The RE:act Theatre Company
The RE:act Theatre Company is currently in it’s incubation period. Founded by current students Georgina Trevor (Drama and Education, UWE) and Zoë Davies (Drama, Bath Spa) in 2009. Both Zoë and Georgina work as play-workers with children who have moderate to severe disabilities and additional educational needs. The progress and development in communication, behaviour and enjoyment seen while engaging the children in music activity, sensory therapy, role play, drama games and creative activity inspired them to start a Theatre company which not only produced accessible theatre but took the next step to create theatre specifically for children with disabilities to engage on a sensory level incorporating music, vibration, touch, light, smells, vibrant colour, glitter, bubbles, balloons and audience participation. Allowing the audience members to enjoy the theatre experience regardless of any hearing, sight, or communication impairment. The company intends to tour shows to special needs schools, respite homes and children’s hospices. Shows will be designed with SEN audiences in mind. The spectrum of disability and wide variety of needs is something that has been taken into consideration and shows will be created and adapted to suit hypersensitive/hyposensitive children and will be offered to schools in the consultation period in order to create the most enjoyable experience for each child.
Ultimately the company would like to also run theatre and drama workshops for children with SEN to work on acting skills along with life long leaning, behaviour management, understanding emotions of the self and others through drama and puppetry and to have fun.
Currently further research is taking place into sensory theatre, children’s theatre, possible plays and venues. We very much hope to be able to produce our first show within the coming year.