【天生我才】陳旭輝：自閉症禁閉不了我的舞台夢 (Born to be Talented - Michael Chan: Autism cannot confine my stage dream)

自閉症患者其中一個特徵，是言語或非語言的表達有困難，甚至令他們出現社交互動的障礙，但並等如自閉症難以融入社會，今集【我不是名人】的嘉賓陳旭輝（Michael）就選擇了突破先天的限制，加入劇團到各地巡迴表演。

「我自少—大概兩三歲就開始診確患有自閉症，當時我相信長大後自己可以變得獨立—可如正常人般生活。但當時（得知自己的情況），對我是極大的困擾及障礙。」

 

但Michael亦指，在長大後，他已變得獨立及學識如何控制自己的情緒。而他現在亦並不視自閉症為問題或缺憾，因為他亦明白自己亦有自己的長處。

但除了情緒上的問題，自閉症為Micheal帶來的最大挑戰，是家人在得知他的情況後，曾為此感到羞恥。

「最大的挑戰是因為我生長在一個傳統的華人家庭，殘疾—尤其是自閉症的問題，都會是一項禁忌，會感到羞恥。」

 

但Michea亦指，自他加入劇團有機會在疫情前到外國參與演出，父母可能亦見到他已成長與獨立，對自閉症的觀感亦已有所改變。

 

其實Micheal自小就喜歡各種藝術表演，他亦解釋可能與他自小就愛看香港的電視節目有關。而機緣巧合之下，Michael有機會加入一個合唱團，亦令他一步一步踏入舞台。
 

「我在2013 年開始，在Geelong就有一個名叫With One Voice的合唱團參與表演，後來亦有機會參加電影的制作做臨時演員。」

 

「到後來2015年，我亦開始參與舞台劇的演出...到2016年，就正式加入殘疾演員戲劇團Back to Back Theatre，亦有機獲得主打的角色。」

 

Back to Back Theatre是一個以Geelong為基地、專為神經多樣性(neurodiverse)人士而設的劇團。Micheal是目前劇團的唯一華人長駐演員。

他亦解釋，劇團有別於其他表演團體是，當中的創作及演出，均由他們各人分享的故事為基礎，再由導演調度後搬上舞台。

對Micheal而言，Back to Back劇團是一個非常包容的群體，而他亦珍惜透過劇團認識到志同道合的好友。

而除了本地演出外，他們亦會到各地作表演，Micheal亦曾隨團到過美國及香港演出。2017 年，Micheal亦曾因劇團的演出，而榮獲Geelong杰出殘疾人士成就奬的藝術類別奬項。

而對於Micheal而言，每一次到外地演出，都是他難忘的經歷，尤其是他帶同家人在2019年在香港參與的演出，更是他回憶與亡母最一次出遊的經歷。

「2019年我帶同父母一同到香港進行拍攝工作...那次是劇團派我去的，當時是與當地由無家可歸男士組成的足球隊合作，與他們一同交流，亦是一次獨特的經歷。」

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One of the characteristics of autistic people is that they have difficulty in verbal or non-verbal expression, and may even experience social interaction barriers. Michael chose to break through these innate challenges and joined a drama troupe to tour around the world.

"I was diagnosed with autism since I was young - about two or three years old, when I believed that when I grew up I could become independent - and live like a normal person. But at the time (learning about my condition), it was a  great distress and hindrance.”

But Michael also pointed out that as he grew up, he has become independent and learned how to control his emotions. Now, he doesn't see autism as a problem or a disadvantage, because he also understands that he has his own strengths.

Aside from the emotional issues it may cause, the biggest challenge autism presents for Michael is the shame that his family felt when they learned of his condition.

"The biggest challenge is that because I grew up in a traditional Chinese family, disability, especially autism, would be a taboo and stigma."

However, Michael also pointed out that since he joined the drama troupe and had the opportunity to perform in foreign countries before the pandemic, his parents have seen him grow up and become independent, and their perception of autism has also changed.

Michael has liked various art performances since he was a child, and he also explained that it may be related to his love of watching Hong Kong TV shows since he was a child. By chance, Michael had the opportunity to join a choir, which made him step onto the stage, step by step.

"I started performing in Geelong with a choir called With One Voice in 2013. Later, I also had the opportunity to participate in the production of films as an extra."

"In 2015, I also began to participate in stage performances. In 2016, I officially joined the Back to Back Theatre, and I also had the chance to get a main role."

Back to Back Theatre is a Geelong based theatre company that is inclusive of people who are neurodiverse. Michael is currently the only Chinese resident actor in the troupe.

He also explained that the troupe is different from other performance groups, in that the productions and performances are based on the stories shared by each of the actors, which are then arranged by the director and then put on the stage.

For Michael, Back to Back Theatre is a very inclusive group, and he also cherishes the opportunity to meet like-minded friends through the troupe.

In addition to local performances, they will also perform in various places. Michael has also performed in the United States and Hong Kong with the group. In 2017, Micheal was also awarded the Geelong Outstanding Disability Achievement Award in the Arts category for his performance by the troupe.

For Micheal, every time he performs abroad is an unforgettable experience, especially the performance he and his family participated in in Hong Kong in 2019, and it is the most travel experience he recalls with his deceased mother.

"In 2019, I took my parents to Hong Kong for filming... That time I was sent by the troupe to work with a local football team composed of homeless men. It was also a unique experience to communicate with them. experience.”

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