Information for audiences with Autism/PMLD
Our ambition is to make bOing! a great day our for everyone, including audiences with access requirements.
Every year we programme specialist performances and experiences for young people with autism or PMLD – below are details of 2023 performances by Barrowland Ballet and Oily Cart, plus details of the Luminarium and our relaxed cinema screening of Elemental.
Across the 2 days of the festival, bOing! has a range of free indoor and outdoor performances open to everyone, and we work to make all activities as accessible as we possibly can.
bOing! takes place on the beautiful University of Kent campus, which offers a range of outdoor spaces to find peace, rest and picnic. We also have a number of indoor spaces we can recommend as quiet places if you need to step away from the festival for a while.
The site has accessible toilet and changing facilities, which we mark on the festival map and detail on our website.
If you have any questions, please get in touch on boxoffice@kent.ac.uk.
Events at bOing! 2023
Playful Tiger
by Barrowland Ballet
A ticketed event that needs to be booked in advance.
Sat 26 & Sun 27 Aug, 11am & 2pm
£6 (Free Carer)
Booking link: https://boingfestival.com/whats-on/ticketed-events/playful-tiger/
Playful Tiger tells the story of a tiger’s visit to a rigid family home where he turns their world upside down. It’s chaotic but brilliantly fun, with a focus on sensory engagement.
Playful Tiger is for children and young people age 7+ with complex autism who are mainly non-verbal. Playfulness within the work creates space for a two-way response between audience and performers.
Made in collaboration with Ellie Griffiths Projects, this piece interacts directly with the audience, with a focus on sensory engagement.
Youtube Trailer: https://youtu.be/4FKc_NGH6_8
“remarkably bold and visionary…what really shines through is the generosity and constant awareness that the dancers show throughout the performance… the interaction is an uplifting witness to how dance can loosen up more than muscles.” ★★★★- The Herald
Show notes: Focusing on sensory engagement with capacity for 8 young people with complex needs and their families/carers. An information pack, Visual Story, and Timeline will be provided to audiences in advance of each performance.
The Lost Feather: A Sensory Storytelling Adventure
By Oily Cart
A free outdoor event but it is possible to reserve spaces.
Sat 26 & Sun 27 Aug, 10.30am & 1pm
Contact boxoffice@kent.ac.uk to reserve.
More information: https://boingfestival.com/whats-on/free-events/the-lost-feather/
The magical, musical, sensory Cart is wheeling its way to bOing! Festival, delivering Oily Cart’s unique brand of multi-sensory mayhem, designed for all children, especially for disabled children and their families.
In this interactive, accessible storytelling session, everyone is part of the action! All together, you will open up the Cart – bursting with colours textures, music and puppets – to discover the story of ‘The Lost Feather’.
Show notes: This storytelling session features live music and sensory play. The tone is fast, upbeat and noisy. It lasts about 45 minutes and has no interval. It’s a relaxed environment where children are able to move around and make noise, in fact it’s encouraged!
Dodecalis – Luminarium
By Architects of Air
A paid for experience that can be booked in advance
10am to 5pm: time slots
Tickets: £5 (Free Carer)
Booking Link: https://boingfestival.com/whats-on/ticketed-events/dodecalis-luminarium/
The Architects of Air are back with the latest evolution of their Luminarium and the most exciting version yet.
Designed by Alan and Meko Parkinson, Dodecalis is a dazzling maze of luminous lines connecting three giant ‘Dodecadomes’ and a magnificent Main Dome. Dodecalis also features an awe inspiring Tree, a twist of colourful convolutions.
This is a Luminarium to lose yourself in, to get away from the world and to bask in all the colours of the Architects of Air. Designed to evoke wonder at the beauty of light and colour, exploring the Dodecalis is a transformative and sensory experience for any age.
Experience notes: Luminarium is wheelchair accessible and a sensory experience – not a performance.
Relaxed Screening – Elemental (PG)
Sat 26 Aug, 3pm
Tickets: £5 (Carer Free)
Booking Link: https://boingfestival.com/whats-on/films/relaxed-screening-elemental/
This is a Relaxed Screening with socially distanced seating. All are welcome to this screening that has subtle changes to the cinema experience including:
The lights being kept on at a low level and lower than usual sound levels
No trailers or advertisements – just the film
Allowance for increased levels of movement and noise
People to help you find your seats
Captioned subtitles on the screen and audio description headsets available.
Tickets: £5pp + booking fee of £1 (accompanying Carer/Support provider go free – please contact Ticket office on boxoffice@kent.ac.uk to book Carer ticket)
Free outdoor performances
In addition to these there are a range of free, outdoor performances at bOing! At our outdoor stages, we have designated wheelchair access areas, and we have ushers on hand to make sure everyone can access and enjoy the performances.
Any questions please contact us at boxoffice@kent.ac.uk