St. John’s College is delighted to announce Flute Theatre’s upcoming residency which kicks off with a very special performance of The Tempest for Autistic Individuals and their Families, based on William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, at The Old Market in Hove on Monday 25th April (6pm-7.30 pm).
Up to twelve autistic individuals will become the participants for each performance, sitting with six actors in a circle on stage. Their families or carers can join in the circle or sit just behind to watch. The actors will invite participants to help them unravel Shakespeare’s story through sensory games which everyone plays together. Each performance is adapted to the specific needs of the participants, however complex they may be.
Flute Theatre create ground-breaking productions of Shakespeare for autistic individuals and their families, using the Hunter Heartbeat Method, created by Artistic Director, Kelly Hunter.
“It was breathtaking, the way the actors adapted to incorporate what my autistic son was experiencing and communicating with his behaviour into the performance… they entered his world rather than demanding that he enter theirs. I could relax because my son was with people who really ‘got’ him and understood how to work with autism,” said a St. John’s parent, following the 2021 Flute residency.
This performance of The Tempest for Autistic Individuals and their Families marks the beginning of a wonderful new partnership between The Old Market, St. John’s College and Flute Theatre. Together, Flute and St. John’s are committed to creating inclusive theatre for the neurodiverse community in Brighton. Flute Theatre has worked with St. John’s College since 2019. To read about the impact of the project, click here.
The two-week residency has been funded with a very generous donation from an anonymous local donor.
For more information, visit The Old Market website. Tickets are £5 per family. To book, call The Old Market Box Office on 01273 201 801.
