The Liverpool Neurodiversity Arts Festival
A festival of beautiful thinking
The Neurodiversity Arts Festival 2024 will be a vibrant celebration of neurodivergent talent, diverse perspectives and creative expression, dedicated to celebrating neurodiversity and providing a platform for neurodivergent artists.
Hosted by The Brain Charity and running from 20th – 29th September 2024, the festival will transform Liverpool into a celebration of creativity.
We know 15-20% of the population identify as neurodivergent. The Neurodiversity Arts Festival will shed light on the diverse experiences and talents within this community, which includes neurominority identities such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and dyscalculia.
Partnering with renowned institutions such as Tate Liverpool, National Museums Liverpool, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and the Bluecoat, the Neurodiversity Arts Festival 2024 aims to celebrate and educate, create lasting change by improving accessibility for neurodivergent people, and promote understanding and acceptance.
Join us as we bring together artists, performers, and audiences to inspire, engage, and enjoy. We can’t wait to see you all at NDAF 2024. Book your tickets below.
Events list
Performances
Bliss Comedy Night at The Brain Charity
Join us for a hilarious evening of neurodiverse comedy with Bliss Comedy at The Brain Charity and get ready to laugh until your sides hurt as our talented bunch of neurodivergent comedians take to the stage. This event promises to be a night filled with joy, humour, and good vibes and will be fully accessible to everyone in the neurodiverse community.
The evening will be hosted by Mary Cross, comedian, writer and podcaster who is looking to create a wonderfully diverse and safe space for everyone to enjoy a night of comedy.
Doors at 7pm, starting at 7.30pm and finishing by 10.30pm with a fully licensed bar.
Introducing our fantastic acts for the night:
Scots scientist (and failed actor) Jacky Boy ticks a lot of boxes – LGBTQIA, neurodivergent, over 50 and with multiple hidden disabilities.
Despite this (or probably because of it) she is naturally funny, often having audience members in stitches even when she’s not on stage.
Cheeky and quirky, she loves to explore all the fun subjects like aging, racism, sexuality, disability and identity politics, moving seamlessly from social awareness to surreal silliness.
She will definitely have you laughing at stuff you never thought you would (or should)!
Jude Copley is a stand-up & storyteller from Liverpool. She weaves her feminist and neurodivergent perspective to celebrate difference and challenge preconceptions into her comedy.
Jude has an assistant dog, Honey. Although their partnership is relatively new, Honey brings an utter confidence to steal the show, proving that sometimes two heads are better than one and that sometimes dogs have better comedic timing than some humans.
In 2020, Leah Stone performed her first gig at the Frog and Bucket. This first performance earned Leah a spot on the shortlist for the North West regional heats of the BBC New Comedy Award 2021.
As well as working on her screen writing and sit com ideas, Leah also launched her own own inclusive open mic night, Smiley Open Mic in Chorlton.
Cosmic Kat is a multi-passionate Witch, comedian, musician, poet and artist from Northern Ireland.
Her routine mainly consists of silly parody songs on the ukulele with some personal anecdotes thrown in here and there.
She loves cats, fantasy novels and throwing puns into a conversation when you least expect it.
Tasha Mott is the youngest comic in Scotland, but is disappointingly aggressively English. She talks about her experience with bipolar disorder, being a student, and scrutinises her own heritage as part of her act.
As seen on Red Raw at the Stand, Top Banana at Monkey Barrel and Young Team at Glasgow International Comedy Festival.
Jess Corcoran has been performing stand up since 2019 and has created a range of interesting songs.
Her lighthearted songs and covers are sure to put a smile on your face.
After breaking on to the comedy scene in 2022, founder of Bliss Comedy, Mary has quickly become a firm favourite on the circuit with her own brand of high-energy comedy which leaves audiences on a euphoric high.
Longlisted for the Funny Women Awards in 2023, a sellout show in the Women in Comedy Festival and Lancaster Comedy Festival, UK Pun Championship Semi-Finalist in the Leicester Comedy Festival in 2024 and recently selected for the heats of British Comedian of the Year, Mary’s combination of relatable stories, original songs and linguistic acrobats is a sure-fire winner.
“Mary Cross is confident, charming, and charismatic. One of those people who has a real infectious sense of humour, a warm wit that really makes you all feel in on the jokes, not just that they’re being told to you”
Accessibility:
- Accessible entrance
- Accessible toilets
- Assistance dogs are welcome
- Blue Badge parking
- BSL interpreted
- Changing Places facility
- There will be a fully licensed bar with assistance for ordering if required.
