edinburgh theatre called him and asked him to audition for them. The audition turned into a yearlong contract, and Robert was soon hooked, and has been acting for 12 years now - and creating his own work for the last five. 

He first created this play last autumn for The Arches' Behaviour Festival in Glasgow, where it was incredibly well received. By the audience, the critics and the Made in Scotland committee alike: They wanted him to take it to The Fringe.

Between extremes

“If These Spasms Could Speak” was initially created as a play for non-disabled people: It was to give a different perspective.

“This last year there has been enormous focus on disabled people through the Paralympics. The focus on disabled people is quite extreme. Most of us are not sport stars, and I wanted to make the show about normal disabled people and our lives,” says Robert Softley. 

He also makes it very clear, that the play is for disabled people to watch too: The venue is fully accessible, and besides the several signed and audio described performances, all shows after the 4^th of August will have available tablets with options for disabled people (For more details on accessibility info click here ).

Away with the anger

Meeting Robert Softley is meeting one great, big, infectious smile. No exaggeration. It’s one of those smiles that just stick with you. 

But it was not always like that:

“The last show I created, Girl X, was very angry. It had a very angry view of the world. This play is more welcoming. It is softer. That is probably a reflection of my own development, and about how I – and we – fit into the world,” says Robert Softley.

Robert Softley will perform “If these Spasms Could Speak” (Click here for more info) 26 times in 27 days from the 31^st of July to the 26^th of August at the fully accessible Pleasance Courtyard (Click here for more info on the Pleasance Courtyard).