Seventeenth International Conference on the Arts in Society

Abstract

Theatre for audiences with complex challenges is a small but growing niche art form. It is a form of Applied Theatre in that it falls outside mainstream theatre performance and/or with marginalized communities (Thompson & Jackson 2006:92). It is based on the belief that marginalized audiences should have access to quality arts experiences specifically devised for their needs. Arts experiences can help participants to become more flexible in their thinking about themselves, their limitations and possibilities. Much of the daily life of the disabled person may be taken up by frustration. Arts experiences allow them to break through these barriers. What is the aesthetic language of theatre for audiences with complex needs? The creation of Performing Arts experiences for audiences with sensory, neurological, and cognitive challenges is a growing art form. There is a need for critical analysis of the aesthetic language and set of principles that underlie the practice. A series of 66 performances for audiences with complex needs were undertaken in 2019 in an attempt to identify common elements within the practice. The study was therefore practice-based with elements of creative research. As a critical analysis, it involved analysis of and reflection on the underlying principles of the theatrical form. Variations in presentation, as determined by audience demographics, were noted. The specific demands placed on performer/facilitators were documented. The study will be continued into 2021 to formulate comprehensive general guidelines with regards to the necessary theatre aesthetics for theatre practitioners wishing to undertake this form of theatre.