Chameleon

I came to see this show on its last day more in hope than expectation, how wrong I was. I was immediately drawn in by the exceptional talents of actors, delivering a well-honed and directed script. Chameleon took me through the whole gamut of emotions, laughing one moment, deep in concentration in another and crying at the raw, real and brave depiction of a deeply personal story. If this is the debut, the future of all involved is a very promising one. Thank you for providing me with my undisputed highlight of the Fringe.

Theatre is truly alive in the hands of such a talented cast and crew!

Chameleon is Jess’ personal story but as is evident from the reviews and shared conversations after the performances, she is not alone with her experience. The play is witty, dynamic and insightful. The first half delivers real laugh out loud moments juxtaposed with emotionally charged and thought provoking monologues from Chameleon, that give the audience a glimpse into the world of an autistic woman as she tries to conform to the neurotypical ideal. The emotional intensity of the second half packs a punch and is a tough watch, as the abuse often endured by autistic women in relationships is laid bare for all to see. Tears follow laughter and the ensuing silence of the audience aids the delivery of the necessary but unfortunate educational message of the play. The script is fearless and its performance by all the talented cast is masterful.

An autistic dark comedy play, written & directed by Jessica Telling and beautifully performed in a ND-friendly way by the cast. I'm so happy to see these stories being told in a nuanced way by folks with lived experience.

This show came at the perfect time in my life. It incapsulated how it feels to be an autistic women in a neurological world so perfectly and made me emotional at times. Would reccommend to anyone and everyone!

A beautifully written and performed play! Chameleon shines light on a real story, told authentically and honestly. Expect to laugh, and even cry.

Inclusive, Insightful, Empowering

"Chameleon" is a must-see if you or someone you know is autistic.

The show beautifully reaffirms that everyone’s experience is unique, creating a space where individuality is celebrated. They prepare the audience for sensory elements and provide stickers for those who prefer not to interact—something I’ve been saying for 2 weeks now that every show to implement but just didn’t see how simple it could be until they did it. This performance is a powerful, inclusive experience that resonates deeply.

Watched this show today and I was absolutely floored by their depiction of an autistic woman's experience! As an autistic woman myself, I felt that they hit the nail on the head and so incredibly seen to the point it brought me to tears! On top of this, the cast was really really lovely and accommodating! Would absolutely watch again if given the opportunity

A gorgeous show with astute observations, great comedic moments, and a huge heart. Quite a few teary eyes in the house by the end and well-deserved at that! Incredibly promising new writing and fantastic performances of well-defined characters from all three actors. A brilliant addition to the landscape of neurodivergent storytelling that I can see going far beyond the Fringe.

A perfect balance of beautifully raw and fabulously funny. Unwaveringly honest and performed by a brilliant cast - and curated by a wonderful crew. An incredibly considerate performance for those who prefer a relaxed atmosphere.

This piece of theatre is autistic representation done right a with appropriately autistic lead actress. Hope did a fantastic job displaying Chameleon’s vulnerability and courage. As Jess told me after the show, this play comes from a very personal place and I could tell because so much thought and care was brought into the story bringing abusive relationships to light.

I loved this show - the actors were slick, knew what they had to do and really delivered. It had us laughing, close to tears and heavily invested in Chameleon's story. Brilliant performances all around from the cast and executed very very well by the whole team.

Beautifully honest, heart-wrenchingly raw. Imbued with humour, Chameleon’s masterfully crafted script is actualised by an equally wonderful cast who guide their audience through the multifaceted experience of neurodiversity. Hope Rose tears through each monologue with an eloquence that surpasses mere acting, accomplishing the pinnacle of her craft by simply being.

This hurt in all the ways that count — it’ll make you roar with laughter then wrench your heart and guts like nobody’s bloody business. I have never felt more seen. Go and see it this is not a request.

I felt more depth of emotion watching Chameleon than all of the shows I've seen at the Fringe in the past week combined. The performance is superbly acted and directed and the characters all feel intimately realistic (for better or worse). At once moving and hilarious, Chameleon is an excitingly creative and vulnerable portrayal of navigating life as an autistic young woman in an emotionally abusive relationship and the importance of female and neurodiverse friendship.

Chameleon is a taut, engaging, entertaining and at times heart-rendingly honest exploration of navigating the perils and pitfalls of social environments, dating, relationships and encounters - as a person with autism. The three performers - Eleanor, Hope and Will - carry us on a hugely absorbing journey through trivia and tragedy which makes you laugh out loud one minute, then cringe with embarrassment - or wince with pathos - the next. Deftly employing direct audience interaction, stylised tableaux, Fleabag-style asides and brilliantly acted dialogue within the appropriately claustrophobic, atmospheric setting of the Vault, the play conjures a theatrical miracle of empathy, enabling us to experience how it feels - how it really feels - to feel different. Hats off and medals all round to the cast, writer-director and whole production team. JUSTIN BUTCHER, playwright & director