"Groundbreaking Shakespeare" - Lyn Gardner The Guardian ★★★★★
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.
This year Flute Theatre will be ten years old and we are holding this festival to celebrate.
During the two weeks we will perform all four of our Shakespeare productions adapted for autistic individuals and their families:
The Tempest
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Pericles
Twelfth Night
For each performance up to fifteen autistic individuals become the participants for each performance, sitting with ten actors in a circle on our stage. Their families or carers can join us in the circle or sit just behind to watch. The actors invite the 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.
“Today was the first day I forgot myself and was just there” (Autistic participant)
“Today I took my autistic son to Pericles for Autistic Individuals by Flute theatre at Riverside Studios and we had the most incredible experience. I wasn’t sure about it when I booked, because I didn’t know if Arlo would engage with it at all, but they said that it was totally interactive and tailored to the needs of the participants, however complex, so I gave it a go. From the moment the actors arrived to meet us in the cafe I knew it was going to be very special. With rhythmic singing and engagement movements, they totally met each participant at their level. Arlo was quickly scooped up by someone and spun around, the actor working with him seemed to instinctively know what he liked and what he needed. So often, even the most “inclusive” experiences ask autistic kids to fit into the world as we want it, this was a show that was very much in Arlo’s world. And different kids had different worlds - all were included. I’ve honestly never experienced anything like it. Flute Theatre do it every school holidays with different performances tailored to different age groups, and it costs a fiver per family. It’s just amazing. We will be back in October. If you have an autistic child you need to go. Thank you so much to Flute Theatre for creating it and to Riverside Studios for supporting it - I can’t tell you how much it means to our family”. (Parent)
If you are interested in watching our performance as an observer only, we have a limited number of “Observer’s Seats” for each performance. Please call to book.
Show running times:
Morning performances: 75 minutes
Afternoon performances: 90 minutes
All participants and their families are welcome to join the cast for 30 minutes for tea and biscuits after the performance in the theatre foyer.
Tuesday 30th July 14.30 11yrs and over
The Tempest for autistic individuals
Wednesday 31st July 11.00 10yrs and under
Pericles for autistic individuals
Wednesday 31st July 14.30 11yrs and over
Pericles for autistic individuals
Thursday 1st August 11.00 10yrs and under
A Midsummer Night’s Dream for autistic individuals
Thursday 1st August 14.30 11yrs and over
A Midsummer Night’s Dream for autistic individuals
Friday 2nd August 11.00 10yrs and under
Twelfth Night for autistic individuals
Friday 2nd August 14.30 11yrs and over
Twelfth Night for autistic individuals
Monday 5th August 11.00 10yrs and under
Twelfth Night for autistic individuals
Monday 5th August 14.30 11yrs and over
Twelfth Night for autistic individuals
Tuesday 6th August 11.00 10yrs and under
A Midsummer Night’s Dream for autistic individuals
Tuesday 6th August 14.30 11yrs and over
A Midsummer Night’s Dream for autistic individuals
Wednesday 7th August 11.00 10yrs and under
Pericles for autistic individuals
Wednesday 7th August 14.30 11yrs and over
Pericles for autistic individuals
Thursday 8th August 11.00 10yrs and under
Pericles for autistic individuals
Thursday 8th August 14.30 11yrs and over
Pericles for autistic individuals
Friday 9th August 11.00 10yrs and under
The Tempest for autistic individuals
Friday 9th August 14.30 11yrs and over
The Tempest for autistic individuals
Saturday 10th August 11.00 11yrs and over
Flute Theatre Forum
Saturday 10th August 14.30
If you are interested in attending, please contact Flute Theatre directly on flutetheatrecompany@gmail.com
Tickets £5 per family.
To book please CALL 0208 237 1010 (Riverside Studios Box Office). No online bookings - call the box office!
For more information about Flute Theatre visit https://flutetheatre.co.uk/