Our Impact

The Flute Theatre's interpretation of Shakespeare’s Pericles is by far the most touching and empowering performance I have ever seen. Over the four days that the Flute spent working with Ukrainian families in Sofia, we cried and laughed together with the children, we played and sang, we opened up our hearts and got carried away by the magic of the theatre, we forgot all our troubles, even if for a little while, and felt alive again. Playing together with the Flute was a transformative experience for all of us: children, parents, educators, students, and psychologists. The atmosphere was so warm and welcoming, and the actors’ energy was so powerful and magnetic, that we all felt an irresistible appeal of playing together. Seeing how parents' faces relaxed, how their smiles widened, and their eyes started shining with a mixture of surprise and pride was a pure and genuine pleasure. But, of course, the children were the true kings and queens of this enchanted castle. Though some of them were a bit shy at first and even reluctant to participate, by the end of the performance all of them joined in. They obviously loved playing along and were having a lot of fun, not only because the actors were brilliant and ultimately dedicated to what they were doing, not only because the performance was perfectly thought-out and the games had been developed to suit the needs of the audience that is struggling with the trauma of fleeing from the war, but also because these young individuals and their desire to play were taken seriously.

The children were seen, heard, appreciated, and accepted. They were encouraged to assert themselves in the most creative and productive ways. They felt respected and valued. What is more, at times they even felt in charge and started helping the actors with the pronunciation of the trickiest words and names. Oh, how happy and proud they looked!

Flute's performances are a safe space where children and adults can play seriously, be in the moment and feel alive, learn to respect and appreciate each other, and allow the power of the theatre to help them discover their better and happier selves. This amazing project has shown that the theatre can truly make a difference even in the darkest times. Maybe, the darkest times are the times when we need the magic and the healing power of the theatre most urgently.

When the show ended I was crying so much. My two handkerchiefs were soaked. I perfectly remember what I said to the actors and actresses at the end of the show - I said 'if you ever wondered why you are doing this job, its precisely for moments like this.

Today I took Arlo to see Pericles for Autistic Individuals by @flutetheatre at @riversidestudioslondon and we had the most incredible experience. I wasn’t sure about it when I booked, because I didn’t know if Arlo would engage with it at all, but they said that it was totally interactive and tailored to the needs of the participants, however complex, so I gave it a go. From the moment the actors arrived to meet us in the cafe I knew it was going to be very special. With rhythmic singing and engagement movements, they totally met each participant at their level. Arlo was quickly scooped up by someone and spun around, the actor working with him seemed to instinctively know what he liked and what he needed. So often, even the most “inclusive” experiences ask autistic kids to fit into the world as we want it, this was a show that was very much in Arlo’s world. And different kids had different worlds - all were included. Greta also joined in and she was included alongside the participants. It was very relaxed. Sometimes I joined in alongside them, sometimes I say and watched. At different points both kids needed me for different reasons and that was totally fine. I’ve honestly never experienced anything like it. They do it every school holidays with different performances tailored to different age groups, and it costs a fiver per family. It’s just amazing. We will be back in October but if you can’t wait till then, it’s on tomorrow for the last time this summer. If you have an autistic child you need to go. Thank you so much to @flutetheatre for creating it and to @riversidestudioslondon for supporting it - I can’t tell you how much it means to our family.

When I was 2, my brother was diagnosed with severe autism, and my journey trying to understand him began. Throughtout my directing career, I have searched for a process of connect the intimacy of theatre to the rigidity of his autism. Kelly Hunter has found that process. There is no more effective way to teach social skills, promote inclusion, and awaken the soul than the Hunter Heartbeat method. The program changed my life, and ever since I started teaching it, it has changed the lives of the hundreds of individuals who have experienced the awakening it provides.

