Playing with perspectives: Mackenzie Wellfare

Perspective – the title of Mackenzie Wellfare's winning play – is the perfect word when it comes to this year's New Views competition from the National Theatre. The shortlist, and longlist, were filled with diverse young voices from across the country; when Wellfare was announced as the winner in June, after competing against 400 submissions, he was no exception.

Wellfare calls me from his bedroom after a full day in college. I can't help but draw a comparison to the central character of his play, Leo, who the audience watch undo his school tie and sit on his bedroom floor at the start of Perspective. Despite looking an awful lot like each other, the playwright has more in common with his protagonist than initially meets the eye – they are both autistic; this is an essential element to the production.