A new pop-up show coming to Axis community theatre in Ballymun aims to provide ‘a gentle theatre experience’ to children with sensory needs

Cliodhna Noonan with children from the crèche at Ballymun’s Axis in the show Mora. Photo: Julien Behal

Cliodhna Noonan with children from the crèche at Ballymun’s Axis in the show Mora. Photo: Julien Behal

Niamh Ní Chonchubhair, director of Axis

Cliodhna Noonan with children from the crèche at Ballymun’s Axis in the show Mora. Photo: Julien Behal

Niamh Mongey

March 15 2023 02:30 AM

The theatre is a magical, immersive place for a young child — but it can be loud, bright and chaotic, often excluding some children who experience the world in a different, more sensitive way.

Cliodhna Noonan is an early years arts practitioner and advocates for art for all children. Since 2008, she has brought gentle theatre experiences to children all over the world, and her tactile, sensory approach to storytelling is perfectly suited to children with sensory needs. She has just begun her residency at Axis, a community theatre and arts centre in Dublin’s Ballymun — and will host fortnightly pop-up performances for children in the area.

“I quickly realised that in any group, there will be children who are less comfortable with what’s happening, regardless of whether they have diagnosis or anything else. So, the approach is always the same — taking the time to really ask ‘are we all OK in this space?’. Having a space that’s flexible allows for children to roll around on the floor, if they need to. Sometimes they might need to stand up — some children need to have space to be further back from the performance where they can engage in their own way,” she explains.

“What works best is looking at spaces that we don’t always notice. Axis is top notch in terms of just saying ‘yes’. The way they think is different. If all venues were to say; ‘what if we were to use the conference room’, it just opens so much potential.”

Cliodhna explains that the most important thing in creating a gentle theatre experience is ensuring the young audience members feel supported from the moment they enter the performance venue.

“The journey to the theatre for these children begins from the time they put on their coats in their education setting,” she explains. “If you break the magic with the wrong kind of welcome, that becomes part of their experience. You must make them feel safe — to prepare them if there are stairs, or a lift — it’s all about preparation, clarity and honesty, and it’s about time. Taking the time to make sure that all of those supports are in place.”

Niamh Ní Chonchubhair, director of Axis

Niamh Ní Chonchubhair, director of Axis, along with her small team, has just launched the venue’s inaugural Sm(ALL) Folk Arts Festival — an early years arts festival with a focus on inclusivity. Many of the performances have been made free to ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) units in the community, and audiences will be as small as six to eight children, along with their carers.

“We have programmed shows and workshops like Cliodhna’s to give these young people a voice,” says Niamh.

“Fundamentally, this is about belonging. We have to tune in to what that looks like beyond our own experience. We have to challenge ourselves to listen to and learn from those who are experts in their own lived experience.

“What if we were to shift the baseline? Not just in early years work but across all we do — to design inclusive experiences that reduce barriers from the get-go, rather than providing access as an afterthought.”

Cliodhna’s work at Axis is a work of advocacy, an effort to show us all that storytelling can be as simple as turning a feather falling from a book into dust, and bells into coins — “this all becomes part of the child’s experience — and it can reach them in a very deep, meaningful way.”

Cliodhna’s show Mora will pop up bi-weekly at Axis in Ballymun. Events are free and suitable for children aged 0-6 years and for children with additional needs and their carers. Sm(ALL) Folk Festival runs at Axis until March 31. See axisballymun.ie