Scott Edgar, a mimic from the US, flanked by compere Phil Barnett and founder Anna Kennedy
Curtain call: performers included singers, musicians dancers and a poet
Our 10-year birthday celebration of Autism’s Got Talent with outstanding performers surpassed all my expectations, writes Anna Kennedy.
We are still on a high and we have received so many messages of hope from the performers and their families, as well as messages from the audience.
Autism’s Got Talent will always hold a special place in my heart, and I cannot wait to see the talent that 2022 will bring from across the UK and overseas.
Our legendary Autism’s Got Talent event, at the Mermaid Theatre in London, showcased amazingly talented performances by autistic adults and children from across the world.
Each of the performers flies the flag for autism and shows what people with autism can do and then some.
We aim as a charity to continue to build Autism’s Got Talent year by year and we want all those involved to have fun, do what they love, make friends and be themselves, and have one night that is all about them.
This was a great opportunity for 16 autistic individuals who stepped up on stage and showed the audience what they could do.
These included wonderfully talented singers Jessi Kay, Joseph Pass, Holly Allison, Samuel Turner, T’mya Fyffe, Sky Boswell, Louisa Futcher, Ben Maille and Kieron Lee.
There were also amazing drummer Joshua Scott-Crowley, guitarists Daniel Carson and Tom Wakely, a band from Essex Caged Arts, expressive and passionate dancer Aston Avery, powerful poet James Scullion, and Scott Edgar, a mimic who came all the way from the US.
So often society can view these people as difficult and uncommunicative, but this event once again totally blew that out of the water.
This whole show is a concept based solely on inclusion and there needs to be more events like this.
Autism’s Got Talent now has a roadshow and has travelled to St Ives, Essex, the North East and Liverpool. This year, it will be going to Cheshire.
Show off your talent in 2022
Applications for Autism’s Got Talent 2022 are now open. Please send in your auditions and demonstrate your talent. Shortlisted entries will take part in the live show.
Apply for Autism’s Got Talent 2022 at https://www.annakennedyonline.com/autisms-got-talent. The closing date for entries is on 30 April 2022.
Photos: Terry Scott; Tally Nothey
Global event offers springboard to creative opportunities
Autism’s Got Talent is a worldwide event that creates a platform to showcase the variety of talent within the autism community, writes Lisa Robins.
Its aim was simple – to break preconceptions in society and replace negative ideas with hope, fun, laughter, and inclusion.
Autism’s Got Talent, which started in 2012, is growing in popularity and has firmly cemented its status as a leading charity and autism event. Every year, this star-studded event showcases talented performances by adults and children with autism.
The event has formed a springboard into new opportunities for many of the acts. It also gives the audience a rare emotion of hope and belonging
as they become part of a unique network and understand that anything is possible.
Recognising the uniqueness of autistic individuals, Anna Kennedy OBE, who has two sons on the autism spectrum, has used the event, with a team of volunteers, to find ways of recognising their ability and creating platforms for them to excel.
