Once Upon a Wall: An interactive dance theatre performance for children and families

Once Upon a Wall is an interactive dance theatre work for children and families. Adopting robust research on interactive theatre (Machon), theatre for children (Reason), and performance with and for children with additional needs (Benjamin), the show develops through practice methods to empower, include and celebrate young audiences. In particular, the work develops Gilbert’s research on collaboration and problem solving as an approach to idea and concept exploration; the use of props and costume to stimulate self-expression and interaction (de Tord and Bräuninger), and the notion of choice and autonomy (Nagel and Hovik). It extends these concepts to develop understanding of how interactive theatre can impact wellbeing in children.   

Once Upon a Wall is the culmination of two years of research and development, with partners from TIN Arts (an ACE National Portfolio Organisation, which specialises in inclusive dance), Stockton International Riverside Festival (SIRF), Middlesbrough Town Hall, and Priory Woods School (an all age community special school, which provides a quality, inclusive education for pupils with severe learning difficulties and those with profound and multiple needs). The research was funded by Arts Council England.  

Research developed through the making of this work has been shared at the ‘All Young Stories Symposium’ 2019 (Keele University, United Kingdom) and Out of the Frame: International Theatre Forum and Conference 2019 (Cluj, Romania), and published in journals ArtsPraxis (2019) and Játéktér (2019). 

The work was selected for performance at three international festivals in the UK, namely Stockton International Riverside Festival, Salisbury International Festival and Greenbelt Festival. It has been identified as having had a profound effect on SEND students at Priory Woods School, by Director of Creative and Performing Arts, Lisa Connor. The work was also described as transformative in its balance of performative and participatory, by Martin Wilson, Executive Director of TIN Arts.  

Adopting robust research on interactive theatre (Machon), theatre for children (Reason), and performance with and for children with additional needs (Benjamin), the show develops through practice methods to empower, include and celebrate young audiences. In particular, the work develops and extends Gilbert’s research on collaboration and problem solving as an approach to idea and concept exploration, the use of props and costume to stimulate self-expression and interaction (de Tord & Bräuninger) and choice and autonomy (Nagel & Hovik), extending these concepts to develop understanding of how interactive theatre can impact wellbeing in children 

 

Research developed through the making of this work has been shared at All Young Stories Symposium 2019 (Keele University, United Kingdom), Out of the Frame: International Theatre Forum and Conference 2019 (Cluj, Romania) and published in ArtsPraxis (Essex, J. (2019). Co-operative Make-Believe as Practice in Children’s Interactive Dance Theatre. ArtsPraxis, 6(1), 111-119). 

 

The work has been selected for performance at 3 international festivals in the UK, (audiences numbers upwards of 1500).  The work has been identified as having a profound effect on SEND students at Priory Woods School by Director of Creative and Performing Arts Lisa Connor. 

 

The work was described as transformative in its balance of performative and participatory by Martin Wilson, Executive Director of Tin Arts.