Rehearsed Reading: Unveiled by Max Whelan, performed by Eleanor Walsh

MC: Louisa Ní Éadeáin

Venue: Astra Hall, UCD Student Centre                 5:00pm - 6:00pm

Unveiled by Max Whelan is his debut script about finding his artistic voice. This rehearsed reading will be performed by Eleanor Walsh and directed by Al Bellamy, with additional Reading from Anna Lechleiter, John McMahon and Al Bellamy.

Max Whelan (He/Him)

I am Max Whelan, a 24 year old nonspeaker who has been on quite a journey over the last few years. I had no effective means of communication until I was 19 when my Dad came across S2C (Spell to Communicate) on a chance encounter with a user of this simple methodology. My life changed in an amazing way and I would like to share that change. Using S2C I have :

★ Communicated! My voice has been heard.

★ Proven my diagnosis of significant intellectual disability to be incorrect.

★ Explored my creativity writing poems and stories.

★ Written the lyrics to a song that will shortly be performed on television.

★ Participated in Neuroconvergence 2024 – I took part in a discussion showcasing various types of communication aids.

★ Been a keynote presenter at Motormorphosis 2025 (the biggest conference for nonspeakers in the US).

★ Participated in ‘The Assembly’, currently just finishing recording with Virgin Media 1 for transmission in February 2026.

★ Written a play – ‘Unveiled’ – which I am now anxious to see performed.

★ A small excerpt from ‘Unveiled’ was performed at the S2C Summit Ireland in May 2025 followed by a Q&A.

Eleanor Walsh (She/Her)

Eleanor Walsh (she/her) is a performer, writer, and an autism and disability advocate. Recent credits include Chronically Hopeful (Musici Ireland),Grace (Graffiti Theatre Company), Yellow (Jody O’Neill), Daughter of God (Asylum Productions), and What I (Don't) Know About Autism (Abbey Theatre). Her first play is currently in development with Barnstorm Theatre Company and she also consults on Relaxed Performance and autistic representation and inclusion. Eleanor is featured in "Be Inspired! Young Irish People Changing the World" by Sarah Webb, published by O'Brien Press.

Al Bellamy (They/She)

Al Bellamy is a theatre director and accessibility specialist from Wexford. Their directing credits across film and theatre include: The Merrow (Project Arts Centre, Short Cuts Award, 2022), Yellow (Draíocht Arts Centre, Granary Theatre, Neuroconvergence, National Festival of Youth Theatres, Bounce Disability Arts Festival) from November 2022 to July 2025, and Close All Tabs (Smock Alley Boys School, Scene + Heard Festival 2024). They developed and directed a groundbreaking new piece of theatre, Home Sweet Home, with Jody O’Neill and Suisha Inclusive Artswhich premiered in the Granary Theatre in Cork Midsummer Festival 2024 and funded by their Arts Council Arts Participation Project Award. In 2023, they received the Arts Council Theatre Bursary to develop a holistic methodology for disability-inclusive practice.