Sensorium Theatre’s pre-tour engagement: a bespoke approach

The Whoosh! blast-off is imminent and Sensorium Theatre are currently out on pre-tour in the lead up to the regional premiere of this new interstellar adventure.

Following the model of our 2016 regional tour of Oddysea, Performing Lines WA and Sensorium Theatre worked closely with presenters to deliver a pre-tour engagement program between February to April 2019 to all five WA venues.

For Associate Producer and Tour Coordinator, Zainab Syed, the pre-tour engagement is as important as the tour itself.

“Our commitment to creating deeper engagement with disability audiences and increasing their access to high-quality shows in regional venues means we take a bespoke approach in each town we visit,” said Zainab. “This would not be possible without the Regional and Remote Touring fund whose support is crucial in helping us create and deliver such programs”

Sensorium’s Awaken The Senses workshop is a much-needed reminder for arts admin staff to creatively and sensitively connect with all the works we present in order to build empathy and understanding.
As an artist I often take for granted the time we spend listening, playing and collaborating – it should be part of everyone’s day regardless of what field they work in.”

Bernadette Lewis, Dance Engagement Officer at Mandurah Performing Arts Centre

Sensorium provide a unique learning experience for children with additional needs, with a program of preparatory sessions and school visits to ensure kids get the most out of the show.

Additionally, they provide professional development for teachers and venue staff, ensuring their visit has a lasting impact on the kids and the community as whole.

These visits also introduce teachers/parents to Sensorium’s new digital app, which uses smartphone technology to deliver a rich interactive learning experience and reduces the amount of information we disperse to presenters and teachers/parents prior to the show.

This year we had successful visits to Esperance, Merredin, Bunbury, Mandurah and Albany and we are very excited to return to these towns with all the team for the show.

Listen to co-Artistic Director Francis Italiano talking about the making of Whoosh! and paving the way for more accessible and inclusive theatre in this radio interview with HopeFM during his visit to Esperance.

I am quite a control-freak and would not normally participate in a workshop like that. But I am so glad that I did. The illusion was so real and so wonderful, it was a life changing experience for me. I believe if I could come and see the next Sensorium’s performance, I would be much more immersed in it.

Gary Aitken, Art Gallery Curator at Mandurah Performing Arts Centre

This is the first time that we will be presenting a work by Sensorium Theatre, and for us, the pre-tour engagement program has been paramount to building relationships between AEC and this audience segment and ensure we are equipped with the right tools to welcome them to our venue and offer them the best possible experience.

Drew Dymond, Venue Manager at Albany Entertainment Centre

The spaceship lands at Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre on 12 May before visiting Mandurah, Merredin, Esperance and Albany then touching down at Arts Centre Melbourne and Sydney Opera House.

See Full Tour Itinerary

This tour is supported by the Regional and Remote Touring Fund made available by the WA Government through the Department of Local Government, Sports and Cultural Industries.