Immersive Theatre
What is Immersive Theatre?
Immersive theatre is a multi-sensory session for our pre and semi-formal learners, incorporating music and theatre through a sensory approach. This style of performance gives everyone an opportunity to fully immersive in a performance and participate as an audience member through sensory props. This approach supports communication, physical, social and emotional development of the students.
Intent
Immersive Theatre was first introduced to Addington in 2019. Sessions are fully interactive, incorporating different sensory elements to be explored such as taste, sound, touch, smell or things to see. Students are given time to explore different sensory elements and the performance progresses based upon these experiences. Weekly sessions are repeated over the course of a term. This repetition allows students to encounter experiences, develop preferences, respond to stimuli and make connections which support the development of long term memory. Sessions promotes language development, cognitive growth, gross motor skills and social interaction.
Implementation
Sessions are delivered weekly and are 20-25 minutes in duration. They are structured so students are part of the story (for example tourists or explorers). Performers are also characters within the story. Each new performance follows a similar structure involving a hello and goodbye song (often same melody), a transition phase plus two sensory activities. This structure supports repetition within the session. Sessions are led with 1 or 2 performers plus a musician. Music is played live and the musician moves within the performance space. All students received a signifier in the hello song and are given opportunities to explore all the sensory props during the activities. Performances are linked to school productions or department themes.
Impact
Immersive theatre raises student’s confidence and self esteem and develops their social skills. They are granted opportunities for self expression and communication and develop positive musical interaction. Students are given performance opportunities within key stage productions, leading to enjoyment and memories gained.
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