Flute Theatre to present online Shakespeare festival for autistic individuals

Flute Theatre have today announced plans to present three adapted Shakespeare productions online, designed for autistic individuals and their families. 

They will present their previously adapted productions of Pericles and A Midsummer Night’s Dream alongside a newly adapted production of The Tempest, created in association with Teatro La Plaza in Lima Peru, with the piece being presented in English and Spanish. All three shows will be available from 7 June to 16 July. 

These specially adapted Shakespeare productions are delivered in a one-to-one environment on Zoom. Over the past year, Flute Theatre have worked extensively in the UK and countries around the world including India, the USA, Spain and Peru to create and adapt Shakespeare for autistic individuals and their families. Performances are experienced through sensory games that are musical, funny and physical with each game tailored to the specific needs of the individual, creating a unique experience shared between actors and autistic participants. As a result of these performances, some autistic individuals have started to speak for the very first time. 

Artistic Director of Flute Theatre, Kelly Hunter MBE, said: “This festival is the culmination of our creative response to the pandemic. Since March 22, we have adapted our unique sensory and communicative productions to be available online for the autistic community and those with special needs across the world. Although theatres have been closed, out creativity, hearts and minds have remained open – we’ve formed bonds and partnerships with families and artists across the world from Blackpool to Lima, from India to Spain. Whilst the pandemic continues to wreck people’s lives in the global south, we are working with those most in need, continuing to use theatre to combat exclusion and allow people who are completely isolated to share how it feels to be alive.” 

Tickets can be purchased here.