Finding Their Roar: How Theatre Empowered Young to People Find Their Voice
When Buddy discovered National Children’s Theatre at age 12, he was a neurodivergent learner searching for somewhere he could truly belong. When Jason Woollatt, 13, first walked through the doors of NCT, he had just recovered from cochlear implant surgery. Today, both young men credit NCT with transforming their lives—and their stories illuminate why NCT's upcoming production of Disney's The Lion King JR. (3–19 July 2026) is about so much more than putting on a show.
"When I'm on stage, I just feel alive. I feel at home. I just feel I was born to do what I'm doing," says Jason, who will perform as Scar in this season's production from 09-19 July 2026. "It gives me a warm feeling inside that I can't quite describe."
For Jason, theatre became an unexpected path to healing. After losing his hearing to a cholesteatoma tumor during lockdown, he underwent multiple surgeries and extensive speech therapy. But it was NCT that fast-tracked his recovery in ways clinical treatment never could.
"NCT seemed to accelerate his progress far more than speech therapy ever did," explains Jason's mother, Claire. "The clarity with which he speaks now, his pronunciation, the way he's learned to slow down his speech when he's anxious—when he's on stage, he speaks as if it comes from a completely different part of him."
Buddy Sacks, now 24 and living in London, traces his entire career back to those formative years at NCT. An autistic performer who joined the theatre's Saturday classes as a nervous 12-year-old, he went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre and now works as a teaching assistant supporting autistic children.
"I was the only neurodivergent one there when I first joined," Buddy recalls, "but the coaches, especially [the late] Francois Theron—they welcomed me with open arms. Something clicked inside me during my last showcase. I was playing the Cowardly Lion, my family was watching, and I just knew: my heart belongs to the stage."
What makes NCT different, both performers agree, is its radical culture of acceptance.
"There was no othering, there was no 'what's that thing on your head,'" says Jason's mother, describing her son's cochlear implant. "It was just, 'This is Jason.' When we drop him off, he leaps out of the car and there's always someone there with arms open to give him a hug. It's like a little family."
Jason, wise beyond his years, has a vision for his own future theatre—one modelled on NCT's inclusive ethos: "I'd want it to be inclusive to all types of people. You shouldn't block out those who have disabilities, because those are actually our abilities. Everyone should be welcome."
Both young men have powerful advice for others who might feel like they don't fit in.
"Keep being inspired," urges Buddy. "Go watch a play, read. If you have a love for theatre, nurture it."
"You mustn't let people define you," adds Jason. "You know who you are and you're trying to be the best you can be. Just know that there will be someone in this world who will recognise you and love you. You just need to find that person."
This July, audiences have the chance to witness 51 extraordinary young performers—each with their own story—bring the Pride Lands to life in a production that has been completely reimagined with new artistic direction by Ivor Jones, directed by Game Bovana and musically grounded by Vocal Coach, Nthambo Rapatla.
"If you go and watch Lion King somewhere in America or Hong Kong or Australia, you won't get that African feel like we have," says Jason. "Seeing all these young performers on stage doing what they love is just so inspirational."
As Buddy reflects from London: "Theatre gives people a memory. It takes your mind on a journey to another world."
This season, that journey leads straight to the heart of what makes NCT a national treasure: a place where every child—regardless of background, ability, or circumstance—can discover they belong.
NCT Chief Operating Officer, Bellinda Germeshuizen, highlights that inclusion is foundational at the theatre company: “Inclusion isn’t an add‑on at NCT. When we design for access, young people with disabilities and neurodivergent learners don’t just perform, they find their voice, confidence, and a community where they belong.
Disney's The Lion King JR. When: 3–19 July 2026 Where: NCT, 3 Junction Avenue, Parktown, Johannesburg Bookings: www.NCTheatreSA.org/program or via Quicket
Tickets are expected to sell out fast and interest audiences are encouraged to book fast. Bookings for NCT’s The Lion are available at
https://www.quicket.co.za/events/370537-disneys-the-lion-king-jr/?preview=t#