- There will be cabaret style seating (tables and chairs) with areas for those who are comfortable interacting with the comedians and areas for non-interaction.
- There will be 2 intervals allowing for breaks and purchase of drinks.
- Sound and lighting levels will be at a comfortable level.
- Clapping for the acts will be encouraged.
Tickets: £6
Date: Saturday 21 September
Time: 7 for 7.30pm
Venue: The Brain Charity, Norton Street, Liverpool, L3 8LR
Neurodiversity in the arts career day at the Walker Art Gallery
The Neurodiversity Arts Festival highlights the rich neurodivergent talent in the creative sector, yet open discussions about their unique challenges and opportunities are rare. Partnering with the Walker Art Gallery, we are thrilled to announce a special career day to address this.
Visitors will hear directly from neurodivergent professionals about their career journeys, engage in Q&A sessions, and will be able to take part in tasks and workshops to support participants with identifying their own strengths, and signposting them to useful resources.
This free event is for neurodivergent individuals (diagnosed or self-identifying) including students, young professionals, and career changers interested in creative careers.
The event runs from 10:30am to 4pm, but attendees are welcome to drop in later.
Tickets: Free, but must be booked in advance.
Date: Wednesday 25th September
Time: 10:30am to 2.30pm
Venue: Walker Art Gallery, William Brown St, Liverpool L3 8EL
‘Meet the Artist’ at Tate Liverpool
Join Tate Liverpool for a panel discussion exploring neurodiversity and its relationship to contemporary art practice. Artists Becky Beasley, Sonia Boué and Pierce Starre will be in conversation with Claire Penketh, Professor of Disability Studies and Art Education at Hope University.
The talk will explore how we can rethink contemporary arts practice in relation to neurodiversity and how the neurodiversity paradigm can inform art and its education.
Accessibility:
- Access by ramps
- Accessible toilets
- Assistance dogs are welcome
Tickets: £5
Date: Wednesday 25th September
Time: 6:30pm to 8pm
Venue: Tate at RIBA North, 21 Mann Island, Liverpool L3 1BP
‘Wonder Boy’ at Liverpool Playhouse
Olivier Award-winner Sally Cookson (A Monster Calls) directs the critically acclaimed Bristol Old Vic production of WONDER BOY by Ross Willis, a heart-warming and inspiring story about the power of communication.
Sonny is twelve. Living with a stammer, he’s finding his way in a world ruled by vicious vowels, confusing consonants, and let’s not forget the biggest beast of them all – small talk.
Sonny’s only friend is Captain Chatter, a comic book hero of his own creation, but in the real-world language is power and Sonny must find a way to be heard. When cast in the school production of Hamlet by the Headteacher, he finds the real heroes are closer than he thinks.
Packed with playful humour, dazzling visuals and thrilling original music this innovative production includes live creative captioning on stage throughout.
Winner of the 2023 Writers’ Guild Award for Best Play.
For more information on booking in your school group, please contact the Box Office on 0151 709 4776 or email boxoffice@everymanplayhouse.com
Post Show Q&A on Wed 25 Sept plus additional events TBC.
Tickets: £11 to £36
Date: 25 to 28 September
Time: 1.30pm or 7.30pm
Venue: Liverpool Playhouse, Williamson Square, Liverpool L1 1EL
‘An evening with Ruby Colley’ at Liverpool Philharmonic Music Room
Composer and violinist Ruby Colley discusses her brand-new work Hello Halo – a composition which will premiere at Liverpool Philharmonic on February 3rd 2025 next year – with writer Kirsteen McNish.
Hello Halo, a collaboration with vocal ensemble Exaudi, is based on Ruby’s non-verbal brother Paul’s alternative forms of communication.
Ruby and Kirsteen will reflect on how the outside world connects with those who communicate in different ways to the mainstream.
Following this, Ruby will perform previous compositions inspired by natural environments.
Tickets: £6
Date: Thursday 26 September
Time: 8pm
Venue: Liverpool Philharmonic Music Room, Sugnall St, Liverpool L1 9BP
An evening of comedy from ‘Disabilarity’ at the Brain Charity
Join us for an unforgettable evening of comedy and laughter with Disabilarity!
Experience top-notch entertainment and a fantastic atmosphere as talented comedians take the stage to deliver side-splitting performances.
Headlining the night will be Britain’s Got Talent finalist Alex Mitchell.
