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Bamboozle is a charity based in Leicester who create magical, multi-sensory experiences for children who have learning disabilities and the whole family. You may have seen over the past few issues that Roundabout Hinckley and Roundabout the Villages have featured news from the charity and we’d like to share more with our readers about the beginnings of this inspirational cause. Twenty three years ago, in 1994, Bamboozle was formed by two local theatre practitioners, Christopher Davies and Sue Pyecroft, through the desire to create work for, and with, children and young people with learning difficulties. “Christopher and I have worked in making theatre throughout our careers. My specialist area was design and production, and Christopher’s specialism was in teaching and directing”, reflects Sue. “We were very inspired by working with young people who have learning disabilities, and saw there was a real lack of quality theatre that was specially designed for audiences who had special educational needs and sensory impairments”. Christopher and Sue joined the Leicestershire Drama Advisory service in the '80s, and as part of this, they worked closely with special schools. After their experience at the Advisory service, they became freelance theatre practitioners, and started delivery creative projects around the Midlands and the North. During this time, Sue was inspired by working with Interplay in Leeds: a renowned theatre company working with people with learning difficulties. Christopher and Sue wanted to do more. After gaining support from Headteachers at a few local special schools, and the Haymarket Theatre in Leicester, they set up a week-long residency designed for disabled children to participate in an experience of drama and music which was fully accessible and included all of the senses. The week was a great success and attracted media attention from a local paper who did featured the project. Sue and Christopher were asked what the name of the company was... neither of them had thought of that! But Sue quickly replied 'it’s Bamboozle!' The rest is history. Bamboozle continues to provide residencies for families who have a child with complex needs and children who are on the autistic spectrum in Leicestershire and Nottingham. In 2010, Bamboozle made their first touring theatre production, Where the Wild Things Are, which toured to special schools around the country. Now Bamboozle takes their shows not only to schools and theatres in the UK, but around the world. This September, Christopher has been training artists in Singapore in Bamboozle’s unique approach to making theatre for young audiences with learning disabilities. “One of the things that we’re trying to do is to make disability more visible because largely disability is hidden away. It’s brilliant that Bamboozle’s mission: to provide creative opportunities for children to engage meaningfully with the world, is being recognised by the international arts community”. To find out more about Bamboozle’s amazing work, visit their website: www.bamboozletheatre.co.uk. Registered Charity:when 1136157 Company Please mention Roundabout Hinckley responding toNumber: adverts7193792