We are beyond grateful for so much of your time, all the team, their skills, talent & compassion. You are all fabulous. The difference your workshops/ performances made to our autistic pupils in an hour was incredible. The confidence was visibly growing and children that don't use their voices were suddenly thrust into this sensory experience and shouting words! Truly remarkable. As you know, I was genuinely so moved & emotional to witness such a wonderful, positive reaction from the children. I cannot recommend this experience enough; Flute Theatre is a very special company that truly knows how special our children are and exactly where to meet them in their world. Every autistic child should have the opportunity to experience the magic of the Flute Theatre. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Bonjour Kelly, I am not sure that I can find the words to convey my gratitude to yourself and the whole company for yesterday extraordinary experience. Aimé spoke for himself, and I am reluctant to try to express what I believe he went through. As for myself, you all touched my soul to the deepest. I think that what we were invited to be part of yesterday is what the ancient Greeks intended Theatre to be for humanity. I still feel it in my all “being” this morning waking up from a profound long rest.

Thank you for your heartwarming work, for your kind presence and for your all your efforts to make MAGIC happen. We are grateful that you were with us sharing love, acceptance, inclusion

I went to see my autistic boy perform Shakespeare’s ‘Pericles, Prince of Tyre’ with the Flute Theatre group last night. How they managed to keep 12 autistic young adults & an audience of family, friends & the wider community engaged is an astounding achievement. These beautiful young people with autism were simply wonderful, bringing so many emotions to all of us with their brilliant performances. We cried and we laughed so much that tears came rolling down our cheeks. Families with children on the autism spectrum rarely (never!) go to the theatre, certainly not to ‘highbrow’ theatre like the RSC for fear of how their young person will respond; (noisy, anxious) or more typically fear of other people’s response, I mean it’s hard enough just walking along the road never mind being in a theatre! The Flute Theatre are consciously and actively challenging this and supporting autism towards increased inclusion. I’m so pleased and proud of our boy, Luke, who is very profoundly autistic; non verbal and struggles to stay focussed. I’m so pleased that he wasn’t ‘left out’ as is usually the case, as the more able young people with autism, the more accessible ‘face of autism’ are included- yep there’s even a hierarchy in disability… even within accessing disability groups! I’m so pleased I fought hard for Luke’s place at his college so he gets to be included, celebrated and championed.

We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for yesterday’s performance. We still recovering from all these beautiful emotions, positive sensations and good vibes we experienced in your show. It has been really special for us. We very much appreciate the words from Kelly, cast and participants during the Q&A. Flute has been an incredible discovery for us. Flute has achieved so much in such short time though the online games on their website, yesterday’s performance and mainly theatre itself, always boosting her abilities in their playful and joyful way. Flute has helped our daughter to unlock certain aspects that took years for us to unlock. Furthermore, as part of all the beautiful things we experienced yesterday, her happiness whilst sharing stage with Flute was astonishing. That reflected that beautiful smile that you all could see. And for us, that was beautiful. Thank you, endlessly.

This morning, Marcus, our profoundly autistic 12 year old son said ‘YES drama today.’ Given that Kelly’s one week drama course was 6 weeks ago, and Marcus rarely if ever articulates anything, illustrates the profound effect it had on him. It was extraordinary, that week in the summer. I had deliberately stayed away for the first 4 days. Marcus is usually negatively distracted by my presence anywhere.

But Ed my elder son who joined Marcus on the course was evangelical about what the course was doing for Marcus, he kept telling me how he was sitting with the young actors, and actively seeking them out. Curiosity got the better of me, and I came with them on the last day.When I arrived on Friday morning I was ASTONISHED. I have never, ever seen Marcus behave the way he did. He was seeking out, sitting with and CUDDLING his new young adult pals, with whom he had obviously formed a strong bond in this short space of time. He was engaged, and inordinately happy.

I was trying to explain to my husband the significant difference in him, but it had to be seen to be believed. I cannot stress this enough, this engaged, entirely committed child was like no other version of Marcus I have ever seen. He still beats his little chest to say hello and goodbye!

