As a child, Alistair Baldwin was often observed and touched while stripped down to his underpants.

He has a rare degenerative disease, so grew up being an object of study for medical professionals. That’s OK then.

Well, not entirely, as Baldwin cleverly and humorously explores in this new play that draws on his own experience. Telethon Kid gets us thinking about medical ethics, and how sick kids like him grow up.

William Rees in Telethon Kid. Photo Tamarah Scott

This Malthouse Theatre production sees Sam, a young man with a rare degenerative disease, meet his former specialist paediatric doctor for the first time in years at a medical conference. The man we only know as Doc is in the running for a generous research prize, and Sam, who could benefit from that research, is the face of his awards entry. This former poster child of children’s hospital telethons has become social media’s disability star, so knows how to sell sickness.

When the doctor and his former patient spend the night together, a bunch of ethical firecrackers go off, and Sam raises questions about agency, consent and how repeated objectification can mess with your...