High needs students at Bracknell and Wokingham College are taking part in theatre workshops with Make/Sense Theatre.

The students, who are on the Supported Foundation Pathway – Tier 2, are participating in the workshops with the the neurodivergent theatre company.

The workshops are running weekly until October half term.

The theatre company creates productions for, by, and with the neurodivergent community in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.

They also run assemblies, holiday and after-school clubs in special needs schools, and do outreach in the community.

The theatre company offers supported internships and work experience for neurodiverse individuals.

Three professionally trained actors and a technician from the company's multi-sensory theatre offering, 7Sense, visit the college every Thursday to perform a show called Sky Bound.

(Image: Activate Learning)

Sky Bound is about three pirates going on a journey in a hot air balloon.

The show is performed in a tent resembling a hot air balloon, and students are encouraged to sit inside the tent.

The actors use a variety of storytelling techniques, songs, puppets, props, and sound machines to encourage the students to join in.

A technician plays a soundscape and music in the background, which changes according to the story to set the scene for the students.

The show is a multi-sensory piece catering for audiences with severe complex sensory needs and/or multiple learning difficulties.

The play is repeated each week which helps the students to play, grow in advocacy, and encourages independence.

The students have autonomy over the work and can engage in different sensory offers.

The show is tailored to students’ preferences, ensuring that it is age-appropriate and engaging for them.

The play is the first show funded by Arts Council England, enabling the team to introduce more complex technical aspects, have a technician, and more design elements.

Ellie Lamport, a student on the Supported Foundation Pathway – Tier 2, said: "I liked singing with the actors. I enjoyed looking at the map, stroking the bird, and playing with the rope."

Rosie Taylor-Horler, 7Sense co-creative lead and development manager at Make/Sense Theatre, said: "It’s exciting to come into the college and perform a show to young adults because there are new challenges including keeping them engaged, observing and noticing what they enjoy, allowing them to play and unmask in the space.

"The reaction from the students has been really positive.

"The difference between the audience seeing the show the first time and the second time is that it was more familiar which encouraged them to sing along and engage in ways that they wanted to, which shows that repetition is positive."

Activate Learning’s high needs provision was graded as Outstanding by Ofsted during their last inspection in November 2022.