Families enjoyed a colourful, multi-sensory drama performance as part of a special theatre day organised by East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
The event was for families being supported at The Treehouse, in Ipswich, The Nook, near Norwich, and Milton, near Cambridge, and took place in Ixworth.
Eight families enjoyed a special performance by actors from Moonbeam Theatre – part of the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds’ Doorstep Theatre Festival.
Their show, Once Upon a Flower Bed, is dedicated to creating innovative multi-sensory theatre for young individuals with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD).
“We were thrilled to be part of this special day, giving young people and their families the experience of high-quality, live theatre on their doorstep,” said David Whitney, Head of Creative Learning at Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds.
“Our Doorstep Theatre Festival project is the perfect way to achieve this, giving us an opportunity to work with young people with Special Educational Needs and Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties.
“The production has been carefully created with our audience’s needs in mind, and it was a joy to be involved and spend time with families being supported by EACH.”
Moonbeam Theatre’s work provides young people with opportunities to explore and discover the arts in a playful and engaging atmosphere.
The aim is to create work that is accessible, inviting audiences that may not always feel included to experience interactive and collaborative theatre.
They aim to challenge mainstream views about theatre being passive and show parents, teachers and carers the possibilities multi-sensory theatre can provide to young people with SEN and PMLD.
“It was a lovely, interactive event, and we were so grateful to the theatre group,” said Kelly Evans, EACH’s Groups and Events Coordinator at The Treehouse.
“The families that came along had such a wonderful time.
“We had some wonderful feedback afterwards, including a message from one mum who described it as ‘absolutely amazing’.
“She said it was the first time her son had seen anything like it, and she felt emotional at the end, because of the way he stayed focused and got involved.
“She said how much she appreciates all the events we run and can’t wait for the next one.”
Pictures: Karen Self/EACH
