The Sense-Ability Ensemble’s Guide to Creating Theatre for Audiences That Are Neurodiverse

The Sense-Ability Ensemble’s Guide to Creating Theatre for Audiences that are Neurodiverse is a practical handbook that explores how to create theatre for audiences that are neurodiverse.

This book explores the journey of the Sense-Ability Ensemble in its quest to create theatre from the ground up for audiences that are neurodiverse. It demonstrates how to embark on this work, and how to move from a sensory-friendly model that adapts work to make it inclusive to a model that designs work with this specific audience in mind.This is accomplished through highlighting recommended practices, such as using live music, puppetry, and one-on-one audience member/actor interaction, exploring design considerations, sensory engagement, length, actor/staff training, non-linear storytelling, and the use of social narratives, as well as partnering with special education and occupational therapy professionals. It also offers practical suggestions for touring this theatre model, providing sample forms and methods of communication.

Part case study, part how-to guide, this book will be of interest to theatre educators, practitioners, and students enrolled in courses on children’s theatre, devising, applied theatre, theatre for young audiences, and drama in education.

Dionne O’Dell is an Academic Specialist/Faculty in the Department of Theatre at Michigan State University, where she specializes in writing and directing plays for youth and community. Previously, Dionne was the Associate Director of Education at Lincoln Center Theater in New York City. Although primarily interested in writing plays with a social justice focus (most recently, Phosphates and Fistfights), in February 2010 her short film script Dreadful Sorry (a ghost story) was awarded a ＄100,000 grant by the SC Film Commission and played to short film festivals around the US. A proud member of Actors Equity Association, she has also worked as a performer in regional theatre productions, industrial films, and television commercials. Dionne is also the Artistic Director of the MSU Sense-Ability Ensemble - a group that creates innovative, multi-sensory, interactive theatrical performances for audiences that are neurodiverse. The Ensemble’s most recent production, What if Wilhelmina, is a musical adaptation of the children’s book by the same title, created by author and illustrator Joseph Belisle.