creating possibilities for disabled children creating possibilities for disabled children
The audience gathers. The music swells. The mist swirls. Anticipation. Then arriving in the playground the full-grown Firebird. Its five-metre wingspan hovers above the audience, circling, swooping and diving.
Based on the myths and legends of the Phoenix, this spectacular new production, will be touring again this summer 2022 and promises to bring an unforgettable experience into your school grounds. Book now for a day like no other, full of unique Bamboozle puppetry, comic characters and live music, including a chicken jazz band!
*FULLY BOOKED* Firebird is next appearing at Timber Festival, Feanedock, The National Forest, in early July. More details coming soon!
Watch our Firebird trailer:
Which of my students will the show be suitable for and how many can access it?
Who is it suitable for? This show is devised for a wide range of learning-disabled students, including those sometimes described as SLD, MLD and some students on the autistic spectrum. While it is not specifically designed for those described as PMLD there will be Bamboozle’s customary mix of sensory possibilities, this will be more suitable for PMLD students who respond to sound, as there will be a lot of live and recorded music.
Who is it not suitable for? We will be working within Covid restriction guidance, so will not be able to offer close-up interactions in person. This will limit the possibilities for students described as PMLD who are visually impaired, though, as above, it will suit those who respond to sound. It is not suitable for those on the Autistic Spectrum who need to be able to move around freely nor for those with the sort of challenging behaviour that makes it difficult to guarantee calm observance of boundaries. This is because the actors will need to remain socially distanced from the audience. In addition: The Firebird and other puppets/props cannot be touched in the way Bamboozle shows normally accommodate for both Covid secure reasons and to avoid any unintentional damage.
How many can experience it? The show is designed to play to four class bubbles of any size. The climax of the production takes place outdoors, with all four class bubbles watching at the same time, so there must be a suitable outdoor space, large enough for you to safely distance the class bubbles.
What happens if it rains?
The performance will go ahead unless the Bamboozle team judge the weather to be so severe that it poses a safety risk. Therefore the school will need to ensure pupils have warm clothing, wet weather gear and umbrellas available to cope with the British summer! If you have a covered outdoor area, then we can also work with you to see how we could stage the performance such that the audience can stand under cover if the rains come.
This sounds great, what else do I need to know?
This experience is a unique one and will be different in each school, we will need to work closely with you to plan where and when each part of the action will unfold, please read The Firebird in your School to understand more about how the experience is likely to work across a school day.
More information
Download the Firebird – Companion Pack for Teachers Summer 2022
Bamboozle are bringing our Backyard to Nottinghamshire!
These outdoor immersive sessions are specifically designed for families with children who are on the autistic spectrum.
On a quiet community garden plot in Nottinghamshire, is an oasis of calm and creativity waiting to be explored and brought to life by Bamboozle artists.
Being in nature has been proven to be a great healer, and over the last year, many of us have discovered the green spaces on our doorsteps and how important they have been for our wellbeing.
During the wilding experience, you and your child will be encouraged to relax and recharge alongside Bamboozle artists who will skilfully provide a safe and engaging space to explore the natural elements within the site. Each experience will be organic in the way it develops – it will be age-appropriate, child-led, and responsive to how the young person chooses to engage with the environment. Invitations of creative activities and stimuli will be made by the Bamboozle team.
If you would like to join Bamboozle in their Backyard and sign up for these FREE Wildings sessions please fill in the booking form below. Let us know the dates you can attend, and if you would like to attend on your own (just your family) or if you would be comfortable attending with just one other family.
Please fill in the below booking form with your availability, you will then be contacted if we have any sessions available that match your availability. Places are not guaranteed by filling in this form, a member of our team will always confirm a slot with you via phone or email. Places are offered on a first come first serve basis but priority will be given to Nottinghamshire families.
Dates:
Tuesday 12th & Wednesday 13th April 2022.
Sessions are at 10am, 12.30pm and 3.00pm.
Further information:
Each session will be up to 1 hour and a half long.
Location – Windmill Community Gardens, Ascot Rd, Nottingham NG8 5HD
If you would like to find out more about these sessions or Bamboozle the organisation and its other opportunities please email info@bamboozle.co.uk.
Please watch this video below for a visual walk to the Windmill Community Gardens and to see what to expect on the day:
This project is made possible with funding from Nottinghamshire County Council’s Local Improvement Scheme.
Our Front of House performances are designed to bring a burst of live music and colour to your front door!
