CripTales

Finally, 'life' stories about physical disability by disabled actors! I, a crip myself (accident) deeply appreciate these fictional tales that could be - and are, undoubtedly - easily authentic. Loved the settings, monologues and the people themselves.

These six short monologues (13-15 mins each), each tell of a different disabled character's life-changing moment. While highlighting the various daily issues that disabled people face.

More of this please!

Originally a BBC America production but thankfully quickly appearing on the main network - CripTales is essentially a short form Talking Heads-style anthology monologue show but written and performed by disabled actors. Like any anthology it's a mixed bag - some of the stories work better than others and the hardest to swallow is likely the pitch-black "Thunderbox". All are blisteringly honest and painfully brutal - I was personally deeply taken with Mat Fraser's "Audition" and the brilliant "Hamish".

Deeply refreshing and it had my mind buzzing at who could feature in the next series !

Inevitably this 6 episode mini-series of monologues by disabled people is a mixed bag but I would argue that it isn't the quality levels that are mixed, rather they are so different to each other that viewers will always have favourites and least-favourites. Personally I liked The Real Deal and Thunderbox the most, both excellently acted while being completely different to each other. The first episode, Audition, was my least favourite but it suffers only by comparison and is still pretty good. A must-see for Talking Heads fans, and indeed anyone.