1st Edition
Sensory Theatre How to Make Interactive, Inclusive, Immersive Theatre for Diverse Audiences by a Founder of Oily Cart
Sensory Theatre: How to Make Interactive, Inclusive, Immersive Theatre for Diverse Audiences by a Founder of Oily Cart is an accessible step-by-step guide to creating theatre for inclusive audiences, such as young people on the autism spectrum or affected by other neuro-divergent conditions and children under two.
Conventional theatre relies on seeing and hearing to involve its audience; sensory theatre harnesses the power of five or more senses to address its participants who have different ways of relating to the world around them. This book is an insightful history of Oily Cart and its pioneering development of work for the very young, including Baby Theatre, and for neuro-divergent audiences including those on the autism spectrum. It gives a clear introduction to the fundamental concepts of this theatre, suggests a host of practical techniques drawn from over forty years of experience, and describes some of Oily Cart’s most radical innovations, including theatre on trampolines, in hydrotherapy pools, and with flying audiences in the company of aerial artists. The book also includes copious photos from the Oily Cart’s archives and links to videos examples of the company’s work. Readers will learn how to:
- Research the intended audience while not being led astray by labels.
- Create a welcoming, immersive sensory space in classrooms, nurseries, school halls, and playgrounds.
- Devise sensory stories that can be adapted to suit different audiences.
- Recruit, audition, cast, and run rehearsals.
- Ensure that the production is truly sensory and interactive.
Written for Theatre for Young Audiences, Drama in Education, and specialized Applied Theatre courses, as well as educators and theatre practitioners interested in creating inclusive, interactive productions, Sensory Theatre offers a goldmine of ideas for making work that connects with audiences who can be the hardest to reach.
Part 1: The development of Sensory Theatre 1. Sensory Theatre: the beginnings 2. Theatre for two to five year olds 3. All sorts of shows for all sorts of kid 4. How long is a piece of theatre? 5. Close up on PMLD 6. Truly immersive – theatre in hydropools 7. Magic Carpet Ride 8. From PMLD to Autism Spectrum 9. Sensory Theatre for the Very Early Years Part 2: Specific Aspects of Sensory Theatre 10. Sensory Theatre audiences 11. Sensory Theatre is Multisensory 12. The Senses One by One – The Sense of Seeing 13. The Senses One by One – The Sense of Hearing 14. The Senses One by One – The Sense of Touch 15. The Senses One by One – The Sense of Smell 16. The Senses One by One – The Sense of Taste 17. The Senses One by One – The Kinaesthetic Sense 18. The Senses One by One – The Sense of Hot and Cold 19. The Sensory Audit 20. Sensory Theatre is close-up and interactive 21. Wonderlands – Design in Sensory Theatre 22. Staging A Show – Stranden 23. Venues – open and closed 24. Music that is felt as much as heard 25. The problem with narrative 26. The performers in Sensory Theatre 27. Puppets and pixels 28. Auditions 29. Rehearsals and rehearsal space 30. Shows that start before they begin Part 3: The growth of Sensory Theatre 31. Canada – Carousel Players 32. USA – Chicago Children’s Theatre 33. UK – Bamboozle 34. Ireland – Helium 35. Japan – Hospital Theatre Project 36. Australia – Sensorium Theatre 37. Russia – Four Winds Project 38. UK – Frozen Light 39. USA – Trusty Sidekick and Lincoln Centre 40. Sweden – Scen:se Project 41. Wales – National Theatre of Wales and Oily Cart 42. What next for Oily Cart? Ellie Griffiths, Artistic Director, Oily Cart 43. Sensory Theatre in a time of Covid Part 4: Extras Appendix 1. Books That I Have Found Especially Useful Appendix 2. Shows written/directed by Tim Webb Appendix 3. How philosophy and theatre can help us value profoundly disabled people Appendix 4. Links to Oily Cart Show Videos on YouTube
Biography
Tim Webb is one of the three co-founders of the Oily Cart theatre company producing inclusive shows for young people of all ages and abilities. He was the Artistic Director and chief writer of the company from 1981 to his retirement in 2018. During this time, he led a team that created more than 85 productions for young people including those labelled as having Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities or other complex disabilities. An honorary fellow of Rose Bruford College, he has taught and directed sensory, immersive, and interactive theatre in Abu Dhabi, Belgium, Canada, China, Ireland, Russia, Sweden, and the USA, as well as throughout the UK. In 2011, he was honoured to be appointed MBE by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for his work for young people with disabilities. To find out more about Oily Cart, visit http://www.oilycart.org.uk.
"An invaluable exploration of sensory theatre seen through the perspective of one of its most important developers, Oily Cart co-founder, Tim Webb. Both an historical perspective and a practical "how to" approach, the book gloriously celebrates the power of theatre, particularly when theatre makers look beyond traditional theatrical borders, to engage with participants (audiences) in multisensory ways. It asks readers to broaden their definition of what constitutes a story and the ways to perform it. While most applicable for theatre makers interested in creating inclusive performances, it also speaks to all theatre makers, reminding us to re-engage with how we approach our theatre making endeavors, being more mindful of the diversity of our audiences not only in their backgrounds and experiences, but with how they engage sensorially with the world. I do not think it hyperbolic to say this is perhaps the most important theatre book to be published in recent years."
Dr. Teresa A Fisher, producer of New Plays for Young Audiences and author of Post-Show Discussions in New Play Development
