The Whale’s Tooth - A performance with bite

September 2008

A multi-sensory tale of adventure ran throughout July at the Unicorn Theatre in London.

'The Whale’s Tooth' tells the story of Canny – a girl who lives in the Arctic Circle with her grandfather. Her father is presumed dead, but after finding his name carved on a whale’s tooth, they embark on a long and dangerous journey to find him.

The interactive and sensory performance was aimed at people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). The performance took place in an igloo where the actors interacted with a small audience of people with PMLD. Others were able to watch the performance on a screen outside the igloo.

Use of music and lighting helped create a fantastic atmosphere. During a fishing scene each person was supported to put a fish onto a hook and watch it being lifted up. Wind machines and sprays of scented water created a stormy atmosphere and a warm fur glove and heavy whale’s tooth were passed around for people to feel. Each of the performers spent time communicating parts of the story in sensory ways to each member of the audience.

Leroy Binns, a member of the PMLD team at Mencap was watching the performance on screen outside the igloo, he said: “It was such a good play because it really involved people with PMLD. There should be more like it."

We are delighted to hear that another multi-sensory production is planned for 2009-2010 due to the success of this one.

Information
‘The Whale’s Tooth’was a Nottingham Playhouse Roundabout production. Download education resources from the Nottingham Playhouse website.

This review appears in the Sept/ Oct 2008 issue of Viewpoint