'Somehow the points and topics the show hits have only become more relevant and poignant' actor and puppeteer Sam Harding on 10th anniversary tour of Meet Fred

Welsh inclusive theatre company Hijinx are in the middle of a 10th anniversary tour of their smash hit comic satire Meet Fred which follows puppet Fred whose life starts to unravel when his Puppetry Living Allowance may be cut. The show debuted in 2016 to great acclaim and has toured to over 20 countries since then. We caught up with actor and puppeteer Sam Harding who told us more about the show and how it has become more relevant than ever

Fred turns ten this year! When you look back at the show's early days and where it is now, what's surprised you most about how it has evolved, and what has stayed exactly the same? 

One thing that’s stayed the same is Fred's reception. Somehow the points and topics the show hits have only become more relevant and poignant. We see it every day and is often mentioned in feedback. A big part of what has changed within the show oddly enough is Fred. He’s the exact same cloth puppet that started the show 10 years ago, but through the progression and evolutions of cast members in his rotation, he has matured, picking up quirks, mannerisms and qualities of anyone that has given their energy to him over the years.

Puppetry is such a physical, collaborative art form, how do you navigate the relationship between yourselves as performers and Fred as a character? Do you ever feel like he takes on a life of his own? 

As Fred is self aware i do always feel seperate to him, but its a balance. At times i have empathy with him, and others i sympathise for him. After puppeteering Fred for so long there is definitely a more organic quality about bringing him to life. We’re all so much more responsive to one another and tuned into how Fred is feeling. Making no 2 shows identical. While there is choreography to the show, Fred is spontaneous and always moves differently. It's a bit like wrestling where we have our own secret ways of communicating things to each other inconspicuously for live adjustments.

The show tackles some genuinely heavy themes like benefit cuts, yet it does so with dark humour. How do you strike that balance in performance, and does the tone ever shift depending on the audience?

It’s a tricky line to tread but ‘Meet Fred’ is unashamedly in your face about all of it. There is always enough of a ‘wink wink’, ‘nudge nudge’ to know that we are taking seriously the silliness of the the situation. Its real satire that is recieved differently every city you give it to, let alone country, or continent. One things for certain is the people who enjoy the show most outwardly are those who have similarly  experienced injustice in any guise. That has proved to transcend language.

The ensemble is made up of both disabled and non-disabled artists, how has working in that kind of inclusive creative environment shaped how you approach not just this show, but performing more broadly? 

When working collaboratively in this environment it is very easy to assign jobs and tell people what to do. What I discover increasingly is that working inclusively brings different minds and different approaches together in a room. While it might take longer and more effort  to draw these ideas out of some, the end result is always more exciting and unexpected. It has taught me patience, allowing thoughts and suggestions to ruminate and mature into their best possible evolution.

Meet Fred has now played in more than 20 countries, have you noticed differences in how audiences respond to Fred's story depending on where you are in the world, particularly when it comes to attitudes around disability rights and independence? 

The more counties around the world that have gotten to ‘Meet Fred' has just shown us how universal people’s everyday struggles are. Every country finds different specific parts of the show funny in their own context, and the same can be said if the pain within the show. Regarding disability rights, the conversation will often come up regarding different countries welfare state and the differences within. One thing that is constant is the hypocrisy experienced by anyone who has had to deal with “the system".

The show's themes around the Puppetry Living Allowance and cuts to independence feel more relevant than ever. As performers, how does it feel to bring this story to audiences right now, and do you feel a sense of responsibility in carrying that political message? 

It is very apparent when we have an audience who have had to deal with cuts to their or their loved ones independence. The scenes that specifically address, and point fun at this become electric with these audiences, often receiving heckles of encouragement and excitement. It is incredibly satisfying as a performer to have people respond and emote so vociferously to what you are creating live in front of them. It is equally disheartening as it can shine a light on one’s privilege, realising just how difficult it is for so many people to receive the bare minimum; and how lucky multitudes of us are to have never had to encounter this.

Meet Fred is on tour until June. For more go to www.hijinx.org.uk