Sean Upton is the star of the show Up Down Boy.
"There aren't many movies or plays that have people with Down syndrome in them, and in the ones that do, they are usually smaller roles," says Sean.
"I want to be the star of the show."
In this new, local adaptation, based on the British play Up Down Boy by Sue Shields, Sean draws on his own life experiences to tell the tale of 19-year-old Jack O’Leary as he prepares to leave for college.
Up Down Boy is a funny and uplifting play about a young man growing up with Down syndrome, and the mother who raised him.
Hilarious and heart-warming stories from Jack's childhood are interlaced with songs, dances and drama skits as the audience gets the opportunity to enter the wild and colourful imagination of Jack and, by extension, Sean himself.
Sean met producer and director David Hennessy and the pair quickly built a good rapport so it wasn't long before they started planning a show that would give Sean the chance to shine.
"As soon as we met, I was instantly caught by his unique perspective of the world and natural talent for performing," says David.
"He has an incredibly positive attitude towards life that is so joyous to be around, and I can't wait to share that with everyone who comes to the show."
With Sean and David, actress Brenda Giles takes on the role of Jack's mother.
The show will be fully accessible to the Waterford disability community, the first of its kind in the region.
We will be hoping to do a relaxed performance for those who will benefit from a more relaxed performance environment, including people with an Autism Spectrum Condition, sensory and communication disorders or a learning difficulty.
"Theatre is for everyone," David reminds us.
"I hope Up Down Boy inspires venues and producers to make a conscious effort to include people with mixed abilities, on stage and off.”