I have no idea what it was in those sessions which so grasped him, and awoke the part of him which wants to interact. I just know it was the nearest I have seen him to ‘play’, if that makes sense. It is certainly the most communicative I have seen him.

My eldest son Ed was really affected by it. he is, to all intents and purposes, an only child. He loves his brother, but he doesn’t have a fraternal partner in crime. That week, he felt like he did. He loved the young actors, they were the perfect age for a 14 year old boy. He didn’t feel patronised, or like he was in a ‘special needs’ environment. (you would not believe some of the things we have done………) He felt involved, on a level, and had some great laughs. Which is very important to our family!

We all felt joyful, and grateful for the experience.

Last Saturday I really didn’t know what to expect when I turned up for Flute Theatre’s performance of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with my extremely autistic 18 year old son, Tim. As always, being in a public place with Tim was panic-inducing, despite the fact that this was an incredibly supportive environment. Even before the start, while the actors and artistic director were warmly introducing themselves, Tim managed to run away from me 3 times – to be retrieved from the auditorium, the ladies’ loos and the admin offices. The difference was that no one minded or batted an eyelid, and I was immediately offered help with finding him. That never happens!

At the start I experienced familiar feelings – hard to shift ever since Tim was tiny – of feeling intensely anxious about his behaviour and nervous of being judged as his parent. As Tim galloped around the stage, made loud inappropriate comments and flapped his arms, I fretted repeatedly about whether to take him out and whether he was spoiling it for everyone else.

What was breathtaking, was the way the actors immediately adapted what they were doing, to incorporate what Tim was experiencing and communicating with his behaviour into the performance. In other words, they entered into Tim’s world rather than demanding that he enter theirs. Whether he was jumping, talking in a loud Cockney accent, or rocking back and forth, 2 actors worked with him to incorporate what he was bringing into the show. It worked! He relaxed, he felt accepted for himself, he began to visibly enjoy the sensory games and humorous use of Shakespeare’s text. What’s more, the same was happening, in different ways, with all the other participants and actors.

After a while I noticed that I had relaxed too, both physically and mentally, in a way that almost never happens when I’m with Tim. My arms and legs had uncrossed, I was leaning forward, mesmerised, and smiling. I could relax because Tim was with people who really “got” him and understood how to work with autism.At one point, an actor tapped a repeated single chime on a bell, and in the ensuing silence each participant in turn closed their eyes and turned to follow the direction of the sound. This was a spellbinding, beautiful moment with everyone in the room intensely focussed on each child. The silence and calm was magical. It felt almost religious, as though a sacred space had been created, within which something transformative was happening.

How beauteous mankind is!

O brave new world, That has such people in't!

Thank you for creating your magical isle, which produced transformative effects beyond what even Prospero would have imagined. As the wonderful and unique children that took part in this performance demonstrated, the autistic spectrum is very wide and every individual with a diagnosis of autism requires a bespoke and individual response.

I find the art of supporting my son is to creatively enter his world and through this act of empathy find the conditions by which we can learn to fit in with his world view rather than expecting him to understand ours. I remember reading the views of one autistic man who explains the situation this way; “everyone else is a boat but I am bike. In the world of boats everyone expects you to act as a boat and when the boat is broken they will suggest sensible ways to fix boats. They give these solutions to me but I am not a broken boat, I am a bike.”

The actors today, using their great imaginative and practical skills were able to haul their hulls out of the water in order to become bikes; the children in the show today instinctively understood this and were thus given the unprecedented opportunity to free wheel like the best multi geared trail bikes they are.

I was deeply touched and moved today. The insights from my son were stunning – he found a fluency of voice and movement during the performance I have rarely seen in him before. He made interesting observations – “today was the first time I forgot myself and was just there” – he had a totally intuitive sense of the characters and meanings of the Tempest. He was seriously impressed with the actors’ ability to change who they were. Today was a phenomenal success.

You are all involved in very important work which has the power to transform lives and unleash unrealised potential in the children you work with.

With much thanks and deepest gratitude