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Three participants joyfully engaging in a Flute Theatre workshop indoors, raising their arms in expressive movements. They are smiling and making eye contact, reflecting connection and shared creativity during the session.

London

"Kelly has created a community where no other exists for my son and others like him". Dr Joanne Thompson MRCP

Our community of autistic people in London began to perform with us in 2018 during the holidays at the Bush Theatre London. For many, the experience was a revelation, and we have formed and maintained life changing bonds of trust and friendship over these last seven years. Since 2021 we have performed regularly at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith. Our participants have grown up with us and for many we offer the only artistic and social activity they can access with the full assurance of a welcome. Now we face a perilous time with severe cuts to funding for the project. We were able to run two wonderful weeks in the summer and now we are back to fundraising again. Whiles we have no money to sustain the performances we invite the participants and their families to our houses and meet for picnics and outings. If you are interested in supporting this particular project, please contact us directly.

A man in a grey elephant-print t-shirt and a woman in a “Free Julian Assange” t-shirt smile while holding hands in a movement workshop, with other participants seated in the background.
A young boy and an adult man engage in a dance activity with raised arms while other participants move in the background of a light-filled studio.
A child in a black-and-white checkered shirt focuses intently while gently touching hands with multiple people in a group exercise.

"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."

– Christina, mother of Arlo and Greta

May 2023

Riverside Studios
A man in a bright green t-shirt strikes a dramatic pose with one hand cupped to his ear, as if listening closely, while others sit and watch in the background of a studio.
Three people make playful antler shapes with their fingers on their heads, expressing exaggerated surprise and fun during an inclusive drama workshop.