A celebration of difference
Lola Blue, the star of the new series of A Kind of Spark, talks about challenging views of autism.
The award-winning CBBC show A Kind of Spark is back for a new series. It tells the story of autistic teenager Addie, played by Lola Blue, who successfully campaigns to have a memorial set up for women who were wrongly accused of witchcraft centuries ago. Autism refers to a range of conditions that affect how people experience the world.
Blue chatted to The Week Junior and gave a few clues about what’s in store for fans of A Kind of Spark in series two. She said, “You can expect mystery, history, female friendships and strength, autistic joy [and] lots of dungarees”. There are even “sharks, sharks, sharks”, says Blue, although she doesn’t give away how the sharp-toothed creatures manage to find their way into the plot.
Inclusivity (including everyone) is at the heart of the show.
Lots of the cast and crew are neurodivergent, which means a person’s brain works in a different way to what is called “typical”. Autism is a type of neurodivergence. Cast members were given support to help them feel comfortable while the show was being filmed. This support included a sensory room with items such as headphones and fidget toys, where cast members could go to take a break and chill out.
Blue says that “breaking autistic stereotypes and stigmas (negative or unfair beliefs)” is very important. “The way to do that is by casting authentically (choosing actors who fit the description of the characters they’re playing) and making space for neurodivergent voices to be heard,” she says.
A Kind of Spark is available on BBC iPlayer now and arrives on CBBC on 29 April.