Autistic joy and truth in The Assembly

ABC’s new show The Assembly features 15 journalism students studying at Macquarie University interviewing some of Australia’s most famous faces. The difference is that each of these students is autistic. It explores the autistic experience that each student has personally and lets them ask the questions we don’t always expect to hear answered by celebrities. They are able to stim, fidget, and exist as they need to to feel comfortable. It is a profound program that highlights autistic joy and expression and is truly a delight to watch. 

Leigh Sales mentors the group through learning to interview the celebrities with a kind but guiding presence. She talks them through developing their angles and writing their questions by pushing them to ask exactly the kind of questions they want answers to, but guiding them in a more insightful and open direction than they necessarily started in. They have some struggles along the way from nervousness to speak to or meet the big names or struggling to connect to the stories of the people they’re interviewing but they always come up with the most insightful questions. The only rules they have to follow are “no subject is out of bounds, no question is off the table and anything might happen.”

In the first episode, the students interview actor Sam Neil. They pose such honest and raw questions, asking exactly what they’re thinking. Sam steps up to answer these questions in an equally raw and open manner. They ask about his chickens, going through cancer treatment, anxiety, his movie roles and his parents. A moment that stands out is when Sam asks if he’s allowed to ask a question of the class in return, “What do you all have in common?” Several answers are offered including that they’re all autistic, they all see the world a certain way, they all want fame (which receives several objections) and finally that as journalists they all love stories; telling them and sharing them with each other. As a journalist at Noise, this is how I feel often. Being afforded the opportunity to tell a story is a blessing and being the mouthpiece for myself and for the people around me makes me feel emboldened with the privilege to be able to share my exact thoughts as the students on this program do by speaking their minds so freely. It’s beautiful to see.

In the episode with Hamish Blake, the students’ struggles with autism are further revealed as they find Hamish’s comedy confusing due to taking things too literally. Leigh Sales mentors them through this, sharing her own experiences of interviewing people she didn’t know well saying, “well I’m not so interested in what they do but…they may have had experiences I can relate to as a human being. He’s just some bloke.” We also learn more about a student Dylan who is very into Lego and wants to ask Hamish to give him a Lego figure. Leigh questions whether he would have that on him at the time. When Hamish arrives conversation turns to his tattoos, fatherhood, the Olympics, his comedy and his wife. When asked what answer to a question during an interview changed his perspective the most he answers with quite a stunning story about his interview with Richard Branson where one of his co-hosts Jack asked Richard, a billionaire, to give him $1000 dollars because it would change his month but be insignificant to Branson. He responded by saying “There’s something I’d give up all my money for. To be your age again. I would happily be broke and 22 rather than a billionaire and 68…” Lastly, as a sign of appreciation (or cruelty), they make Hamish reprise his Lego Masters fame by taking a shoeless sockless walk on some Lego.

Episode three features maybe the most famous Aussie celebrity, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Leigh starts off by giving the students a tip for interviewing politicians as she’s done so many times, “they talk a lot.” We also learn a lot about Abbey, her love of sport and the Rabbitohs similar to the Prime Minister who’s also a Rabbitohs fan and her “autistic superpower” which is her great memory. We also meet Silas who says “My behaviour wouldn’t show ‘Ah yes lets sit down and have a coffee.’ No, I want to roll around on the floor, I want to have cordial.” And I couldn’t relate more. When the Prime Minister sits down with the group he starts off by saying, “be gentle with me, Leigh isn’t always gentle.” He gets asked about growing up with a single mom who had a disability and how that’s affected his outlook. “It’s one of the things that gave me strength,” Anthony responds, “I know what it’s like to not have enough money.” He’s further asked about social media, his school experience, his fiancée, punk music and other Prime Ministers/Presidents. The audience is afforded a very different side of Albo which the candid nature of the interviewers brings out.

There are more episodes, but these are my favourite few. Overall this show is so special to me. While there are some simple questions amongst the hard hitters and left-of-field asks, the conviction and genuine interest the students show elicits such an authentic and radically honest response from the guests. It showcases autistic joy and honesty in such a simple but beautiful way. It’s fun, it’s quirky, it’s wholesome and such an insightful watch. It showcases a range of autistic experiences and voices so holistically as well as the lives of some of the most famous Australians answering questions they’ve never been asked before. On the whole its a very sweet watch.

If you want to watch The Assembly it is available now on ABC iview.