UK comedian Tom Skelton reflects on the regrets, what-ifs and realities of life as a VIP (visually impaired person) in his show '2020 Visions (What If I Hadn't Gone Blind?)'.
“It's ten years since I lost most of my sight due to a genetic condition that came on suddenly while at the Edinburgh Fringe, and this show is about the past decade of being blind, while also imagining the sort of legend I could have been if I had not lost my sight,” Tom explains.
In the show, Tom sees his imagined, sighted self as a world historical figure shaping events, but would 2020's Tom swap places with the fantasy of Tom with 20:20 vision?
“My sighted superhero-esque alter ego's exploits and his impact upon the world should certainly surprise the audience, and I also hope to both surprise, illuminate and challenge audience perceptions about the realities of life as a visually impaired person,” he explains.
Image © Hannah Madsen (Facebook)
A favourite at Perth's Fringe World in 2019, Tom hasn't even been home yet, spending the past year on a working holiday and enjoying as much of Australia as he can. This will be Tom's fifth Fringe tour.
Tom is also a founding member of UK improv superstars Racing Minds, who are having a break this year, and says that '2020 Visions' has something for all audiences.
“I think both sighted and visually impaired audiences alike will enjoy my show,” he says. “Sometimes for the same reasons, and sometimes for different reasons.”