Lineup includes:
We are very lucky to have the amazing, award winning, Alex Mitchell headlining the night!
Alex is a queer, autistic, disabled comic who uses self-deprecating humour and observational material to create a hilarious but heart-warming atmosphere wherever he performs.
Britain’s Got Talent Finalist 2024 (“Funny and fearless” – Simon Cowell)
‘You Can Laugh You Know’ Disabled Comedian of the Year 2023
Four stars – Neurodiverse Review
(For his Debut Edinburgh Fringe hour “Tics Towards Puffection”)
Emerson Young is a Chortle Student Comedy Award 2023 finalist and three-time Beat The Frog gong show winner. He also has a B in GCSE Mathematics and four Blue Peter badges.
Emerson loves the simple things in life, but the way he looks at life is anything but simple. Let Liverpool’s No.1 autistic, dyspraxic, gay, seagull impersonating comedian from Sheffield take you on an epic journey through his weird-yet-wonderful worldview…
“While he revels in the absurdities of his life with a surrealism-tinged routine, Young can also write solid jokes” – Chortle
“Emerson Young is sweet and occasionally filthy, which is a killer combo” – The Scotsman
“Endearing and effortless eccentricity” – Sheffield Magazine
Paul is an experienced writer, as well as gaining his MA in TV and Radio scriptwriting he has written gags and sketches for BBC radio shows Dead Ringers and News Huddlines, and has also had material used on TV on Channel 4’s 11 O’clock Show.
Now breaking into the performance side of comedy, Paul has been regularly performing stand up for nearly two years- it’s cheaper than therapy and good to get things off his chest…not including his 3rd nipple. His act flits unpredictably from one surreal flight of fancy to the next, with a subtext for dysfunctional family and larger-than-life characters.
“Paul brought his unique wit and humour to our first open mic night with an extended set that still gets talked about today! A favourite of the open mic scene, Paul mixed his set with some hilarious crowd work that had us all wanting to see more” – Cool Hand Comedy
Francine is a story teller that will keep the audience engaged with brilliant delivery and charm.
She will bring her humorous anecdotes that are relatable to many. A great addition to any line up.
Jamie will tell hilarious stories of how he awkwardly twitches his way through life (thanks Tourette’s), from tales of his upbringing, growing up on the mean streets of West Sussex, to his awful love life of today.
Navigating his first queer relationship like a bull in a china shop at a pride parade.
Known for inappropriate jokes and awkward situations, he’s here to make you laugh, cringe, and possibly question your life choices.
Brace yourselves for a night of dark humour and unexpected punchlines.
Ethan Madds is a Liverpudlian formally trained actor and comedian. Ethan combines his acting training and top writing skills with a high energy performance style, to produce material examining an eclectic range of subjects stemming from his personal life and the stage.
“Ethan is known for his energetic and engaging performances. Often praised for his dynamic presence and ability to captivate the audience, he ensures the show is lively and unforgettable”
– Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club
“Before Ethan Madds has even landed on the stage, his energetic entrance puts each and every audience member right in the palm of his hands. From the moment Ethan opens his mouth, we know we’re in safe comedy hands, delivering sharp, punchy audience interactions and comebacks whilst remaining cheeky and charming. Ethan Madds didn’t just raise the roof, he took it home with him too”
– Wreck The Mic Comedy
Get your tickets now for a night you won’t forget!
Accessibility:
- Accessible entrance
- Accessible toilets
- Assistance dogs are welcome
- Blue Badge parking
- Changing Places facility
Tickets: £6
Date: Saturday 28 September
Time: 7 for 7.30pm
Venue: The Brain Charity, Norton Street, Liverpool, L3 8LR
‘The Monster Disco’ family event at The Unity Theatre
Come and embrace your inner monster at the MONSTER DISCO! Don’t be afraid, these monsters aren’t scary, they’re just misunderstood and want to party!
Join in, have a dance and a boogie, or just chill and enjoy the vibes, the Monster Disco is for everyone!
The Monster Disco is a 45 minute interactive puppet performance by Headstrung Puppets. Music, dance and puppetry are brought together with accessibility and inclusivity to create a joyous and uplifting family experience.
Tickets: £6
Date: Saturday 28 September
Time: 12pm and 3pm
Venue: The Unity Theatre, 1 Hope Pl, Liverpool L1 9BG
‘The Boy King’ at the World Museum
‘I’m Jordan. I’m 28. I’m autistic, and I love history. I’m a
tour guide at the museum…but I’m not supposed to be in
here…’
On his lunch break, Jordan can’t help sneaking
into the museum store room to explore…but it’s
not long before he’s carried away on an ancient
expedition of immersive storytelling and
imagination.
