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A Mini Theatre Festival of Wellbeing For Early Years & SEND
by Collar and Cuffs Cotheatre, children-and-family
A double-bill of award-winning multisensory musical theatre all about big feelings and how to handle them, suitable for 0-7s and SEND
about the production
Featuring two award-winning productions: 'Little Meerkat's Big Panic' (about understanding anxiety and calm, set in the Kalahari), and 'Crabby' (about understanding anger, frustration and tantrums, set at the Edwardian seaside), this touring mini festival provides safe, supportive and sensory first experiences of theatre for very young children and those with complex needs. All performances are followed with sensory play sessions to embed key messages, and to explore how low cost/no cost sensory play supports children's wellbeing and development.
about the artist
Multi award-winning, Collar & Cuffs Co were established in 2016, and principally develop work for early years children and those with complex needs. The company works in a multi-sensory way, and much of their work centres on exploring aspects of children's brain development, emotional well-being and mental health. Using low cost/no cost and recycled materials wherever possible, the company models ways to use sensory approaches to storytelling that are affordable, inspirational, and inclusive. The company has performed all over the UK in schools, nurseries, festivals, theatres, historic properties and gardens, shopping centres..and even in someone's living room!
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stage dimensions
width: 4 metres
height: 2 metres
depth: 4 metres
Miminal - productions are self-contained with no electricals so are suitable for both indoor and outdoor performances. We just need a safe and accessible space. Access to outdoor space is needed if water play activities (an option following 'Crabby') are required.
Children aged 0 - 7 years, their parents/carers and the professionals that work with them; this includes children with a wide range of sensory and neurodevelopmental conditions (including autism), as well as children with PMLD (profound and multiple learning disabilities). May also be relevant to young people and adults with severe learning disabilities. We have also performed for adults with mental health conditions, especially anxiety. Our youngest audience member to date was just 3 weeks old, and our eldest was 97!
Congratulations on winning the IYAF 2018 Best of the Fest: Children and Families Award [for 'Crabby]. We were really impressed by the quality of work that you brought to the festival and the wide range of audiences that the show caters for.
This is a beautiful piece of children's theatre with harmonious & evocative singing, tactile fabrics and clever characters, all of which combine to engage little people in a delightful story, complete with signing. More than merely entertaining, this exceptional, amazing (rightly) award-winning show has been on the road for two years and has brought both delight and hugely valuable lessons...It was remarkable to see how the young people instantly recognised the characters' feelings beneath their behaviour and realised how ineffective panicking is - all revealed through the delightfully acted story.
Powerful stuff
Fully accessible - Makaton signed, and all elements specifically designed to widen access to audiences with complex needs including emotional, social and behavioural difficulties (relaxed performances are as standard - and we will perform for groups as small as 1 child with 1 supporting adult if needed), and sensory integration difficulties/impairments. We can deliver 'slow down' performances for audiences with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD).
Both shows contain sensory play sessions embedding key messages and supporting children and grown-ups in processing their theatre experience. For 'Little Meerkat' we use songs and movement, plus low cost/no cost sensory resources, to explore healthy ways to find calm. For 'Crabby' we can offer outdoor water play with bubbles, rock pools, rainbow foam and more! Where no outdoor space is available, we are able to offer a dry version of the water play activities instead.
