The tour poster for Joe Dennis’s Tides (An Autism Story), visiting Friargate Theatre, York, next month
JOE Dennis’s “beautifully bittersweet” solo show, Tides (An Autism Story), will be making waves at Friargate Theatre, York, on June 19 at 7.30pm.
“This semi-autobiographical theatre piece is based around my own personal experience of growing up with autism,” says writer-performer Joe. “It’s a wonderful show and has a very important message about kindness and the importance of being kind to others.
“It spreads the word about a very relevant subject matter and is equally funny and happy at the same time.”
Based on real experiences of growing up on the autism spectrum, Tides (An AutismStory), was launched in 2024 at The Hope Theatre in London – when entitled Tides – at the tail end of Autism Acceptance Week, raising £100 for London’s Autism Charity Group.
“The show then toured the UK, playing in Guildford, Salford and at the Camden Fringe,” says Joe. “Last year, it was performed at London’s Union Theatre, sold out at New Wimbledon Theatre, took the Newcastle Fringe Festival by storm, achieving the runner-up position in the festival’s theatre award, all before a week-long run at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe.”
Tides (An Autism Story) follows the life of Dylan Ward as he navigates his way through primary school, secondary school, college, university, his first full-time job and Covid, all while struggling to fit in with what some would call “conventional norms” as a result of his autism causing him to misunderstand situations.
Along the way, Dylan meets classmates who do not understand him, teachers who dismiss or bully him and managers who cannot comprehend his attitude to work, although this never stops him trying.
Joe emphasises the importance of depicting autism on stage and why he wanted to share this story. “Growing up autistic was incredibly challenging,” he says. “Seeing the world in a way that was different to everybody else, not always feeling like you fit in or understand such a mad world.
“Worse still, the fact that other students and even teachers wouldn’t always take the time to understand, and the impact of how I affected others, in turn affected me. I wanted to put that on stage to show what it’s like from the perspective of someone on the spectrum and to put the word out that no matter how someone else behaves, everyone really is just human deep down.”
Tides (An Autism Story) marked the directorial debut of Will Sutherland, who felt “honoured” to be asked to direct Joe’s show. “It’s a wonderfully charming script, full of humour, heart and some very real and relatable drama,” he says.
“Joe and I studied together at drama school, so I knew how personal this was for him, and I felt it my duty to ensure I did it justice.”
Will played a big role in the show’s production design too. “One of Dylan’s fixations is his compulsion to draw,” he says. “I thought it would be fun to buy a few notebooks and markers and go to town with a ton of cartoony drawings that we could stick to the walls and around the audience to help immerse them in this world.”
Joe has nothing but praise for Will for these drawings. “Not only are they absolutely brilliant – seriously, he’s an exceptional artist), but also he gave this show something of a genuine identity. I can’t thank Will enough for everything he’s done for this show.”
Joe “couldn’t be happier with the response to this show”. “I really believe in the message and I love how it’s connected with people,” he says. “People have personally told me that they connected to it because they are on the spectrum and they felt really seen. It means a lot to receive feedback like that.”
Joe Dennis in Tides (An Autism Story), Friargate Theatre, Lower Friargate, York, June 19, 7.30pm.Box office: 01904 613000 or friargatetheatre.co.uk.