Ms MaNDy’s Adventures in Wonderland, by Sarah Ezekiel
We are proud to announce our sponsorship, alongside the CareTech Foundation, of Sarah Ezekiel’s new show, Ms MaNDy’s Adventures in Wonderland. This unique drag extravaganza, written and directed by Sarah, invites audiences into a magical, imaginative world while shining a light on life with Motor Neurone Disease (MND). It’s an incredible blend of performance art and AAC, showcasing Sarah’s creativity. Sarah was diagnosed with MND in 2000, just as she was embracing the joy of motherhood. Sarah began using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) to regain her voice—literally and creatively. In 2012, she started painting using eye gaze, transforming her passion for art into a fulfilling career. Sarah’s work demonstrates her resilience and the potential that can be achieved with assistive technology. Her latest venture, Ms MaNDy’s Adventures in Wonderland, has been written and directed using eye gaze, highlighting Sarah’s storytelling abilities, vivid imagination, and her ability to express the complexity of living with MND. Through the whimsical lens of drag and fantasy, the production explores themes of empowerment, resilience, and transformation. Sarah’s Ms MaNDy character leads audiences through an adventurous and surreal Wonderland—a realm where art, humour, and empowerment come together. The show celebrates self-expression and explores the fantastical possibilities of a world where physical limitations dissolve into creativity and wonder. Drag as a performance art has always been about defying conventions and embracing the limitless possibilities of identity. By placing a woman with MND at the centre of a show that revels in imagination, fantasy, and transformation, Ms MaNDy’s Adventures in Wonderland challenges perceptions of disability and traditional performance art norms. The production is more than just a show—it’s an exploration of how AAC and eye gaze technology can showcase artistic expression, containing original music composed by Alex Herd, who is also living with MND. Tickets are on sale now for the show, taking place on Saturday 8th March 2025, at the Shaw Theatre. We hope that this incredible show will inspire others to see what’s possible with AAC and encourage more individuals with MND and other disabilities to explore their own creativity through technology.
