Step-Up Students Study Shakespeare with Ensemble Theatre

Date posted: February 6, 2020

Ensemble Theatre I Students with autism use Hunter Heartbeat Method at Stepping Stones

Ensemble Theatre Instructor Becca Howell and Aiden perform a scene from A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Students of our Step-Up Autism Alternative Education are studying Shakespeare with the Hunter Heartbeat Method at weekly classes led by Ensemble Theatre.

The Hunter Heartbeat Method

The theatre workshop classes use the renowned Hunter Heartbeat Method – a series of sensory games Kelly Hunter developed for youth with autism to explore Shakespeare’s works through expression. Hunter is a director, writer and actor based in the UK whose method has been adopted by educational programs around the globe.

Each week, students build on their previous experience learning Shakespeare classics. After completing The Tempest, they have moved to studying A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the adventures of mischievous Puck.

In each session, students perform a continuation of the story through expression and gain familiarity with the characters. They are able to recall where the story left off at the start of class, before choosing a character to perform in scenes. The integrated classes are highly creative and encourage students to tap into their imaginations.

“In workshop, students get to choose their characters and use creative expression to tell a story,” said Ensemble Theatre Educational Instructor Becca Howell. “As long as we can get everyone using their imaginations in some way – that’s a win!”



Enjoy photos from a recent Ensemble Theatre workshop in the Step-Up program:
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