Storywood Inclusive Arts hosts the Inclusive Arts Festival, a new festival celebrating theatre for all, at The Drama Factory and Playhouse Theatre from Wednesday March 13 until Wednesday March 20.
The festival includes a number of theatre productions and arts workshops that are also accessible for audiences with complex needs and their carers.
The aim of the festival is to cater for such audiences, and to enable them to engage in arts experiences from which they are often excluded. Additionally, the festival aims to provide a platform for information- and skill sharing amongst parents, carers and other theatre practitioners.
“We wish to create a safe space for audiences with complex needs who often feel unwelcome or overwhelmed at the usual arts events,” says Margot Wood, Festival Director.
“We are proud to be collaborating with Storywood Inclusive Arts and The Playhouse Theatre to bring all audiences this exciting Festival,” says Sue Diepeveen, founder of The Drama Factory.
“Theatre is a wide-ranging sensory experience that is not always accessible for all. We are delighted to be presenting these shows which all audiences can enjoy.”
Festival schedule at The Drama Factory:
Wednesday March 13, at 11am and Thursday March 14, at 2pm –Boxed, a production for young audiences with hearing challenges.This production is non-verbal.See what happens in the world of the parcel delivery service!
Wednesday March 13 and Thursday March 14, at 6pm-Trophy Wife. Sue Diepeveen’s production about Marie and her quest for love. Now with subtitles/signing for audiences with hearing challenges. Suitable for teens to adults.
Thursday March 14, at 11am and Firday March 15, at 9am and 11am- Sailaway.Join the sailors on their journey as they search for the Golden Pearl!
A sensory immersive production for audiences with ASD, audiences with PMLD and audiences with general sensory challenges.The production provides a safe, immersive space to a small group of participants.
This production has 3 versions: A non-narrative unscripted version which consists of sensory explorations and suitable for largely non-verbal audiences; a narrative scripted version for verbal audiences, and an Early Years version for very young pre-verbal audiences.
Friday March 15, at 6pm-THERAPY. Xola Honono’s moving play about his journey of acceptance of his daughter’s disability.
Saturday March 16, at 4pm- Musicals – in the Dark. A production suitable for all ages.Neil Rademan (baritone), Janel Speelman (soprano) and Veronica Bell (violin) accompanied by two pianos will entertain both sighted and non-sighted audiences with a programme of beloved songs from the musical theatre repertoire, including Les Miserables, Chess, Phantom of the Opera, Fiddler on the Roof, Sound of Music and West Side Story.
This production will be performed in the dark as a sign of respect to the blind. Music and spoken word serve as a bridge to make theatre alive to the visually impaired.
Sunday March 17, at 3pm-THE NOSE. A relaxed performance of a fun-filled short musical for the whole family. Based on a short story by Gogol with composition and script by Kit Goldstein Grant.
Workshops at the festival include:
● A three-hour Makaton signing workshop for parents and carers of non-verbal persons. Learn the basics of Makaton signing as a means of communication. This workshop is conducted by the Makaton Society of SA
● Dance for Parkinsons- a 60 minute demonstration class for persons with Parkinsons or other mobility challenges. Join on your own or with your carer/partner for a fun-filled dance class. Suitable for persons with, or without, walking devices or in wheelchairs. Conducted by the Dance for PD Society of South Africa
● A three-day Sensory Theatre-making workshop for theatre-makers interested in creating works for neurodiverse audiences. Conducted by Margot Wood, director, theatre-maker and academic researcher of Storywood Inclusive Arts.
● A Relaxed Theatre workshop with Rachel VanderMarks, Canadian Relaxed Performance & Accessibility Consultant and advisor to art bodies in Canada such as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, The National Ballet of Canada, the Canadian Opera Theatre Company. This workshop is for theatre-makers, directors, venue managers and arts practitioners who wish to make their work more accessible to all audiences.
● A Youth Awareness Forum Theatre workshop. This workshop is for teenagers and young adults to create awareness of neurodiversity and complex needs amongst their peers and will equip them with strategies towards greater understanding and inclusion. Part of the workshop will be led by members of the Unmute Disability Dance company.
● Caring for the Carers. An afternoon devoted to the care-givers. This programme is aimed at teachers, parents and carers, and includes a performance of Xola Honono’s Therapy which describes his personal journey of coming to terms with his own daughter’s disability; a discussion-session with Chanel Baumgarten of the Els Foundation for Autism, Dr Kobie Meiring of the Dept of Education (Visual Art) CPUT, and a therapeutic drumming session.
● Daily sessions in Sound Therapy: The use of body, voice and breath to bring young participants into balance, reconnecting to self and regulating the nervous system.
And a special session by Music Box for younger pre-school participants.
Bookings for the Festival can be made at Quicket or call The Drama Factory on 073 215 2290 for further enquiries.
