Heart‑Stretching Performances: Teacher Goes the Extra Mile for Kids with Special Needs

When a Chance Encounter Changed a Life

Four years back, Samantha Bounaparte was knee‑deep in a community gig at the Esplanade, putting on a special musical show for an autism‑focused group. She’d been volunteering, painting the venue with cotton‑apples and chatter, when a young guy caught her eye.

Meet the Gamelan King

The kid was rocking the gamelan—a pretty‑odd Indonesian percussion set that sounds like a giant drum circle. He was so enthralled it was almost like he had a full‑ready smile on his face, and the universe felt more joyful with him in the mix.

The Moment of Curiosity

“Did you like the ‘live’ vibe?” Samantha asked, waving a hand as if it were a magic wand. Her question landed like a gentle poke.

A handful of hands clapped in surprise—this was fresh territory.
The boy’s mum, a thoughtful lady, chuckled and admitted that she’d never imagined such a setup for her son.
She mentioned that the twins’ stimming actions (those little repetitive movements or noises kids sometimes do) might have been too loud in a normal concert.

So What This Means for Samantha

By quickly realizing that routine performances might not fit everyone, Samantha decided to take a galloping leap. She began what would become her life’s mission: making art a doorway for ALL people.

Mission: Open The Door

She’s on a crusade to blend sensibility, sound, and moment‑to‑moment joy so that any needy “spectator” can step into a full‑on live performance without feeling left out.

And you can hardly find a better reason to say thank you to that first chat with a groovy gamelan beat. It’s simple: one off‑beat conversation and many decades of impact.

Keeping the Beat Alive

Samantha’s work is more than skill and dedication—it’s a gig to ensure that, no matter how you feel or tick, the world’s music is a universal platform in which everyone can shine.

Meet Samantha: The Show‑Starter Who Turns the Audience into Actors

Samantha is the Assistant Programme Chair of the Diploma in Arts and Theatre Management at Republic Polytechnic, Singapore’s first polytechnic to stage multi‑sensory productions since 2016. She’s on a mission to squeeze every ounce of inclusivity out of the arts scene.

What Sets These Production Tales Apart?

Audience members roam throughout the venue, literally stepping into the storyline.
Everyone can physically interact with the set—no silent onlookers here!
Those who prefer a distance got a spot in the sensory chill‑out area to catch the show from a comfy zone.

Special Needs Kids: From Prop‑Masters to Main Characters

It’s a full‑on “play‑in‑real life” experience where children with special needs are turned into the heroes behind the scenes.

2016: “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” – Kids became the “friends” who literally fed the caterpillar.
2017: “How Singapore Got Its Name” – These young artists performed as the animals that could fly onto Singapore’s islands.
2018: “Toby’s Journey” – They were the “fish” who helped rid the seas of trash before Toby’s adventure.

The Narrative That’s as Fluid as the Audience

Because the stage is built around the crowd, the storyline stays loose and can adapt on the fly. If a child needs a spotlight, a new monologue appears—no rehearsed scripts get stuck on stage!

Getting creative amid the disruptive Covid-19 pandemic

Riley’s Rain Goes Digital: A Splash of Innovation

When the pandemic buzzed through the city, Samantha’s crew had a bright idea: take their stage show, Riley’s Rain, hop onto the internet, and give everyone a ticket from their sofa.

Why It Didn’t Feel Like a Easy Cloud‑Jump

Online theatre is a bit like juggling water balloons—hard to keep everyone still, especially when the audience is a crew of kiddos with special needs. Those young viewers have an extra tendency to wiggle, chirp, or get distracted mid‑scene.

Our Secret Sauce: Flexible Viewing

Choose your own experience: No one has to stare the whole time.
Non‑verbal vibes thrive: A boy staying glued to our tactile carpet ended up BANGING a spontaneous dance when the curtain opened.
Feel the rhythm: The show’s design lets kids lean into the music and then race off when they want.

What’s the Story About?

Meet Riley, a rogue raindrop with an ear for a melody that pulls her away from her cloud‑mates. She drifts downwards, floods into the realm of wind, but with a new crew of friends she wiggles back into the clouds just in time for the grand splash.

How We Shot It (Without a Human Huddle)

Because the world was social‑distancing tough, each actor performed in isolation. A single camera captured every scene, and then in post‑production, all those bites of magic were stitched together like a clever collage of rainbow bits.

“The kids don’t have to stay glued the whole time. They can take in what feels good to them.” – Samantha

And that’s how Riley’s Rain turned from a promise of a live show into a cloud‑y digital adventure that even the most restless of audiences can enjoy—one splash at a time.

Extra engagement and entertainment in the form of a Rain Box

“Rain Box” Delivers Show‑Booing Fun to Kids’ Living Rooms

When a spectacular performance can’t be watched in person, the show creators had a bright, breezy solution: a Rain Box rocket‑flight to every child’s doorstep. The box isn’t just a plastic gift‑wrap; it’s a full sensory engine built for the eye and the ears.

