Creative journeys involving adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities: Co-development in multi-sensory theatre

Bunning, Karen and Grove, Nicola (2025) Creative journeys involving adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities: Co-development in multi-sensory theatre. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 53 (2). pp. 272-282. ISSN 1354-4187

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Abstract

Background: The last decade has seen developments in collaborative multi-sensory theatre and dramatic performance involving individuals with profound and multiple learning disabilities. The current study investigated co-development processes used by a multi-sensory theatre company that employed four artists with profound and multiple learning disabilities. Methods: A qualitative approach was adopted, involving preliminary observations and in-depth interviews with ten individuals who performed different roles in the company. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically. Findings: Three themes emerged, centring around concepts of interactional ‘space’: the space between (how meanings were co-constructed); the space around (how the dramatic narrative was coproduced); the space beyond (how collaboration occurred in the live multi-sensory show). A fourth theme, the journey, connected all the spaces in a process of learning and changing, enjoyment, having a voice and developing the narrative. Conclusions: Through participating in co-creative processes of artistic development, people with profound and multiple learning disabilities can share their expertise and contribute to the sensory theatrical shows as artists in their own right.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	co-development,multi-sensory,profound and multiple learning disabilities,theatre,phychiatric mental health,pediatrics ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2900/2921
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Health Sciences
Related URLs:	http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?...
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	05 Nov 2024 17:30
Last Modified:	22 Oct 2025 18:32
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/97520
DOI:	10.1111/bld.12631

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