My one-man theatre show with a stammer

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Nye

Nye Russell-Thompson tells us about his one-man theatre show about stammering, playing in London on the 29^th & 30^th January, with details on how to book tickets.

My name is Nye and I am creative director of StammerMouth theatre company. I am extremely excited to be bringing my one-man show with a stammer 'Just A Few Words' back out of storage! This is my first original theatre piece, originally made in 2013 at the University of Chichester, as part of my final year on their Theatre course.

I set up StammerMouth ten years ago to raise awareness and solidarity for people who stammer. As one of those people, I learned to mask and become more fluid through drama, characters and stage personas. I used to say that I "put the stammer back on" for this show… I have since learned that to perform 'Just A Few Words' I actually turn those masking elements off, and stammer naturally through most of the show.

About the show: 

JUST A FEW WORDS to say how you feel. Shouldn't take long. Except, this is a one-man show with a stammer, and StammerMouth's speech is lost as a nagging pile of thoughts won't stop interrupting him... This may take a while.

A darkly comic grapple with the awkward task of expression, inviting you into the mind of a person who stammers.

I made 'Just A Few Words' (tickets are available now) so that people who stammer feel seen and understood, as I explore the inner workings of my stammer, different speech fluency strategies (including some really silly ones), and a gorgeous stammering rendition of Otis Reading's 'I Love You More Than Words Can Say'. 

I really hope to see some people who stammer at the show. To share this personal show with others who stammer is one of the main reasons I made it in the first place.

Representation is of paramount importance, and I follow the Disabled community's mantra in the arts of 'nothing about us without us'. It's a personal label of mine that I wear proudly. I am not disabled by my stammer, but by the inadequacies in society to accommodate people who stammer.

People who don't stammer will hopefully leave with an understanding of what it's like to have a speech impediment, and the patience to listen. We have a voice, which is every bit as worthy as anyone else's.

The Cockpit is the perfect venue for Just A Few Words: an intimate space where you can really connect with the show. It's an independent theatre in North London (NW8), which puts on 'sometimes risky, often controversial, frequently left of centre' productions, which are 'conversation starters'.

But it's not just one show… in a brilliant twist, I am performing alongside my dad! His name is Rob and his absolutely gorgeous, slow burning, heartbreaking solo show 'Piano Smashers' will be showing on the same night and included in the ticket price:

A new play by Rob Thompson and Rupert Page in which a mother bequeaths a precious piano to her children in her will, insisting they keep it.

They do not want it because of what it represents to them, yet they cannot bring themselves to dispose of it.

My dad is a huge part of the reason I got into drama in the first place. A performer and drama teacher of thirty years, he was an encouraging voice in my formative years. He enabled me to push myself — to express, to audition, to perform for fun — when I had the desire but not the confidence.

Check out what reviewers have said about both shows…

'Just A Few Words:

"A Seriously Accomplished Piece of Theatre." 

— Disability Arts Online

Winner of the TicketSource Festival Favourite Award, Cardiff Fringe 2018. 

Nominated for the Total Theatre 'emerging artist' award, Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2015.

★★★★★ "Has you hooked every single minute." 

— Get The Chance Wales

'Piano Smashers':

A hidden gem. Superb."

— Edinburgh Reporter, 2024

Nominated for Best Performance at The Actors, Brighton Fringe

I really hope to see some people who stammer at the show. To share this personal show with others who stammer is one of the main reasons I made it in the first place. Plus, you get to smash a piano with my dad!

Just A Few Words and Piano Smashers are showing at The Cockpit on the 29th and 30th of January 2025, 7pm. Both nights include both shows, for £12 (£10 concessions).

Book online at thecockpit.org.uk or call 020 7258 2925 (10:30am-6pm Mon to Fri, 12noon-6pm Sat).