Groundbreaking New Production in the West End: Sensory Cinders
Concrete Youth and Barnsley Civic have announced the West End run of their co-production, a brand-new pantomime, Sensory Cinders. This trail blazing production is the first inclusive sensory pantomime specifically designed for audiences labelled with PMLD. The production also marks the first West End production for the audience. Sensory Cinders is the first production to be staged in the Studio on the fully accessible 5th floor of @sohoplace and will play a strictly limited run from 30 October until 5 November 2024. Tickets are on sale now via @sohoplace.
Sensory Cinders is a new sensory pantomime adaptation of Cinderella for audiences living with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD), featuring original music that explores themes of identity, self-expression, transformation, magic, personas, authenticity, and connectedness. What does it mean to pursue self-love and understanding in a world that doesn’t understand you?
The production features specially designed sensory materials by Henshaws Arts & Crafts, a Yorkshire-based collective supporting local learning-disabled visual artists. The show marks all the artists’ professional theatre debuts.
Sensory Cinders is directed by Belle Streeton Co-Artistic Director at Concrete Youth, with music/lyrics and musical direction by Guy Hughes, the production is creatively produced by Daniel Swift FRSA, CEO & Co-Artistic Director, of Concrete Youth. The production will be designed by Stella Backman, the dramaturgy is by Lizzie Milton, the production’s creative access consultancy is Phoebe Kemp, the audience development & outreach is by Annabelle Lee and the show is production managed by Isabel P. Casting to be announced.
Belle Streeton (Co-Artistic Director of Concrete Youth – Director of Sensory Cinders) said:
“It is a joy to be welcoming our audiences at Concrete Youth to the first ever sensory pantomime. Pantomime is a British theatrical institution & I’m so excited that we get to be a part of the journey in making this long-standing Christmas tradition accessible to audiences with profound and multiple learning disabilities. We believe it is hugely important to provide a positive cultural experience for our audiences going to the theatre, where they are ensured the full theatre experience.
We have assembled an extraordinary cast and creative team to re-imagine this pantomime classic, this has enabled us to thoroughly immerse ourselves in the world of a re-imagined Cinderella. It’s been thrilling taking a classic fairytale/pantomime working with drag artists, actors, musicians and sensory artists to explore disco & folk music, sensory costumes & set, transformations and magic. This pantomime has something for everybody, and I can’t wait for our audiences to see the fruits of our labour and all the love and hard work that we’ve poured into this show.”
Visit www.sohoplace.org to book now. Tickets begin at £15.
Sensory Cinders, Image credit Concrete Youth and Barnsley Civic