Hijinx, in association with Blind Summit, will present the tenth anniversary tour of Meet Fred, a darkly funny and sharply political tale of a puppet navigating society and disability rights.
Directed by Ben Pettitt-Wade, the inclusive production will tour 34 venues across Wales and England from 23 January to 5 June 2026, with a press night at Sherman Theatre, Cardiff on Tuesday 27 January.
Created and performed by an ensemble of disabled and non-disabled artists, Meet Fred follows a two-foot-tall cloth puppet who dreams of an ordinary life—finding love, getting a job, and being part of society. But when his Puppetry Living Allowance is threatened, Fred’s world begins to unravel.
Blending dark humour, mesmerising puppetry and sharp political commentary, Meet Fred offers a subversive examination of bureaucracy, disability rights and what it means to be human.
Since its premiere in 2016, Meet Fred has toured internationally, performing in over 20 countries across Europe, Asia, and North America. The production features three exceptional learning disabled and/or Autistic performers from Hijinx, who devised the show alongside puppetry experts Blind Summit.
Director Ben Pettitt-Wade said, “We could not have dreamed when we created Meet Fred back in 2016 that it would have taken us across the world, on so many adventures. At the time of making the show many of the artists we made the show with were facing cuts to their disability benefits, an experience which they brought into the room and ultimately became reflected in the struggle we see faced by Fred. With the threat of cuts to disability benefits again hanging in the balance, Meet Fred is a call to arms for anyone who has fought, and is fighting, against a system not designed for them, as vital now as it ever was.”
Hijinx actor Lindsay Spellman, an original cast member, said, “Being part of Meet Fred has changed me a lot as a performer and as a person. When I started, I didn’t have the same confidence I do now. Touring for so long has taught me so many skills — performing in different places, meeting new people, getting paid and managing that money, learning to travel and work as a team. I’ve grown so much, and I don’t think I’d have found that anywhere else. I’m really proud to still be part of this show, and I can’t wait to bring it home. We’ve done a lot around the world — now our friends and families here in the UK can finally see what all the fuss is about!”
Hijinx is an award-winning inclusive theatre company based in Cardiff, known for creating bold and entertaining productions with learning disabled and/or autistic performers. The company runs a network of Academies across Wales and operates the UK’s largest casting platform dedicated to actors with learning disabilities and/or autism.
Blind Summit, based in London, is one of the UK’s leading puppetry companies, acclaimed for productions such as The Table and Citizen Puppet. Their collaboration with Hijinx began in 2014 with a puppetry workshop for Hijinx’s Academy Actors.
Meet Fred runs for 85 minutes and is suitable for ages 14+ (contains strong language, adult themes and puppet nudity).
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
