Creating Space for All: Mobile Sensory Theatre

by Katy Kepler, Director, Mobile Sensory Theatre

I won’t lie, describing the VROOM! Mobile Sensory Theatre is tricky. Sensory theatre doesn’t have a huge presence in the United States, and people tend to conflate sensory offerings with youth offerings. Add to the mix a culture that is sometimes shy about discussing disability (even though 1 in 4 people have a disability). So, where do we begin?

Let’s start with the basics. The VROOM! Mobile Sensory Theatre is a cargo van (affectionately nicknamed Darby) that has been converted into a theatrical space. You could call it OCP’s third stage. Currently on tour is Beatwood Hollow, an original piece crafted right here in Omaha. These performances are specifically designed for audience members who are neurodivergent and audience members with disabilities, roughly aged 5 and up (including adults). Performances are intimate and immersive, serving just 1-2 audience members, along with 1-2 caregivers at a time.

In many ways, this is just like any other play we produce – there are costumed actors, a set, props, music, lights, a script, and of course, the audience. Our audience is a huge part of what sets sensory theatre apart from other forms of theatre. Sure, many of us have seen audience participation before – maybe you’ve been encouraged by actors onstage to clap along to a beat, or maybe you’ve been asked to provide a prompt or personal story to ignite an improv set. But it’s rare for participation to go much further than this. We aren’t invited to touch the props or explore the stage. We aren’t offered things to smell or taste. While there can be a connection between audience and performer, more often there is a clear boundary between the two.

However, in a sensory piece, interaction with the audience is a key component to the experience. To be clear, this isn’t to put the audience in role of performer – there is no pressure for the participant to entertain others, nor is there an expectation for their engagement to play out in a specific way. Rather, every moment in the story is an offer to this participant to engage their senses and immerse themselves in an imaginative world.

Inside Beatwood Hollow, set in the hollow of a tree, audience members interact with one of many sensory enriched elements of the performance. Designed to be flexible, performances are human-centered and flow at the pace of the audience members. The space within the mobile theatre accommodates one actor and up to two audience members and two caregivers at a time.

Adaptive, Joyful, and Accessibility Centered

Ultimately, it is deep listening and connection that underpin the entire VROOM! experience. Our audience members are the number one priority at any given time. Live theatre is magical in part because it can never be exactly the same two nights in a row, but let’s be real – unless there’s an emergency, most theatre artists are working towards consistency. Just ask the stage managers who are filling out show reports. With VROOM!, I can’t even tell you the runtime of Beatwood Hollow without a heap of caveats. Our goal is a max of 45 minutes. But what if someone needs a break during the experience to use the restroom, or as happened in our last production, a break to change into an astronaut costume so that they could better immerse themselves in the story? How can I compare the experience of someone who needs to pace and gets their fill of the small performance space in just 15 minutes to the experience of someone who wants to luxuriate in every single sensory offer we have and would stay for hours if allowed?

Traditional venues are optimized to meet the needs of the majority – which is fair. In an audience of hundreds, we can’t pause the play every time someone needs to use the restroom, get a drink, ask a question, and so on. There’s etiquette involved when you’re part of a crowd. Unfortunately, these expectations leave some behind, many of whom are neurodivergent or are otherwise members of the disability community. Theatres such as OCP have taken great strides to offer more relaxed performances, where everyone in attendance is asked to recalibrate their expectations about what proper etiquette looks like to help to create a judgement free zone for folks to come and partake in the rich cultural experience of live theatre. This is in addition to a variety of show and venue specific accommodations, such as resources like sensory kits or sensory guides, which empower individuals to come as they are and feel comfortable taking care of their needs without fear of judgement or reprimand.

In the mobile sensory theatre, we center accessibility and a “come as you are” attitude as our top priority. So long as everyone involved is safe, the experience can flex in whatever way is needed to create the most joyful experience possible. The definition of success is fluid, and success can look wildly different from person to person. When it comes to neurodivergence, sensory sensitivities, disabilities – there’s no one-size-fits-all accommodation that works for every individual. And because of that, our team is constantly learning and adapting. Each audience member is asked to complete an intake survey that helps us to prepare the best experience possible. Participants are also encouraged to fill out a feedback survey afterwards, and we take their feedback seriously. In fact, the entire Beatwood Hollow script was crafted with direct involvement from the disability community. During the development period, I spent many hours workshopping our script and sensory activities with a diverse group of individuals. This playtesting aspect of the mobile sensory theatre is essential to creating work that not only engages our audience but celebrates the creativity and desires of our audience.

Performances of Beatwood Hollow engage all senses – sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. Audience members can choose what to engage or disengage with at any time and actors adapt in the moment.

The Power of Authentic Connection

Again, I need to return to the idea of deep listening. From development, to booking, to the event, to collecting feedback – every aspect of our program involves serious care and attention to the individuals we serve. Our audience members feel seen, honored, and celebrated. So much so that we often yield unexpected – but delightful – results. For example, I once performed for a lovely young man who attended programming at an adult day service organization. It wasn’t until we received feedback from the host organization that we learned that the accompanying staff member had never heard him speak as much as he spoke to me during our brief time together. They described this as eye-opening for their team. At a show for a kindergarten student, I casually asked the child how to spell his name. He quickly obliged, though he was mostly nonverbal. I found out later that his teachers had been working with him on this for months, and this was the first time he’d spelled his name out loud in front of them.

Not every performance features a major breakthrough or revelation, of course – but moments like these underscore the magic of the mobile sensory theatre. We have created a remarkably inclusive and welcoming environment where audience members feel safe and secure to try new things, exercise their autonomy, and play. Through play, we can apply what we learn and learn new things as well. Our team’s bond with our audience members is completely authentic, and the audience members know that – they are never being patronized or condescended to.

As we approach the end of our first season with Beatwood Hollow, which will pause for winter at the end of October, I’m excited to dive into another period of script development. I am currently working on a TVY (Theatre for the Very Young) adaptation of Beatwood Hollow that will allow us to better serve individuals ages 2-6. I’m also in the process of securing our script development partners for the next iteration of VROOM! I’m not sure what’s next (yet), but I know without a doubt that I’ll be listening closely to our audience every step of the way. Afterall, they are our most valuable teammate.

Learn more about VROOM!, Beatwood Hollow, and how to book a performance for your family or organization.