INTERVIEW: Kate Fox

Kate Fox is busy. With podcasts, one woman shows, book commissions, creative writing, course leading and more,Kate is one of the most exciting, empowering and much needed creative voices opening up conversations on neurodiversity in the arts. I got the chance to chat with the stand up poet ahead of her two upcoming events in the North East; a live recording of her acclaimed Podcast; Neurotypicals Don’t Juggle Chainsaws and An Evening With Kate Fox.

Describing herself as a “quirky, Northern, funny wordsmith with a subtly subversive undertone,”Katetold me she is inspired by funny poets such as John Hegley, and unequivocally by her socio-economic experiences of growing up in 1970s northern England. Kate’s work opens up new worlds and experiences in ways that are accessible, fascinating and fun. Her last show and book, Bigger On The Inside, explored the parallels between Doctor Who and neurodiversity (I was pleased to hear that Kate’s fave Whovian aliens were The Master and Missy!). Kate’s career since has rocketed; exploring book commissions on themes such as The Sycamore Gap, climate change, and is “ongoingly writing a lot about, and from, neurodiversity”.

This leads me to her excellently named podcast, Neurotypicals Don’t Juggle Chainsaws, co-hosted with educator and speaker Nic King. Billed as two northern lasses having open and honest conversations on autism, ADHD and neurodiversity, the podcast is proving to be a vital platform in helping many listeners feel seen and heard, as well as a way for neurotypical people to learn about different brains and perspectives. Kate loves working with her co-host Nic.“I get tohave conversations with a fellow switched-on neurodivergent person who just ‘gets it’. I don’t have to explain myself.”

Discussing the importance of having these conversations, Kate pointed out.“There’s still hardly any happening in public -still hardly any autistic voices speaking for themselves. I’m talking to people every week -especially late-diagnosed autistic women, who’ve only been exposed to stigmatising, pathologising stereotypes.”

Staging neurodiverse voices are essential in helping society to become more accessible, understanding and caring, and Kate’s voice is a powerful one indeed. She describes her upcoming show An Evening with… at The Lit & Phil as:“A sort of greatest hits of poems and pieces -A funny, thought provoking, warm evening. (They’re the adjectives people most often use about my performances so unless I entirely change personality between now and then, I reckon it’ll be that).” Inspired by her work, I was excited to ask Kate about what advice she’d give to neurodivergent creatives who might want to start working in the arts industry, to which she offered.“Find solidarity with other neurodivergent creatives. Join a union. Be aware of the pressure for creatives to overwork.”

Kate’s work is a breath of fresh air in a continually stressful, pressurised and loud world -making room for important conversations in a way that feels safe, gentle, and offering space for you to be exactly as you are, with a few giggles along the way.

Neurotypicals Don’t Juggle Chainsaws will take place on Thursday 6th March at Gosforth Civic Theatre, and An Evening With Kate Fox on Thursday 13th March at The Lit & Phil in Newcastle.