Following support from the GeeWizz Charitable Foundation, Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds are delighted to offer SENsory Youth Theatre.
These groups support young people who identify as learning disabled, neurodivergent, having SEN, or other social, emotional, and mental health needs. These groups give them the opportunity to participate in creative play within a fun, friendly, and accessible environment.
SENsory Youth Theatre starts a new term in January at Theatre Royal!
- Juniors (Ages 4 - 12) every Tuesday 4:15 - 4:50
- Seniors (Ages 13 - 18) every Tuesday 5 - 5:50
Black Cab Company has always been at the heart of our work; making shows in Hackney since 1976.
Black Cab Company artists are learning disabled and autistic residents of East London, who are passionate about telling unusual stories about everyday life.
Black Cab Company have performed in London venues including Hoxton Hall, Rich Mix, Hackney Showroom and Chats Palace, as well as taking over unusual spaces in East London including Hoxton Street Market and Sutton House.
Spring Back is a weekly session using drama to build resilience, improve wellbeing and manage difficult situations.
Due to Covid-19 we know many people are feeling isolated and scared about the future.
In Spring Back, we will explore different ways to manage anxiety and plan for re-entering the world.
Participants will practice scenarios through role play and then try them out in real life in a safe way.
We will also teach mindfulness techniques and open an accessible discussion in a safe space.
Spring Back sessions are led by Helen and Adam, alongside a team of volunteers.
Spinning Wheel is a sensory movement and music project for adults with complex needs.
We use music and movement to create sessions that bring enjoyment, engagement and creativity and promote communication and partnership between participants and carers.
Spinning Wheel sessions are currently taking place online as 1:1 Zoom workshops. Our expert facilitators provide movement and music activities via Zoom, as well as training carers and family members in Spinning Wheel techniques to use at home.
Dedicated SEND Group (12-25)
We run a dedicated session for young people aged 12-25 with disabilities on Monday evenings. The weekly drama sessions provide a fun and supportive environment for participants to express themselves.
Blue Apple’s dance programme is designed to be a fun and creative means of developing fitness and self-expression.
"Dance helps to develop creativity, confidence and mobility. It’s also a great way to engage in exercise and is lots of fun!”
Some of us are natural dancers, but have not had the discipline of dancing with others in a routine before. Many have only danced to pop music and some are too shy to have done much of that. At Blue Apple we began by learning to be aware of others in the dance group, to move in time with each other, to react and respond, learn and remember a routine.
Through dance people with differing degrees of mobility have to think about timing and moving together, being aware of where each person is, responding to music and remembering a simple routine which may involve working in a circle, in pairs or as part of a large choreographed group. People who have never danced before appear delighted with their achievement.
We develop our dance experience in many ways. Some of us dance because we just love dancing and music and want to get fit. Some dance to help tell the story in our main shows and others tour commissioned dance performances locally and nationally.
Classes follow the school academic term.
£88 per term payable in one or two instalments. (£83 if already a Blue Apple Company member).
Our Acting Beginners Course offers an introduction to acting in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. Ideal for those with little or no acting experience, this beginners acting course provides the chance to explore acting technique in a playful and practical way.
Whether you are an aspiring performer; wish to revitalise your creativity; or simply want to try something new and build self-confidence, you will find this course active, fun and rewarding.
This course includes movement and physicality but can be adapted for accessibility issues, please email for more details.
Join in our new Dance & Drama Club at our North East Centre for Autism in Newton Aycliffe
The group has now finished for the summer holidays but will resume in September, we would like to hear from parents what days you would like the sessions to run.
The clubs are FREE and we welcome children and young people with autism and other special needs to attend. A formal diagnosis is not required.
Our music therapy sessions use sound to create a safe environment where students can explore their feelings and memories at their own pace. The therapy is tailored to them and their specific needs, and students can access it through one-to-one sessions or as part of a group.
Our specialist music therapist works closely with our occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy teams and with education facilitators to provide the best learning environment. Sessions take place at one of our three different sensory rooms, or at a number of other locations across the campus. The therapist and student, through improvisation, will create and develop a musical language of their own. The music therapist is a full member of BAMT and is registered with the HCPC.
A typical music therapy session:
May begin with a welcome song, which may develop into an improvisation
Focuses on pre-composed music or an improvised piece, and this is directed by the student’s choice of instrument and playing style
Ends with a closing song to signal the end of the session
Our Young People's Theatres are for all young actors aged 16+. We work inclusively with learning disabled and/or autistic and neurotypical actors who perform together as equal partners.
Following the school terms, each Young People’s Theatre works towards two pieces each year created by the members and supported by professionals.
