What People Say About Us

Sunday 16th September 2018

“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.”

Marcus, 17 is a non-verbal autist who has been active with Flute theatre for 8 years. Marcus has attended every Flute holiday offering during that period.

For Marcus, it is an essential structural part of every day, which we can build around. It is the ballast in what is essentially unconstructed free time – the enemy of all children with autism and their parents. It is a time in which Marcus is given targeted attention, in which his communication skills are being formed and practised in the most effective way.

The structure of the sessions provides huge relief for Marcus, and the sensory nature of the theatre sessions are hugely effective in regulating him. This is a job school does well, but it is the only offering for Marcus in the holiday which provides that same level of communication training and sensory feedback.

All of the attendees have a parent or carer present. The team are not providing respite care they are providing a highly evolved, sophisticated offering for the profoundly autistic, which can simply not be found anywhere else during the holiday period. I am hugely grateful for it. Marcus is far less anxious during the holidays when Flute is in session.

I know all the other autistic attendees, parents and carers are of the same mind.

Thanks for all that you do for our community.

We really enjoy flute theatre during holidays.It is like a therapy for our son, Ardeshirand and for us as a whole family. We have ben attending flute sessions for special neeeds children since 2018. Ardeshir gets very bored during holidays at home and flute sessions are like a blessing for him as well for us. Ardeshir's 6 years old sister, Sharleez also loves flute during holidays and always looking forward to it. I think it is the only place we all family enjoy together and it has a great positive impact not only Ardeshir but our family as a whole. Because no other places can we be ourselves with our special need son than flute theatre. The atmosphere is lively, joyful and magical. It is the only place we enjoy during holiday where we feel like home knowing that no one is goning to judge our child and as a family we find peace, joy and comfort in flute sessions. We have been attending flute theatre with my son since 2018. The joy we see on parents's face seeing their special needs children playing , dancing, giggling and learning is beyond words. Flute theatre team is so kind, skilled and full of compassion and we feel understood and they understand the challenges we face as parents. Flute sessions have tremendous posive impact not only our son's well being but also on our mental and emotional health and well being.It is the only place we feel we are part of the community. We feel a sense of belonging and connection. We feel so relaxed, supported and at ease knowing that no one is gona judge our son. It is the only activity wher we enjoy as a whole family.

October , 2017

“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 humourous 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.”

Our family has been massively impacted by the welcome and warmth we received when we introduced our son Gregory to the Flute theatre experience. He has grown from being shy and uncomfortable being watched to showing sheer delight in playing the games with the actors. More recently has even stood up and sang on his own at our community choir gathering.

His friend James who was not at all sure he would join in the first time he came, ended his second visit saying ‘that was brilliant’.

The experience of observing the Flute theatre magic has to be seen to be believed and having attended 4 shows this time I was bowled over by the team work so brilliantly directed by you, adapting each show to such a range of abilities.

Thank you to you all. We hope you will continue with your wonderful work which is so special for people with autism who are so often overlooked in every day life.

26th June 2014

“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”

2023

“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. “

2023

“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. “

Sofia, Bulgaria, 2022

“Tears of joy in the eyes of the parents. The complete empowerment of the children, the children's interest in everything that is going on, the active involvement and participation of each child following the rhythm of the heartbeat. And everything is happening here and now, no one is paying attention to any differences, the hearts are beating in unison...

How could a human being create such a miracle? How could a human being bring together and rally so many like-minded people? KELLY!!! HOW?!?

I looked at the happy children and thought that the Flute are specialists: both psychologists and pedagogue until the moment I turned on Zoom to watch the open rehearsal of Pericles. It was as if I found myself on Shaftesbury Avenue: the professionalism of the actors, plasticity, and grace, expressiveness of speech and movements captivated me from the very first minutes and didn't let me go until the very end... At the end of the day, the Flute are actors, I thought!

Kelly! The Flute is each and every one of you! I don't know who you really are. You're a miracle. Thank you to the moon and back!!!

P.S. Now Vitaly begins his every morning with cha cha cha cha cha... “

Sunday 16th September 2018

“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.”

