Oscar Brennan has written both the book and the music for his autobiographical musical theatre study of autism. As an autistic young person himself the story is essentially the journey through, ‘the psyche of a little Scottish man’. But Oscar, the title character, is backstage tied up, both literally and in his cerebellum. His ‘Oscar Show’ has been hijacked by his alter ego – Scarlett.

Scarlett is his mask. Masking being a critical means of functionality for autistic human beings. Scarlett is his drag alter ego who, of course, knows all his secrets and is about to share them with her audience as she rummages through Oscar’s possessions – school reports and doctor’s analyses included.

Scarlett could be Kate Bush, dressed ultimately in a red dress that not only hankers back to Oscar’s childhood awakening of his love of performance, but also to dressing up.  It heralds his love of theatre, musical theatre specifically. This could be his salvation. His ultimate ambition. But maybe, also, his downfall.

Oh, and there’s Karl, a stuffed toy Kiwi, that speaks to Scarlett as Oscar’s inner voice.

We hear of his school challenges,  the bullying and an inability to perform as society demands (society has no real understanding of autism and it punishes autistics relentlessly) and dance classes while the rugger buggers look on, critically. We don’t hear of their recriminations but its clearly suggested. His academic achievement is hampered by the general lack of understanding at educational level. He’s ‘Misunderstood, not misdiagnosed’. His teachers neglectful and cruel.

Brennan’s performance, beautifully supported by a quietly confident young pianist, is excellent (although better microphones might help some of the quieter moments in a tiny venue – maybe the tiniest on the Fringe). His singing is on point for an MT afficionado, but the real strength of this show is the complete honesty, and humour, that he brings to his exposition of the challenges of autism; its stigma and its challenges in dating and relationships.

Autism is not a hat you can can just take off, like a red dress. It’s a burden to bear, a challenge to communicate.  In doing so with us, the non-neurodivergent members of the audience, Brennan achieves genuinely thought provoking theatre. The stuff at which the Fringe can be so brilliant.

Self Censored is at Clover Studio at Greenside @ Riddles Court until Sat 15 Aug