Photo by Claire Conroy, Oily Cart
Enter The Dragon’s Cave (ETDC) is Jo-anne’s most recent multidisciplinary project - an intimate, sonically-rich sensory theatre experience designed for young people aged 8-13 with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). It is being delivered at Margaret Brearley School, Waltham Forest, in November-December 2024, led by Jo-anne Cox, in collaboration with Lowri Jenkins (creative enabler/dramaturg), Rachel Warr (puppeteer), Gary Day (creative technologist) and the young people themselves. This project was awarded a grant from Waltham Forest council, as part of their Make It Happen Programme 2024, which celebrates the diversity of local communities. We are proud to have Waltham Forest Music Hub as a partner on the project.
The project’s purpose is to connect young participants to their own Dragon’s Cave: their space of wonder and exploration, featuring an electric cello soundscape, music technology, puppetry, storytelling and sensory engagement. It will be developed with the young people through a series of participatory workshops, in which the experiences and responses of the young people are integral to bringing the Dragon’s Cave and its story to life.
We’ve already seen how powerful this can be through extensive preparation as part of Jo-anne’s Artistic Residency with Oily Cart Theatre, the UK’s leading sensory theatre company for young people with the most barriers to access. Jo-anne and the team explored how her cello, supported by interactive music technology and puppetry, could connect young people at JFK School (Stratford) to their inner imaginations.
Feedback from JFK specialist school teacher to Oily Cart following the residency:
"I am so so grateful for the opportunity you gave us to work with Jo-anne and the team. It was such a wonderful experience for all the students and staff. I am always trying to look for enriching activities for our learners with complex needs and this was truly spectacular.”
After this iteration of the project is complete, it will be available for touring across the UK.
Supported by Waltham Forest's Make It Happen 2024 Grants Programme.
