Mat Fraser on Disability, Activism, and Playing Richard III

Mat Fraser's Journey to Acting and Activism

• 💡 Mat Fraser describes his early life absorbing the medical and charity models of disability, leading him to initially avoid identifying as disabled.
• ✊ A turning point came when he was bullied by other disabled people, which led him to a disability rights demonstration where he found his activist voice and joined the Direct Action Network.
• 🎭 Inspired by the Grey Eye Theater Company's production featuring disabled actors, Fraser realized his desire to act, seeing it as a powerful medium for activism and expressing beliefs about disability.

Embracing Disability with a Capital 'D'

• 🧠 Fraser adopted the social model of disability, understanding that societal barriers, not individual impairments, hinder full participation.
• 🎭 He views acting as a way to imitate life and challenge perceptions, believing that disability, often ignored or stigmatized, should be openly discussed and represented on stage.
• 🤘 His early career involved being a punk drummer, a passion he pursued throughout his 20s before fully committing to acting and activism around age 30.

The Path to Professional Acting

• 🎓 Lacking formal training, Fraser approached the Grey Eye Theater Company and was offered an audition, leading to a tour of Forum Theater and his first Equity card.
• 🎭 His professional acting debut included roles in plays like "What the Butler Saw" and the experimental play "Marisol," where he played a complex lead character.
• 🥁 Despite his drumming background, his first acting role where he played a drummer was in "Louder Milk," a rare instance of his musical talent being incorporated into his acting career.

Portraying Richard III

• 🤘 The production of "Richard III" was reimagined in the golden age of punk rock, a concept that resonated with Fraser's own punk energy and experiences.
• 😠 He connects with Richard's anger and righteous indignation stemming from rejection and mistreatment, seeing it as a driving force similar to his own punk activism.
• 🎭 Fraser's first professional portrayal of Richard III was in 2017 with Northern Broadsides, a company known for accurate casting of disabled actors.
• ⚠️ He notes that while regional theaters were casting accurately, mainstream theaters still often cast non-disabled actors in disabled roles.

Personal Life and Career Milestones

• 💖 Fraser met his wife, Julie Atlas Muse, a burlesque performer, in 2006 at Coney Island, finding a deep connection that led to their artistic collaboration.
• 🎭 Their artistic partnership led to a live art version of "Beauty and the Beast," which was later developed into a successful play, ultimately leading to Fraser's audition for American Horror Story: Freak Show.
• 📺 The role in "American Horror Story" was a significant career milestone, lasting 13 episodes and providing substantial professional and financial rewards.

Advice for Aspiring Disabled Actors

• 💪 Fraser emphasizes the need for disabled actors to be prepared and professional, learning lines and putting in the work to counter lingering perceptions of lower capability.
• ✊ He stresses that while no one should be denied opportunities due to disability, disabled individuals should put in the work they are capable of to achieve their professional goals.
• 🎧 He hopes the "Play On Podcasts" series encourages listeners to explore more audio dramas, Shakespeare, and diverse artistic works, promoting a looser, more open approach to creative expression.