Marcus, 17 is a non-verbal autist who has been active with Flute theatre for 8 years. Marcus has attended every Flute holiday offering during that period.

For Marcus, it is an essential structural part of every day, which we can build around. It is the ballast in what is essentially unconstructed free time – the enemy of all children with autism and their parents. It is a time in which Marcus is given targeted attention, in which his communication skills are being formed and practised in the most effective way.

The structure of the sessions provides huge relief for Marcus, and the sensory nature of the theatre sessions are hugely effective in regulating him. This is a job school does well, but it is the only offering for Marcus in the holiday which provides that same level of communication training and sensory feedback.

All of the attendees have a parent or carer present. The team are not providing respite care they are providing a highly evolved, sophisticated offering for the profoundly autistic, which can simply not be found anywhere else during the holiday period. I am hugely grateful for it. Marcus is far less anxious during the holidays when Flute is in session.

I know all the other autistic attendees, parents and carers are of the same mind.

Thanks for all that you do for our community.

We really enjoy flute theatre during holidays.It is like a therapy for our son, Ardeshirand and for us as a whole family. We have ben attending flute sessions for special neeeds children since 2018. Ardeshir gets very bored during holidays at home and flute sessions are like a blessing for him as well for us. Ardeshir's 6 years old sister, Sharleez also loves flute during holidays and always looking forward to it. I think it is the only place we all family enjoy together and it has a great positive impact not only Ardeshir but our family as a whole. Because no other places can we be ourselves with our special need son than flute theatre. The atmosphere is lively, joyful and magical. It is the only place we enjoy during holiday where we feel like home knowing that no one is goning to judge our child and as a family we find peace, joy and comfort in flute sessions. We have been attending flute theatre with my son since 2018. The joy we see on parents's face seeing their special needs children playing , dancing, giggling and learning is beyond words. Flute theatre team is so kind, skilled and full of compassion and we feel understood and they understand the challenges we face as parents. Flute sessions have tremendous posive impact not only our son's well being but also on our mental and emotional health and well being.It is the only place we feel we are part of the community. We feel a sense of belonging and connection. We feel so relaxed, supported and at ease knowing that no one is gona judge our son. It is the only activity wher we enjoy as a whole family.

October , 2017

“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 humourous 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.”

Our family has been massively impacted by the welcome and warmth we received when we introduced our son Gregory to the Flute theatre experience. He has grown from being shy and uncomfortable being watched to showing sheer delight in playing the games with the actors. More recently has even stood up and sang on his own at our community choir gathering.

His friend James who was not at all sure he would join in the first time he came, ended his second visit saying ‘that was brilliant’.

The experience of observing the Flute theatre magic has to be seen to be believed and having attended 4 shows this time I was bowled over by the team work so brilliantly directed by you, adapting each show to such a range of abilities.

Thank you to you all. We hope you will continue with your wonderful work which is so special for people with autism who are so often overlooked in every day life.

26th June 2014

“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”

2023

“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. “

2023

“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. “

Sofia, Bulgaria, 2022

“Tears of joy in the eyes of the parents. The complete empowerment of the children, the children's interest in everything that is going on, the active involvement and participation of each child following the rhythm of the heartbeat. And everything is happening here and now, no one is paying attention to any differences, the hearts are beating in unison...

How could a human being create such a miracle? How could a human being bring together and rally so many like-minded people? KELLY!!! HOW?!?

I looked at the happy children and thought that the Flute are specialists: both psychologists and pedagogue until the moment I turned on Zoom to watch the open rehearsal of Pericles. It was as if I found myself on Shaftesbury Avenue: the professionalism of the actors, plasticity, and grace, expressiveness of speech and movements captivated me from the very first minutes and didn't let me go until the very end... At the end of the day, the Flute are actors, I thought!

Kelly! The Flute is each and every one of you! I don't know who you really are. You're a miracle. Thank you to the moon and back!!!

P.S. Now Vitaly begins his every morning with cha cha cha cha cha... “