Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

The subject of this week's 13 Questions interview, actor with CP Jamie Beddard, has found himself playing a disabled role in London's West End, alongside a cast of otherwise non-disabled actors including and . Jamie plays Mr. Johnny Gotobed in a brand new stage adaptation of , the much loved book by Nina Bawden, based on her experiences as a child evacuee in the 2nd world war. Following our interview in Jamie's dressing room, I was fortunate enough to stay on and catch the play.

Mr. Johnny is, as Jamie says himself, "an ambiguous character". The play is set in 1939, so no disability language is used as such, but he does have an untypical way of speaking and is described by one of the other characters early on as being, "simpler than most".

However, as the play progresses, we begin to realise that this isn't necessarily true and that he is more likely to have been misunderstood by most. Mr. Johnny gains respect as he stands up for himself when ridiculed for his disability. He comforts Carrie the main character when she is distressed and he is the one who solves an important mystery as the play nears its conclusion.

Jamie Beddard is one of Britain's most acclaimed disabled actors and has played key roles in some of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's top disability related dramas including and The Egg. He was offered the role of Mr. Johnny and afforded the opportunity to make it his own. His other skills include writing and directing, and these certainly came to the fore in his interpretation of a strong and well integrated disabled character.