Sita and Rama
written by Mike Kenny
Toured May - November 2003
Interplay teamed up with award winning children's writer Mike Kenny
again to produce a version of the classical Indian story of Sita and
Rama. Drawing upon the rich aromas, textures, colours, imagery and
music of the Indian continent, Interplay took the multi-sensory access
of this production beyond previous shows.
The setting of India brought with it opportunities to explore the
forgotten senses - smell, taste and touch. Performed inside the
dedicated and intimate space of the dome, the air was filled with
spices and aromas, food to taste and culturally specific objects of
reference for enhanced tactile response.
This was our most comprehensively accessible show to date, focusing
on live music, signing and movement with innovative forays into the
less well stimulated realms of smell and touch. As a traditional Indian
text, central to the Hindu religion, Sita and Rama was also developed
for multi-cultural curricular enhancement and Diwali celebrations.
Interplay is committed to opening up classical texts across
cultures to young people with learning disabilities and has a proven
track record of working towards access for those with profound and
multiple learning disabilities. Sita and Rama was suitable for 5+
across the learning disabilities spectrum. Our work with young people
with learning disabilities has taught us that the environment of the
play is an important tool for communication. In Song from the Sea we
explored the natural world under the sea, in The Winter's Tale, we
journeyed through the seasons of the year, Sita and Rama was set
against the background of another continent and will provide us with a
different cultural perspective.