Go to the theatre without leaving home

Just pull the curtains and your lounge becomes a stage. Tear an old white sheet into moonbeams. Then find a soft, fluffy jumper to be The Badger.

Now you are ready to hear, see, touch, taste and smell ‘The Badger Story’. This is new digital multi-sensory theatre delivered online by the Glass Ceiling Arts Collective to people with profound and multiple learning disabilities.

It’s a COVID-inspired, in-home theatre experience for families who are asked to supply their own props from the kitchen cupboard, supermarket or two-dollar shop. It was developed with funding from the IHC Foundation.

The process of gathering the props is part of the whole experience. The Badger Story comes with instructions about how to get the best experience for participants as they use all their senses and involve all the family.

“For me, going out into the forest and finding leaves and playing with grass is an exciting thing in itself. Even my son, who has autism, it was an exciting process for him,” says author Charlotte Nightingale. Charlotte, a teacher and actor, is Co-Founder and Artistic Director of the Glass Ceiling Arts Collective.

The crew ventured into the trees near Charlotte’s home with a binaural microphone specially imported from Canada to record 3-D stereo audio for more lifelike sounds, such as a bee buzzing around your head.

The Badger Story is an excerpt from Charlotte Nightingale’s play, ‘The Incredible and Glorious World According to The Fitzroys’, which won Best Performance (Ensemble) at Auckland Fringe last year. It is the story of a teenager with autism who found the outside world tricky, so he created an incredible world at home with his family. The Badger narrative is about navigating friendship. It is performed by an inclusive cast – of people and live action, animated characters and puppets. The giant badger was made by Tusk Puppets in Christchurch and Deaf actor Courtney Nairn is the screen goddess.

Co-founder and General Manager of Glass Ceiling Michael Eaglesome says The Badger Story was born out of COVID. He says those with high health needs were even more vulnerable during lockdown. Even at the best of times, going out to the theatre is beyond the reach of many people with multiple disabilities. The Badger Story brings theatre into their world.

He sees the theatre experience as evolving as families get involved. “If any of your IHC members/whanau are particularly keen to embrace The Badger Story and give detailed feedback, we'd be really interested to hear from them.”