Funded by Arts Council England and our amazing Crowdfunders: thank you so much for all your support.
Watch our Sensory Story version of 'Be Not Afeard' by clicking here.
Created thanks to The Library Presents to support families during Lockdown.
Watch our Sensory Story version of 'Be Not Afeard' by clicking here.
Created thanks to The Library Presents to support families during Lockdown.
Synopsis
CALIBAN: Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds, and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not.
How do we help our children grow the skills to be confidently curious about their world at a time when anxiety and overwhelm affect so many? We explore this challenge with a sensory musical version of The Tempest suitable for 0-7s and fully inclusive for those with special and/or complex needs. Expect a twangling, painty, touchy, feely, smelly, and magical adventure delivered with our signature warmth. Signed and Relaxed. The production is immersive and provides a range of sensory experiences that children and their grown-ups can interact with to help co-create the story. Each experience offers a safe and supported challenge to gently encourage children to explore unfamiliar and unexpected textures, smells, sounds and movements, and to feel less Afeard as they do so; parents/carers will be supported in offering co-regulation to help children move between states of feeling safe and attached into uncertainty and anxiety, and to be soothed towards growing confident curiosity. Painting activities are integrated into the performance, with each audience creating their own unique expressions by mixing the primary colours to form a rainbow. The production references the form and work of Van Gogh, exchanging 'magic arts' for 'visual arts': there are 8 'hidden' Van Gogh's in the show, including self portraits, famous and lesser known works. Suitable for indoor and outdoor performances and available for booking from June 2019 onwards.
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Photos by David Smith: Facebook - Photos By David | Instagram - @photodavid23 | Twitter - @photosbydavid1
World Premiere, The Blockhouse, The Warren, Brighton Fringe 9th May 2019 "Wonderfully interactive performers who can make stories accessible to people with profound and complex physical and sensory challenges. They are fun, generous with their time and very talented. Utterly brilliant!" Liz Platt, Chailey Heritage Foundation, East Sussex "...it is such a carefully and well crafted piece that really evokes that magical calm after the storm feeling in its delivery. I thought Prospero's house was a genius touch at the end." Hayley Byfield, WildChild Festivals; Sutton Libraries with Family Arts Club, July 2019 |
DOWNLOAD OUR SENSORY DISCOVERY PACK: CLICK ON THE PICTURE BELOW

2023 Performances
22nd July, Bedfringe
2022 Performances
25th March - Coventry Central Library for Shakespeare Birthplace Trust for Shakespeare Week
26th - 27th March - New Place, Stratford-Upon-Avon for Shakespeare Birthplace Trust for Shakespeare Week
23rd April - Houghton Regis for Full House and Art Town Project
8th July - Eversholt Lower School, Bedfordshire
2nd October - Discover Bucks Museum, Aylesbury
16th December - Chiltern School, Houghton Regis
2020 Performances
March - Shakespeare Week with Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust, Stratford Upon Avon (dates tbc)
16th April - The Curve, Slough
25th April - Old Town Hall, Hemel Hempstead
World Premiere: Brighton Fringe Festival 2019 | 9th - 12th May (6 performances - SOLD OUT)
York International Shakespeare Festival, York Theatre Royal | 15th May
Stockwood Discovery Centre, Luton | 29th - 31st May (6 performances - SOLD OUT)
Rothesay Nursery, Luton | 24th June (4 performances)
Sutton Central Library, London | 29th June (3 performances)
Wycombe Museum, High Wycombe | 6th July (3 performances)
Greenvale Special School Lewisham | 10th July (4 performances, specifically for PMLD)
Chailey Heritage, Lewes, East Sussex | 11th July (3 performances, specifically for complex physical needs /PMLD)
International Youth Arts Festival, Kingston Upon Thames | 13th July (2 performances)
Toddington St George School, Bedfordshire | 17th July (2 performances)
Delapre Abbey, Northamptonshire | 20th - 21st July (4 performances)
Canterbury Shakespeare Festival, Kent | 24th - 26th July (6 performances)
Bristol Shakespeare Festival | 27th July (2 performances)
Moggerhanger Park, Bedford | 26th August (3 performances)
All In The Mind Festival, Basingstoke | 14th September (2 performances)
Angles Theatre, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire | 28th September (3 performances)
PopOut Festival, Lincoln Arts Centre | 6th October (3 performances, one will be specifically for PMLD)
Frontline Arts Festival | Stoke on Trent | 2 performances (specifically targeted at audiences with complex needs)
More venues to be confirmed soon!
22nd July, Bedfringe
2022 Performances
25th March - Coventry Central Library for Shakespeare Birthplace Trust for Shakespeare Week
26th - 27th March - New Place, Stratford-Upon-Avon for Shakespeare Birthplace Trust for Shakespeare Week
23rd April - Houghton Regis for Full House and Art Town Project
8th July - Eversholt Lower School, Bedfordshire
2nd October - Discover Bucks Museum, Aylesbury
16th December - Chiltern School, Houghton Regis
2020 Performances
March - Shakespeare Week with Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust, Stratford Upon Avon (dates tbc)
16th April - The Curve, Slough
25th April - Old Town Hall, Hemel Hempstead
World Premiere: Brighton Fringe Festival 2019 | 9th - 12th May (6 performances - SOLD OUT)
York International Shakespeare Festival, York Theatre Royal | 15th May
Stockwood Discovery Centre, Luton | 29th - 31st May (6 performances - SOLD OUT)
Rothesay Nursery, Luton | 24th June (4 performances)
Sutton Central Library, London | 29th June (3 performances)
Wycombe Museum, High Wycombe | 6th July (3 performances)
Greenvale Special School Lewisham | 10th July (4 performances, specifically for PMLD)
Chailey Heritage, Lewes, East Sussex | 11th July (3 performances, specifically for complex physical needs /PMLD)
International Youth Arts Festival, Kingston Upon Thames | 13th July (2 performances)
Toddington St George School, Bedfordshire | 17th July (2 performances)
Delapre Abbey, Northamptonshire | 20th - 21st July (4 performances)
Canterbury Shakespeare Festival, Kent | 24th - 26th July (6 performances)
Bristol Shakespeare Festival | 27th July (2 performances)
Moggerhanger Park, Bedford | 26th August (3 performances)
All In The Mind Festival, Basingstoke | 14th September (2 performances)
Angles Theatre, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire | 28th September (3 performances)
PopOut Festival, Lincoln Arts Centre | 6th October (3 performances, one will be specifically for PMLD)
Frontline Arts Festival | Stoke on Trent | 2 performances (specifically targeted at audiences with complex needs)
More venues to be confirmed soon!