Neurodivergence and perception
Christopher experiences the world with heightened sensory sensitivity, a literal interpretation of language and a preference for order. Neither Haddon nor Stephens uses a diagnostic label in official materials; both treat Christopher’s way of seeing as a different, coherent worldview rather than a deficit. The play’s staging - projections, ensemble, sudden noise and light - externalises his experience for a neurotypical audience.
Key moments: The sensory overload on the Underground; the grid of the stage floor; Christopher’s lists and diagrams.
“I find people confusing.” - Christopher