An autobiographical, vibrant and educational one
man show celebrating 100 years since the
discovery of Tutenkhamun’s Tomb.
Get to know The Boy King, the team who
excavated his tomb and Jordan – A boy whose
love of history transformed his life growing up
with autism.
The show will happen in a darkened environment with some loud noises. Due to the content of the show we recommend audience members are aged 8+.
Tickets: £7 and £3 for children, jobseeker, people with disabilities, students and 60+
Outside In with Willful Misfits at The Black-E
As the independent offering in the wider NDAF (Neurodiversity Arts Festival) in the city, Willful Misfits are showcasing local groups, local talents & local artists.
A reimagined event where neurodivergent people, who are often disenabled from participating in mainstream spaces, can explore & celebrate their creativity & talents, whilst other people can gain valuable insights & understanding about neurodiversity.
The event will provide a variety of creative workshops, performances and discussions. Access to all daytime events will be free for all the family. There will also be an arts & crafts stall to peruse. The evening cabaret will potentially demand participation!
Accessibility:
- The building is fully accessible
- Sensory spaces available
Free, just turn up.
Date: Saturday 28 September
Time: From lunch until late
Venue: The Black-E, Great George St, Liverpool L1
Romeo and Juliet
Shakespeare North Playhouse & Graeae, in association with Theatre by the Lake
Against all odds, a young couple fall in love. You think you know how this story goes, and who this couple is? Maybe you do… Maybe you don’t…
This beautiful retelling of Shakespeare’s eternal love story seamlessly weaves BSL, Captions and Audio Description into the storytelling. Each show is performed in a relaxed environment and by an incredible ensemble of Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent actors.
Tickets from £15
Date: Friday 13 September – Saturday 5 October
Time: 7pm
Exhibitions and workshops
Soap making workshop for 16-24s
Getting hands on and making stuff is great for your mental health and helps you explore your own creativity.
Museums provide loads of opportunities for young people to try something new in a beautiful supportive environment.
Make your own personalised soap using the ‘Melt and Pour’ method. Choose the mould(s), colour(s) and decoration(s) yourself and create something unique!
Once the soap’s all set then you can wrap it up and make it a nice present for someone or keep for yourself! This is for 16 – 24 years old.
No previous experience needed and all materials will be provided.
If you will need any additional support or if there is anything we can do to make this session more accessible for you, please get in touch: youngpeople@liverpoolmuseums.org.uk.
Tickets: £3
Date: Saturday 21 September
Time: 11am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm
Venue: Lady Lever Art Gallery, Lower Rd, Port Sunlight, Bebington, Wirral CH62 5E
Big Art for Little Artists: Relaxed Morning at the Walker Art Gallery
Big Art for Little Artists is a dedicated children’s gallery at the Walker Art Gallery, designed for children aged 0-5 to enjoy with their parents/grandparents and all carers.
This colourful, interactive gallery hosts costumes, toys, books, games, paintings, sculptures, and objects for children to explore.
The space has a variety of areas for different interests, allowing our youngest visitors to learn through creative play and discovery.
The event will be open all morning for families to come in and out of the space as they please. There will a separate quiet breakout space available as well as extra sensory resources and ear defenders.
Free, just drop in
Date: Sunday 22 September
Time: 10am to noon
Venue: Walker Art Gallery, William Brown St, Liverpool L3 8EL
Big Art Special: Neurodiversity Arts Festival at the Walker Art Gallery
As part of Neurodiversity Arts Festival the Walker Art Gallery will be delivering a special, multi-sensory, facilitated Big Art session.
This session will include opportunities for sensory play and movement inspired by paintings and a simple craft that focuses on process rather than product.
The session is aimed at children 0-5 years old, however older children are also welcome to attend with their accompanying adults.
Tickets: £2 per child with up to 2 accompanying adults.
Date: Sunday 22 September
Time: 1-2pm and 3-4pm
Venue: Walker Art Gallery, William Brown St, Liverpool L3 8EL
RAWD open workshops: Make Your Mark at Museum of Liverpool
The Make Your Mark workshops are an introduction to how art is a form of communication + expression.
These inclusive workshops invite participants to creatively access their neuro diversities.
These workshops are open to people aged 16+ who identify as neurodivergent and will explore avenues of self expression.
