Communicating empathy through code
I had the privilege of watching the brilliant National Theatre production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time on stage a few days ago. It was a wonderful performance on a set that made me feel like I was inside the mind of Chris, the autistic central character.
One of the things I noticed from the performance was how empathy can be communicated through coded gesture. For Chris it is through reaching out one hand, fingers spread, to touch the outstretched hand of his father. It is a poignant expression of trust and reconciliation, expressed in a simple silent gesture. It was the key to unlocking communication with Chris for his parents, to give each person the confidence to risk vulnerability. Perfect.