Singer with stammer finds 'authentic self' on stage

A Jersey teenager who has a stammer said performing has "helped me become my most authentic self".

Lexie, 15, was cast as one of the leads in the Youth Arts Jersey's production of Our House, which is based on the songs of the band Madness.

They have grown up with their stammer but said they hoped their performance might encourage others not to allow their speech conditions to hold them back.

Lexie said: "A lot of people misunderstand people with this condition... it's never something you should be shying away".

Stammering affects the way some people speak and those affected often find it hard to get across what they want to say.

Lexie said: "When I sing, I think about all the people that can't do it or feel too embarrassed about it because it's never something you should be shying away from."

They added: "It's not the person who is stammering's fault. If you know someone that stutters, make sure you don't like interrupt them.

"They know what they're going to say and it's just kind of rude and this will make them feel bad about it."

Recently, there has been more awareness and representation for those with speech conditions after the appearance of Jessie Stride on The Traitors.

The 28-year-old has a stammer and in episode one said introducing herself was "one of the biggest tests ever".

Lexie said greater representation is "probably the most important thing" to people like themselves and "seeing yourself in someone when I was younger could've been something I really, really needed".

They added: "I was going through life thinking that I was the only person who's ever gone through this."

Lexie will perform in Youth Arts Jersey production in April and has been coming to the service regularly since they were young.

They said: "When I first came here I was a completely different person... when you come here it's like everyone's a family so these services are so vital.

"Places like this help young people in so many different ways and help with other youth problems as well."

The service is part of Jersey Youth Service (JYS), which supports young people across the island.

Lexie has been a lifelong fan of musicals and said they had found that singing and acting had helped them express themselves.

They said: "I started doing musicals when I was four, so I've just loved it ever since... It's what I want to do for the rest of my life.

"I just think it's so fun and it's so engaging, and it can lend itself to some really impactful plots and stories."

Our House follows the story of Joe Casey, who commits a crime when he is 16-years-old and either faces the consequences of his actions or flees the scene, and the musical follows both possible outcomes.

Carmel Butel, from the JYS, helped cast Lexie in the role and said she hoped they could be an inspiration to others.

She said: "The fact that Lexie puts themselves up there and puts themselves out there is just incredible.

"We spoke about any way that we could support them. They asked that we didn't say their lines and just asked for time to know them and that's exactly what they've done.

"We see it all the time with the young people who come here because we're just very much about inclusivity."

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