The workshops will include discussions, drama activities and collaborative working.
Tickets:
Free to attend, bookable through the Museum of Liverpool website soon. You can book on to both workshops if you wish.
Dates: Wednesday 25 September and Thursday 26 September
Time: 11am-1pm
Venue: Museum of Liverpool, Pier Head, Mann Island, Liverpool L3 1DG
Education Area 3
Young Blue Room at the Bluecoat
Artists from Young Blue Room invite you to discover artwork hidden in the Bluecoat’s secret garden. Inspired by stories from the building’s 300 year history the artists have created a trail of windows through time. Inside, an exhibition uncovers some of the hidden stories of the arts centre.
This event is aimed at families with children, children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Free, just turn up.
Accessibility:
- Lift access
- Access by ramps, slopes and/or manual doors
- Accessible toilets
- Assistance dogs are welcome
Date: Tuesday 24 to Sunday 29 September
Time: 11am to 5pm
Venue: The Bluecoat, School Lane, Liverpool, L1 3BX
Bees: After Hours at the World Museum
Especially for families with children aged 7+ who have members with an autism spectrum condition or other conditions which mean they prefer a more relaxed visit, out of hours and with a muted sensory environment.
The museum, will have the team on hand to help out, explain more about this wonderful exhibition and have things to do to support a range of learning needs and preferences.
Tickets: Please email families@liverpoolmuseums.org.uk for booking details
For the Love of Art with Splatter and Stick at Lady Lever Art Gallery
Splatter and Stick offers an inclusive environment with the aim to develop a child’s self confidence, natural exploration skills, hand eye co-ordination and manual dexterity through the exploration of arts and crafts with Sensory Play. We aim to create a fun and creative environment that supports families with children who may need additional support.
Tickets cost £2 per child and booking in advance is essential. Tickets will be released 2 weeks before the session.
Helen is very happy to answer and questions or concerns prior to your visit and work with you t o find the best way to support your family. Visit Helen’s Facebook page to find out more.
Tickets available from 14 September here.
Date: Saturday 28 September
Time: 10am to 11.30am
Venue: Lady Lever Art Gallery, Lower Rd, Port Sunlight, Bebington, Wirral CH62 5E
Little Liverpool: Relaxed morning at the Museum of Liverpool
These sessions offer the museum’s youngest visitors the chance to enjoy a Little Liverpool session in a supportive environment with reduced ambient sound.
There will be sensory resources and ear defenders available.
These drop-in sessions are for those aged under 6 years and their grown-ups.
Free, just drop in
Date: Sunday 29 September
Time: 10.15am to noon
Venue: Museum of Liverpool, Pier Head, Liverpool, L3 1DG
A LUSH Liverpool Takeover with Blue Room, inclusive arts at the Bluecoat & friends
Join artists from Blue Room, the Bluecoat’s inclusive arts project along with self advocates and allies from Mencap Liverpool & Sefton, Autism Initiatives, Natural Breaks and Options for Supported Living as they takeover the Lush Liverpool store in a celebration of the power of creativity.
Suitable for all ages, children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Accessibility:
- Lift access
- Accessible toilets
Free, just turn up.
A lens of acceptance: Confronting neurodivergent shame. Photography at The Unity Theatre
Shame is a hidden burden that many neurodivergent people feel. This can come from ourselves or from others, but hiding imperfections can give shame more power over us. In this photography exhibition, Katie Lee reflects her own moments of shame and instead of hiding them, shows imperfections through each photograph.
Through images that are emotional, beautiful, and captioned with titles that have funny double-meanings, Katie invites people to find beauty, humour, and vulnerability in accepting their own neurodivergent challenges.
Exhibition runs: 3 September – 2 November
Launch evening: 19 September, 6-9pm (open invite)
Talk: Katie Lee will talk about the exhibition and answer questions at 1:30pm on the 28th September at the Unity Theatre (open invite)
Free, just drop in
Art exhibition at the Brain Charity
There will be an exhibition of Fine Art at the Brain Charity throughout the festival, showcasing the talent of local and national neurodivergent artists.
Support the festival
The Neurodiversity Arts Festival is an exciting new venture – the first of its kind in the country. We couldn’t have done it without incredible generosity from all our partners – a vast array of talented, caring and engaged individuals and organisations.
If you want to support the development of the Neurodiversity Arts Festival over the coming years, you can donate here.
Please keep in touch and find out more as this exhilarating project develops and grows.
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