Meet Matt Baum
Matt Baum is charged with the important, and often challenging, task of playing our main character in Inside I, Ben. Baum uses puppets to portray Ben from birth to his teenage years. Below, he describes the challenges of this type of technology and physical spectacle heavy work on stage, as well as how Inside I created a deeper understanding of the autistic experience.
Q. Inside I uses multimedia techniques to help the audience understand autism. What was your perception of autism before working on this production? And how has this production changed that perception?
A. I didn’t know much about autism before working on this production. To prepare for the show, I read some great books on the topic and spent some time getting to know some of the people who inspired Ben’s character. Researchers have uncovered a lot about autism, but there’s still a lot we don’t understand. The one thing we do know is that every person with autism is different.
Q. Describe your character and their role in the play?
A. Ben has autism. The show follows Ben as he grows from 18 months to 17 years old. Through the live-feed camera, Ben shares his life and world with the audience.
Q. Inside I is told through video, puppetry, and other visual techniques, what is the biggest challenge as an actor in telling a story this way on stage?
A. As an actor, I rely on my voice and body to express my character’s thoughts and feelings. It’s a challenge for me to communicate through puppets, the live-feed, and the other technical elements of the show. I don’t always feel as comfortable using these modes of expression as I do my own voice and body. Ben, on the other hand, struggles to communicate through words and body language, but finds freedom behind the camera.
Q. What do you hope audiences will walk away talking about after seeing Inside I?
A. I hope audiences will see similarities between Ben and themselves. I hope getting a window into Ben’s experience will inspire greater compassion and appreciation for people with autism and the people who love and care for them.
