Naoki is a non-verbal, autistic, Japanese boy, who was just thirteen years old when he wrote the book The Reason I Jump, a one-of-a-kind memoir and exploration of an autistic view of the world.
In this innovative adaptation, the book becomes an experience, a mysterious journey through a beautiful outdoor maze designed by renowned Dutch collective Observatorium. Once inside, audiences encounter the stories and insights of Naoki’s gardeners and become immersed in his playful world.
This adaptation is a unique blend of site-specific promenade performance and interactive installation, created with and performed by, a group of artists with autism ranging from 16 to 60 years old. Audiences are free to explore the outdoor maze, in which they can find some of the stories and ideas from the book as well as the personal experiences of the performers themselves. At the centre of the maze in Glasgow is a stone labyrinth, constructed by members of the local community using reclaimed cobblestone from nearby Maryhill. The stone labyrinth remains in the North Kelvin Meadow as a legacy for residents and visitors.
Find out more on the NTS project page
The Reason I Jump was a series of performances conceived and directed by Graham Eatough based on the book of the same name by Japanese autistic teenager, Naoki Higashida. Commissioned and developed by the National Theatre of Scotland over three years the final performances took place in specially designed outdoor maze by Dutch artists Observatorium, and involved a company of autistic performers including non-verbal performers. The performances took place over tow weeks in June 2018 on the North Kelvin Meadow and Children's Wood in Glasgow.
THE REASON I JUMP
Adapted from the book by Naoki Higashida
PERFORMERS
Michael Dawson
Calum Macritchie
Emma McCaffrey
Fletcher Matthers
Nicola Tuxworth
GRAHAM EATOUGH
Director
CLARE DUFFY
Dramaturgy
ANDRE DEKKER and GEERT VAN DE CAMP(OBSERVATORIUM)
Set Design
ZOE HALLIDAY
Movement Director
ELLIE GRIFFITHS
Assistant Director
AILEEN SHERRY
Costume Designer
GAVIN GLOVER
Mask Design and Creation