Lee Ridley, aka Lost Voice Guy, has cerebral palsy, and as such has been asked questions ranging from the ridiculous to the downright offensive. For his show this year, he has compiled a selection of the most hilarious and bizarre remarks his disability has attracted into an entertaining and informative FAQ.
If you have ever wondered how it feels to live with a disability but been too afraid to find out, this show will answer all of your questions – and a few extra you will be surprised anyone ever had the gall to ask.
Armed with nothing but his iPad – which allows him to communicate – and a ventriloquist dummy that has seen better days, Ridley guides the audience through the ups and downs of his condition, giving a fascinating insight into both the day-to-day life of the disabled, and the inquisitive confusion that he is regularly faced with. It may seem strange to hear a comedy show being performed by a computerised voice, but Ridley's expressions and actions perfectly replace the timing and inflection that his voice synthesis program is unable to reproduce. The show is both candid and inspiring – but most important of all, it is consistently hilarious. Ridley has an unerring ability to find humour in the darkest of subjects, from government cuts to disabled care to the public's invasive fascination with his sex life.
For someone with the stage name of Lost Voice Guy, sound makes up a large part of Ridley's performance. Many of the questions answered are relayed to us through excerpts taken from pop songs – to hilarious effect – and the others are formed from voice clips taken from his self-confessed nemesis, Ian Duncan-Smith, embodied by Ridley's one-legged puppet.
If you have ever wondered how it feels to live with a disability but been too afraid to find out, this show will answer all of your questions – and a few extra you will be surprised anyone ever had the gall to ask.
