2024 to July 2025
Facilitator and Performer in an Autism and Learning Disabled-Friendly Sensory Experience at the Royal Albert Hall, London
I’m proud to work with The Engagement Team at the Royal Albert Hall as a facilitator, deviser and performer of sensory experiences for young people with moderate to profound and multiple learning disabilities. These workshops in London are designed to create a safe, inclusive, and creative space where neurodiverse participants can explore the arts.
Current Sensory Experience: Ally & the Soundwaves
Ally and her band are getting ready to perform their new song with sounds from around the world on stage at Royal Albert Hall but they have a problem: they have lost all of the sounds they need to make music! Come on a magical adventure with Ally and her band as they make a wonderous voyage around the world looking for the lost sounds!
This Sensory Experience includes sensory stories, songs, lights, sound effects and sensory materials for students to experience.
What Are Sensory Workshops for Autistic Young People?
Sensory workshops provide a unique opportunity for autistic and learning-disabled young people to engage with interactive sensory arts activities tailored to their needs. At the Royal Albert Hall, these sessions incorporate sound, light, movement, and tactile elements to ensure a fully accessible and enriching experience.
My Role as an Inclusive Arts Facilitator
As an experienced London-based drama teacher and facilitator, I work alongside The Engagement Team to design and deliver these inclusive sensory arts workshops. My job is to support neurodiverse participants through carefully devised sessions that encourage self-expression and creativity, while ensuring comfort and accessibility.
Why Sensory Arts Workshops Matter
Arts programs for young people with learning disabilities and autism are vital in promoting confidence, communication, and wellbeing. The Royal Albert Hall’s commitment to inclusion means these workshops break down barriers, offering a welcoming environment for all.
Join Our Autism and Learning-Disabled-Friendly Workshops in London
If you’re interested in neurodiverse theatre workshops or sensory arts workshops in London, keep an eye on upcoming events with The Engagement Team at the Royal Albert Hall. These sessions are a wonderful chance for young people to experience world-class arts in an accessible setting.
February - March 2024
I directed A Little Bit of Glitter in the Grey by Paloma Oakenfold for Rose Bruford College
‘If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?’
A Little Bit of Glitter in the Grey follows the extraordinary life of a girl as she wakes on a lab table – a creation that has been patched together from the best bits of her parents, inspired by the poetry of Shakespeare…she is an experiment that broke the mould.
Based on true events, this is a defiant story of overcoming prejudice, smashing limitations, and finding self-acceptance.
November 2020 to June 2021 & December 2022 to April 2023 Director/Writer NHS Training Films
The pandemic was a tough time for many of us freelancers, but it hit neurodiverse artists even harder. Fortunately, trailblazing companies such as Access All Areas Theatre Company, have refused to allow their associates to fall through the cracks. Three years ago, I worked as a script developer for the company. They were in the process of devising and making seven short films in association with MenCap and the National Autistic Society, with the view to them being rolled out across the NHS as part of The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism. When restrictions were able to ease a little in May 2021, I was invited to direct the fourteen short films (seven themes but with a good version of the scenario and a bad version for each theme). What an absolute joy it was to be back in a rehearsal room working on the scripts and sharing the experience with such a fantastic team. The Access All Areas neurodiverse artists worked wonderfully with neurotypical professional actors to create a series of authentic performances, all for such an important cause.
As a result of the success of the films, Health Education England, in partnership with The Oliver McGowan Trust, Skills for Care, National Autistic Society and MenCap, further commissioned Access All Areas to create four more films. I was again invited to write the scripts and direct the subsequent films. These have now been rolled out as part of Tier 2 of the training programme.
This is the accompanying trailer which promotes the training scheme:
Photo courtesy of Access All Areas Productions and The Oliver McGowan Training on Learning Disability and Autism
June - July 2021 I directed Bigot for Unshaded Arts at Camden People’s Theatre.
Bigot was a physical and timely new play about the negative repercussions of freedom of speech as amplified by a toxic social media culture.
“The show impressively combines petty circular bickering with depth and insight into the world of internet trolling and cancel culture”
LondonTheatre1 4 stars
September to end November 2020 Writer/Director for the Guildford School of Acting
I was invited to create two projects in association with the Guildford School of Acting. The brief was to create two new pieces that would be Covid-Compliant and possible to present irrespective of the potential changing parameters due to the pandemic. I wrote and directed an Audio-Visual and object installation piece called ‘Home’ and a one-hour live-action-digital hybrid piece called ‘Refuge’. Due to unexpected increased lockdown restrictions less than two weeks before the performance of ‘Refuge’ we were informed that the acting students could no longer perform live in the space. The challenge was to create the essence of a live performance using remotely recorded sequences which would be projected in the actual playing space and live-mixed/streamed to audiences at home
‘Refuge’ written and directed by Selena Kelly September 2020
Behind the scenes ‘Refuge’ R&D project in association with Guildford School of Acting November 2020
August and September 2020 Writer and Director for The Director’s Cut
Lockdown was a strange time for us all, however, I was able to get my creative juices flowing by directing, filming and editing some short films. These were screened as part of The Director’s Cut Intimacy in Distanced Times Festival on YouTube in August and September of 2020
Sea Her, directed by Selena Kelly
Growing Pains, directed by Selena Kelly