What’s Inside the Box?

1. Activity Booklet – a map that guides young explorers through the story’s twists and turns.

2. Craft Fun – “fan” Riley back up into the sky with DIY sails and paper globes. Crafty fingertips, folks!

3. Interactive Sensory Kits – leaves to crush, feathers to flap, and a tiny bird whistle that sings along to the show’s soundtrack.

4. Home‑Made Potpourri Box – edible flowers, a splash of essential oils, and those iconic Orbeez water balls that got the audience giggling during the live show.

It’s All About the Senses

“Because the children couldn’t come to us, we decided to go to them!” explains Samantha, the creative mastermind behind the project. “Every kit was carefully chosen to stir the imagination and let them experience the story in their own time.”

Why It Works

Kids learn hands–on, turning passive viewers into active participants.
Multisensory tools make the storyline stick—feel, smell, touch, & hear.
It respects each child’s pace—no rush, just rattle, tap, and tap‑to‑tap.

So next time you’re hoping for a show that feels like it’s right in the middle of you, remember the magic that can travel to your living room—thanks to the ingenious Rain Box.

Receiving the best training for the good of the kids

Samantha’s Big Umbrella Adventure

What Happened in 2018?

Back in 2018, a spirited artist named Samantha earned a spot in the Artist Professional Development program of the first-ever Big Umbrella Festival at Lincoln Center in New York City. This wasn’t your usual arts gig – it was a month‑long celebration aimed at children on the autism spectrum and their families, making it the world’s first festival dedicated to neurodiverse kids.

More Than Just a Festival

The event didn’t stop at art shows. Alongside the vibrant performances, there was a symposium and professional development track designed for creatives eager to dive into art + neurodiversity. Think of it as a backstage pass to understanding how sensory overload and high energy can turn into a masterpiece.

Meet Oily Cart

In one spectacular corner of the festival, Samantha discovered Oily Cart – a true trailblazer that crafts small‑batch, immersive, multisensory experiences for kids with profound learning challenges. What’s more, they stage their shows in out‑of‑the‑ordinary spots like hydrotherapy pools. Imagine a splash of music, light, and movement that turns a pool into a living gallery!

The Trip That Changed Everything

Coming back from the Big Umbrella Festival, Samantha felt like she’d just stepped out of a dream bubble: confidence, fresh ideas, and a new appreciation for sensory art. She learned to fuse creativity with science, giving kids a chance to express themselves through interactive performance.

Future Plans: Inspiring the Next Generation

Share her journey with budding artists.
Encourage the use of art as a tool for empowerment in the special‑needs community.
Build sensory‑rich spaces that make everyone feel seen and heard.

Keep an eye on Samantha—she’s on a mission to turn art into a bridge of hope for children with special needs, lighting up the world one splash at a time.

Inspiring the next generation of theatre-makers

Celebrating Teacher’s Day: The Artists Who Keep the World Turning

Samantha’s journey into the art world began with a simple yet powerful belief: teaching is a two‑way street. She says, “The students taught me just as much as I taught them. Watching their eyes light up when they share their own views on a show made the whole experience feel alive.” For over a decade in tertiary education, she’s turned that idea into practice, building a stage where empathy and inclusion aren’t just buzz words but the heart of every performance.

Why Empathy Matters in Theatre

When young creators think about the next generation of shows, they’re not just building spectacle—they’re crafting a platform that encourages empathic concern. Samantha believes this sparks a wave of altruistic motivation and genuine prosocial behaviour. “It’s like giving them a superpower that helps them connect with others, even before the curtain falls,” she muses.

Key Takeaways for Teachers and Creators

Inclusion First: Focus on giving everyone a voice in the creative process.
Empathy as a Tool: Use stories and roles to teach compassion.
Keep the Momentum: Even when the world pauses, keep rehearsing—and then perform.

The Pandemic: A Test of Resilience

Who knew that a global shutdown would become a catalyst for “always on” learning? Samantha laments how teachers rarely took a break to mourn lost holiday plans. “Not a single one that I know of paused; they simply pivoted and kept the classroom—online or on the street—running.” Her words echo a clear message: educators are warriors, flipping scripts and scripts alike.

Spotlight: Catch Riley’s Rain

If you missed the 2020 M1 Peer Pleasure Youth Theatre Festival, you’re in luck—Riley’s Rain is still available for viewing until September 30, 2020. This multisensory online performance is a gem: a whirlwind of sound, sight, and sensation that proves the theatre can thrive beyond the four walls of a traditional stage.

To sum up, this Teacher’s Day’s story is one of passion, innovation, and an unyielding spirit. For Samantha and countless others, teaching art and theatre isn’t merely a job—it’s a fearless adventure that embraces empathy, inclusion, and resiliency with each applause.

Heart‑Stretching Performances: Teacher Goes the Extra Mile for Kids with Special Needs