How to Create A Sensory Story

Telling Sensory Stories is a relatively new idea. That's not to say there aren't lots of people doing it, but I have learnt through my mentorship with Replay Theatre and through developing the art myself.

So here I am going to try to break down my process, so that you can have a go yourself.

1. Pick or write a story - I use traditional tales, myths, legends and folktales. You could probably use any story, but try to use stories that have obvious sensory possibilities - ie. Jack and the Beanstalk.

2. Dissolve your story - This is my favourite thing about the process. You basically need to let the story fall apart and think only about the sensory elements. For example in the Queen Bee the brothers walk through a forest, my usual telling of this has very little mention of the forest, but this forest experience becomes my first sensory experience - a green sheet on the floor and beautiful purple petals that fall gently over the audience member, or the audience member feels and throws.

3. Build up about 5-8 sensory experiences - Look at your story and see what sensory experiences might be possible. For example in Jack in the Beanstalk, there's the beanstalk, there's the money bags, the hen, the harp. These all stood out to me as possible sensory experiences.

​4. Find different ways to create a sensory experience - Because each audience member has different needs, it is wise to create different experiences for each moment. For example I have the beanstalk but I also have some bean-like wool to run through the hands, I also have a song to sing for climbing up and down. This ensures that your audience member will hopefully get something out of the experience, if one element doesn't work for them, then you have another to try.

5. Rebuild the story around the sensory experiences - Once you're happy with the sensory experiences you've created, then you can rebuild the story. Try not to get too attached to the words, but find fun ways to bridge from one part of the story to the next. Sometimes you may not use words at all, less tends to be more with these audiences. If you can sing, all the better.

6. Try it out - Once you're ready try the story out - whether it be with your own child, your class or in a community setting, the only way you'll know if you've picked the right sensory experiences is by trying them out.

Good luck!