• See, touch, hear and taste: It’s theatre with a difference for kids with special needs. Photo by Jarrad Seng

AUSTRALIA’S first multi-sensory theatre for kids with special needs is coming to Coolbellup Learning Centre.

In Sensorium Theatre and Performing Line’s production of the Jub Jub Tree, kids can see, hear, taste, touch and smell the story.

The story follows animals who hear of the delicious fruit of the jub jub tree, but impatient donkey tries to eat too soon. Along with getting to touch, smell and hear, each part of the story has a food associated with it for kids to eat.

Sensorium’s Michelle Hovane says in the lead up to the show, performers spend a week with kids getting to know their individual needs.

“We’ll know that Francesca needs something held right up close to her so she can see it and will respond with an eyelid blink, and Lachlan hates feathers so we won’t come near him with the rooster.

“There’s a massive spectrum when you talk about disability… [some] are unable to carry out core functions without support.

“They may have other sensory impairment on top of that mobility impairment, there might be some vision or hearing impairment but it’s not going to be the same for every individual.

“They may have an intellectual disability… they could be a child unable to move but could have perfect cognitive ability.

“They love it,” Ms Hovane says, having previewed the work with kids at Sir David Brand school.

“The feedback we get from the parents and carers and teachers who know the kids better than we do is that they really love it, they’re focused for 45 minutes.”

Other schools interested in the Jub Jub Tree can get in touch with sarah@performinglineswa.com.au

by DAVID BELL