Scottish Catholic Observer

Currently touring Scotland, Downs With Love by Cutting Edge Theatre explores the subject of love and disability. With an estimated 750 children born with Down’s syndrome in the UK every year, many feel that there needs to be more awareness and public knowledge about the condition.

In recent years, there has been more visibility, with Coronation Street making television history when hiring Down’s syndrome actor Liam Bairstow to take on the role of Alex in 2015. The following year Edinburgh’s International Film Festival screened My Feral Heart, a film that presented Luke (Stephen Brandon), a colourful character living a fulfilled life but with complications. Downs With Love, written and directed by Suzanne Lofthus, features Abi Brydon from Fife and is enjoying its first Scottish tour. Ms Brydon, who has Down’s syndrome, plays Beth, a young girl who also has the condition. While the lead character lives a busy life she wants nothing more than to fall in love.

At a capacity performance in Edinburgh’s Assembly Roxy theatre, I spoke to Catholic mum Angela Brady (right, with her children), whose eldest son Daniel has Down’s syndrome and attends a Catholic school in south east Edinburgh. Angela explained that she expected the performance would be an emotional watch.

“It was a thought-provoking and a powerful experience,” she said. “While Daniel is still quite young and protected, I can relate to the issues raised in the play. It was encouraging to see such a strong and confident woman acting in her own right and in the character she portrayed as independent and full of life in the story. I often think about what kind of life Daniel will have in the future. Watching the play, my thoughts swayed from wanting to keep Daniel wrapped up in a wee bubble forever and protected from the big bad world to thinking that my role as a mum was to equip Daniel as much as possible to develop life skills.

“Undoubtedly there needs to be a stronger media focus on Down’s syndrome awareness. One of the many subjects the play dealt with was prejudice against those with the condition. I felt sad at parts such as when Beth spoke of how she was bullied at school for being different. My concern for Daniel is the ability to effectively communicate. How can I equip him to live a good life?”

Angela also has twins at St John Vianney Primary School in Edinburgh and spoke of Daniel’s care at the Catholic school and its wider community.

She said: “I was pleased to see Beth living an independent life while having a variety of things to do in the week. Again, my thoughts as a mother were about how much time I will need to be with Daniel as he grows up. He is looked after well at the breakfast club, in school, and then at the after-school club. Again in a wee bubble but I wonder how this will be when he is in high school and as a young adult. I noted that in the play Beth only saw her dad one night per week.

“My thoughts also turned to the twins because while I want them to always be a big part of Daniel’s life, I don’t want them to feel that they are responsible for Daniel.”

In what other ways could you relate to the story, I asked her?

Angela said: “Beth had a good understanding that she had Down’s syndrome. I do not think that Daniel currently has an awareness of this.

“My thoughts last night were—how will I talk to Daniel about it? How will he feel? I am positive that Daniel will find love—he has the charm and the dance moves!

“What was also raised in the play, as with Beth, I think Daniel will teach me more than I will teach him. He is very intuitive especially when you are upset. Boundaries are another issue that has been on my mind with Daniel. This was addressed with the school recently but as with Beth, Daniel just loves people and wants to get too close to them.”

Daniel recently made the Sacrament of Reconciliation. How did he find the experience?

Angela said: “I must admit I have not been at Church as often as I should have and my contact with Fr Anthony [Caruna] has been limited. Saying that, anytime I have spoken to Father he has been very supportive. I had agreed with Fr Anthony that I would sit with Daniel and ‘speak for him’ at the Reconciliation. However, Daniel walked up himself and sat with Fr Anthony on the altar and gave him high-fives. I was surprised at this but this made me laugh.”

– Richard Purden is the author of We Are Celtic Supporters and Celtic: Keeping the Faith