Cartoonopolis is a vibrant, heartfelt solo performance by Lewis Ian Bray that explores neurodivergence through the eyes of his autistic younger brother Jack. Blending humour, emotion, and imagination, Lewis brings to life 27 characters in a personal tribute that celebrates family, creativity, and the transition into adulthood. Cartoonopolis invites audiences into a cartoon-inspired world full of daring adventures and heartfelt moments.

We spoke with Lewis Ian Bray, award-winning actor, screenwriter, and theatre-maker, ahead of his debut Edinburgh Fringe run.

For those who haven’t seen Cartoonopolis before, how would you sum up the show in one sentence?

A one-man, coming-of-age, cartoonish, comedy-drama about my family and autism. 

This show is a very personal tribute to your younger brother Jack. How has your family’s journey shaped the storytelling?

The show is hugely personal to us as a family. When we first started making it 10 years ago my mum would say “just make sure it’s not miserable”, and we’ve stuck to that. Throughout his life our mum and dad have always given Jack the space to be who he is, to express himself freely and immerse himself in his special interests. For Jack, that’s cartoons and animation: those incredible animated worlds, home to fearless heroes and dastardly villains. That’s what’s given Jack his confidence and helped him to develop a genuine skill in story-telling. It’s Jack’s characters and stories that are at the centre of this show. The show is his and I just get the pleasure, with his permission, of sharing his amazing imagination with audiences. 

You play 27 characters on stage—what’s your secret to switching between so many roles smoothly?

Repetition. Repetition. Repetition. There are hours and hours of work that go into making a one person show, particularly with this many characters. Memorising every beat is a process and, for me, I really have to drill it. But the show almost feels like a ballet to me now: I have a physicality for every single character, I know their gestures and facial expressions, which in-turn inform their voice. It’s a whole body thing, and every character needs to feel real and truthful to me, even the most bonkers ones. Once that’s all in place I have the freedom to play on stage, which is definitely the best bit.

Neurodivergence is central to the show’s theme. What do you hope neurodivergent and neurotypical audiences will take away from the experience?

I hope neurodivergent audiences take away exactly that, hope. There’s a lot of uncertainty for disabled people in the UK at the moment and a lot of fear and worry. This show is part of that conversation, but it is also a story of hope, of family, and of pulling together in the face of adversity. I hope neurotypical audiences come away with a new perspective on neurodivergence and feel challenged to drop assumptions. 

And I hope both neurodivergent and neurotypical audiences will leave the theatre having had a cracking 75 minutes in Jack’s favourite place in the whole wide world, Cartoonopolis. 

How do you balance humour with the more emotional and challenging moments in the show?

It’s the humour in the show that gives space for the hard moments. Much like life, tragedy and comedy come hand in hand. It’s an incredible sense of humour that’s got us, as a family, through the times when it’s been hard. And that sense of humour ripples through the show, whether it’s my dad’s can-do attitude, my mum’s sharp-tongued wit or Jack’s endlessly surprising one-liners.

What’s one surprising thing you’ve learned about yourself through performing Cartoonopolis?

I mean it’s not actually a surprise, but in the 10 years since originally making the show, I’ve grown to understand my own neurodivergence. A lot of people think that autism presents in one way, but what I’ve learned through performing the show (and growing up alongside Jack) is that if you’ve met one autistic person, you’ve met one autistic person.

Cartoonopolis is at Pleasance Dome, Jack Dome, 30 July – 24 August (not 6, 11 & 18), 13:10 (14:25). For tickets go to https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/cartoonopolis