If these spasms could speak @ Pleasance

Robert Softley's play If these spasms could speak tells the story of day-to-day life for people with disabilities through their eyes. It explores the difficulties – including the frustration, and awkwardness – but also the occasional hilarity. Softley narrates each person's story from their point of view, and shifts from annoyance to flirtation, from anger to joy within minutes.  

Dripping with humour, wit, and a touch of gravity, this is an intelligent show created by a sharp-witted and intense performer. While it is a one-man show, Softley gives his characters – based on real people – a voice, filling the room with their thoughts and experiences. 

His funny and unique storytelling discourages pity and encourages compassion for fellow human beings. Softley's show serves as a valuable reminder that people with disabilities are still people, people who might suffer pains and spasms, might move around in a wheelchair, and of course also love, hate, feel embarrassment, flirt, and have sex. Ableist assumptions can drive us to think that people with disabilities are somehow hindered or prevented from these aspects of life, but Softley makes his point clearly: having a disability doesn't take away their ability to do any of that.