Our performances provide a 30-minute set of acoustic and electric songs from a team of three musicians and a technician. The team arrive and set up a festival-themed performance area in either a front of back garden, or on street outside your house.
Front of House performances have been designed to ensure that our team can remain socially distanced from each other and from our audience. In order to for us to set up, we’ll need room to put up a 3m x 3m gazebo, with at least another 3m in front of the gazebo, and a meter either side for speakers.
If weather permits, families can sit outside to enjoy the performance, or remain inside the home to enjoy the music, e.g. this set up is recommended if you and your family are shielding, or if social distancing might present an issue for your children.
We encourage neighbours to listen in from a safe distance, too, whether in their own gardens or from their doorsteps. We will provide flyers that you can put through letterboxes to notify neighbours about our visit in advance.
We are currently resting our Front of House project, and will update this page when the project goes out again.
For any enquiries, please email: jennifer@bamboozletheatre.co.uk.
“A special privilege of having a private concert on our front garden! My daughter laughed and danced and it felt so special to have those memories”. Andrea, parent
“I was humbled by the effort Bamboozle had gone to specifically to entertain my daughter. Our neighbours were thrilled to be invited and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It was really lovely to see and be able to talk to people we hadn’t had any face to face contact with for some considerable time. It brightened up our weekend and lifted our spirits”. Iona, parent
“My daughter absolutely loved the performance, which was truly unique and something she hadn’t experienced before. She loved the fact that the performance was taking place in her garden and so she didn’t have the anxiety she would normally experience going out to a venue to see it. Tess, parent
“Amazing experience, so special just for our family. Unforgettable” Judith, parent
“It was something extremely special for my daughter as she has been shielding. It was a way of keeping her connected to the things she loves through this tricky time. Her visual difficulties mean she struggles to access things via a screen so this was perfect for her”. Joanne, parent
Recommended age range: flexible
Possible triggers: Loud music (volume can be altered as appropriate).
See an example of our flyer for neighbours
Please contact us via info@bamboozletheatre.co.uk and we will respond either via email or with a phone call if that is more suitable.
‘‘It was a magical, theatrical, atmospheric delight. Transporting our young people to a magical island, the interaction between actors and students created a unique shared experience.” Joni McAuliffe, The Avenue School
Inspired by Shakespeare’s Tempest, Storm tells the story of the magician Prospero, his apprentice Ariel and the creature Caliban.
Designed for children and young people who are on the autistic spectrum, this enchanting, intimate production has been carefully designed to put audience members at ease throughout, giving them space and time to move freely and experience the show in their own way.
Using elements of The Tempest and a limited amount of Shakespeare’s language, Storm tells a dramatic story of the sea, ships, islands and magic. Audience members will be welcomed into the performance space with relaxing music and during the performance will be invited to interact with the actors and the setting.
Storm has toured UK schools, featured at the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival, and toured to Shanghai and Egypt. A Chinese version of the show has been created in partnership with Shanghai Children’s Art Theatre.
Our Autism specific performances are intimate shows for a maximum group size of 6 children accompanied by their teachers, carers, or family group.
In school settings these performances are suitable for children who may be described as hard-to-reach, where we accommodate smaller group sizes of four audience members to enable a 1:1 ratio with our team of four performers.
Maintaining small audiences enables our team to provide a high level of focussed attention and the opportunity for intensive interaction. Each moment will be tailored to each child’s needs by a team of Bamboozle performers who are highly experienced in adapting to, and interacting with, children and young people who have a variety of complex and differing needs.
“I am speechless. The performance excelled all expectations. It was fantastic. Never before have I watched a show that is so inclusive and adaptable to all needs. The intensive interaction applied was extremely inspiring”. Imogen Pearce, Radlett Lodge School
“Wow, it was breath-taking. A real privilege to watch our students so engaged and present in your show. To see their responses and even communicating with words they heard within the performance was magical. Thank you”. Aimee Robinson, Priory Woods School
“I couldn’t hope for a better, more sensitive, engaging performance. Fully immersive, totally exciting!!’’ Ian Bearcroft, Oakleigh School
This show can be adapted for individual sensory sensitivities by informing our team of any particular sensitivities ahead of performances. The show includes moments of loud acoustic music, loud voices and interactive props.
Recommended age range: 6 – 14 years
Watch a short film about the show in a school setting
A short film of Storm at Hakawy International Arts festival for Children
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