Slade Wolfe Enterprises, a theatre company led by disabled and neurodivergent individuals, is breaking down barriers as creative forces Lexi Wolfe and Andrew Slade return to the Edinburgh Fringe this August. Their powerful trilogy of solo shows aims to dismantle long-standing myths and amplify voices that have been silenced or misunderstood throughout history.
Overcoming Challenges
Operating as a disabled and neurodivergent-led company, Slade Wolfe Enterprises has often navigated a theatre industry not always built for accessibility. Rather than viewing these challenges as obstacles, the duo has used their unique perspectives to fuel their creative process, specializing in reinterpreting the past through meticulous research and emotionally raw performances.
Bringing these productions to the stage is a monumental triumph over physical and mental health challenges. Lexi Wolfe manages the daily, unpredictable realities of fibromyalgia alongside ADHD, often having to physically adapt her staging in real time to cope with chronic pain and exhaustion. Meanwhile, Andrew Slade’s return to performing follows a series of complications, including a debilitating 15-foot fall that required bilateral knee surgery, and a severe case of long COVID that left him with chronic fatigue and profound memory loss. For both performers, mounting back-to-back solo shows at the Edinburgh Fringe requires immense resilience, making their presence at the festival a powerful testament to their dedication to their craft.
The Trilogy of Shows
Andrew and Lexi will perform three distinct solo shows at theSpace @ Symposium Hall. Lexi will perform two productions on alternating nights, with Andrew performing immediately after Lexi each night. Returning after an acclaimed run last year, Wolfe presents the five-star hit After Shakespeare. This performance ventures beyond the final curtain of the Bard’s greatest plays, offering a chance for reflection to figures like Lady Macbeth and Hamlet as they contemplate their legacy.
Wolfe also debuts A Forgotten Woman: Mrs Oscar Wilde. While Oscar Wilde’s legacy is global, his wife Constance Lloyd was largely erased by the scandal surrounding him. Based on her personal letters, the play reveals a woman of immense intellect and quiet defiance who survived the margins of an oppressive society.
Lexi Wolfe said: “As neurodivergent artists, we often see the patterns and gaps in history that others might overlook. Our work is about stepping into those shadows. Whether it’s giving Shakespeare’s characters a final word or restoring the very real Constance Lloyd’s voice, we want to display how society’s accepted narratives and understanding of others can be challenged.”
At the same venue, Andrew Slade returns with the sell-out sensation 1 King, 2 Princes & Shakespeare’s Lie. Slade takes on the ultimate historical villain, Richard III. The play, which has been performed at the King's own tomb in Leicester Cathedral, uses dark humor and archival evidence to dismantle the monster myth created by Tudor propaganda, offering the audience a chance to decide for themselves if the maligned king was truly a villain or a victim of distorted truths and untrue narratives.
Andrew Slade explains: “There is a profound parallel between the way history treats its outcasts and how neurodivergent people can feel in the modern world. We’re often told who we are by people who don't understand us. In 1 King, 2 Princes & Shakespeare’s Lie, I wanted to challenge the audience. It’s more than just a history lesson; it’s an invitation to question who gets to control the narrative of our lives.”
To book a ticket to any of the trilogy of solo shows, visit: tickets.thespaceuk.com/events?s=Slade+wolfe. Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
