For Schools: Whoosh! by Sensorium Theatre

Whoosh! is an interactive sensory space adventure for young explorers with disability. It is an immersive performance that puts children at the centre of the action. Kids board a stunning custom-built spaceship to co-pilot an interstellar adventure.

New recruits take up their own tech stations, taste real space food, propel through hyperdrive, crash-land and explore a strange uncharted planet. Characters and audience work as a team to repair the ship and return to Earth.

This highly tailored production is suitable for children with a range of disabilities aged 5 – 10, including children with multiple and complex disabilities and children with autism. The performance is fully accessible for children with wheelchairs.

Audience numbers are deliberately small. Each performance caters for up to 14 students. This might mean you will need to split your group or, alternatively, identify students who you believe would most benefit from this experience.

Download the app from Google Play or the App Store. You can also use the website version on your classroom's Interactive Whiteboard or on a computer screen - click here for the web version.

Sound and Lighting

• Blast Off – light non-allergenic fog haze
• Emergency Landing – slow moving red lights and siren
• Planet X – UV Light and low fog haze

Space Food Menu
During the show, our crew will share some "space food" with the children. Please read the ingredients below and let us know before you visit of any food limitations, allergies, and those who are NIL by mouth.

• Condensed milk – milk, cane sugar
• Freeze dried strawberries
• Whipped cream – cream (from milk), sugar, propellant gas (nitrous oxide), emulsifier 471, stabiliser (carrageenan), natural vanilla extract

Essential Oils
Essential oils are diffused in the environment. In the spaceship, we diffuse essential oils of juniper and peppermint. In the planet, we use a “serenity blend” which includes lavender, bergamot, frankincense, geranium, vetiver, chamomile, sandalwood, clary sage. Let us know before your visit as these can be modified to accommodate allergies.

The student's independence will be encouraged in the performance. Teachers, carers and guardians are encouraged to observe from outside the spaceship through special viewing windows or live camera feed.

Alternatively, teachers can support children by playing along in the adventure as co-astronauts inside the spaceship.

All adult visitors to Planet X must be engaged and assist in making this a memorable, exciting experience for students.

We really want students to enjoy the performance in their own way (sing, dance, call out, move around), as long as everyone is safe.

There is a viewing porthole just outside the spaceship for students who need a break. They may leave the space and return when they feel ready.

If the performers need a student to stop what they are doing, they will let them know or ask the teacher or carer accompanying the student to help.

Sensorium Theatre performers are highly experienced and skilled in working with children.

After booking your tickets, you will be sent a form to complete about your students. Sensorium Theatre request this information so that they can tailor the performance accordingly. The information required after booking is:

• Child’s First Name
• Child’s Age
• Any additional needs you would like our artists to be aware of to tailor the performance? This might include communication preferences, verbal/non-verbal, receptive language, sensory impairment, relevant behavioural issues (eg. may get physical when upset), relevant medical issues (eg. fragile bone syndrome)
• Any allergies?
• Is the student a wheelchair user?

We will treat this information with confidentiality. If you have any concerns or questions about this please contact us.

Please ask venue staff for the closest accessible toilet to your location. In the Theatres Building, there are accessible toilets on Level 3, 5, 6 and 8. In Hamer Hall, there are accessible toilets on every level.

The most convenient accessible toilet for the Pavilion is located on Level 8 opposite the Pavilion.

There is a Changing Places (accessible public toilets with full sized change tables and hoists) located in Hamer Hall on Level 3.

Food may be eaten in the foyer of the Pavilion or in any of the foyers within the building. On a nice day, you may prefer to take the students to the lawn area between Hamer Hall and the Theatres Buildings, or to the Queen Victoria Gardens (which are just opposite Arts Centre Melbourne).

There is bus parking available along St Kilda Road, opposite Arts Centre Melbourne. If you would like to reserve bus parking, please visit Melbourne Council Reserved Parking Permits.

There are also limited accessible parking spaces out the front of Arts Centre Melbourne.

If you are driving in, the Arts Centre Melbourne car park has accessible parking bays on both levels. These parking bays are clearly marked. Please ensure you display your valid Disabled Persons Parking Permit. The entrance is accessible from Sturt Street. PLEASE NOTE: the car park has a strict height restriction of 1.9m, meaning some larger vans cannot enter.

You can find out more about Arts Centre Melbourne's car park, including parking rates, via our website.