Wigan Autistic Theatre Company is a not-for-profit theatre group based at The Old Courts in the heart of Wigan. Meeting every Monday, the company gives autistic adults a space to perform, create, and be part of a supportive local theatre community.
But it exists for a very personal reason.
Martin Spencer, 37, from Ince founded the theatre group in 2019. And this is why….
“I’ve got autism myself,” Martin says. “I know how scary it can be to join a theatre group when you feel different. I wanted to create a place where people could perform without feeling judged, where confidence could grow, and where creativity is celebrated.”
Martin’s love of theatre started at The Deanery CofE High School, where he first performed a short version of what would later become Wheeler Fortune as part of his GCSE drama exam in 2005. By the time he was 30, he realised Wigan didn’t have enough safe, supportive spaces for autistic adults to get involved in quality theatre.
Rather than wait for someone else to fix it, he built it himself.
Wigan Autistic Theatre Company has now grown to 22 committed members and staged several successful productions, establishing itself as a proud part of Wigan’s creative scene.
Now the company is bringing Wheeler Fortune back to the stage, and it will be performed in the Courtroom at The Old Courts on Friday 27 February 2026 for one night only. First performed in full in 2022, it’s a comedy which follows a typical Wigan family suddenly thrown into the chaos of reality TV when they become contestants on a fictional game show called Cracker Quiz.
This new reimagined version has been designed with touring in mind. Martin and the team want to take affordable, accessible theatre to social clubs and community venues, reaching audiences who might not normally get to the theatre.
It’s more than a show. It’s proof of what can happen when someone sees a gap in their hometown and decides to fill it.
And that’s something Wigan can be properly proud of.
Catch Wheeler Fortune in the Courtroom at The Old Courts on Friday 27 February 2026.
Tickets are just £6, because Martin believes everyone should be able to go to the theatre.
For more information click here
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