See Saw FAQs

What is See Saw?

See Saw is an interactive circus and storytelling experience. Two storytellers embodying the characters of Sunrise and Sunset will guide participants through the story, inviting them to take an active role. Participants are invited to join the story in sensory slings, though you can stay on the soft mats below if you like.

The activity takes place within a tent-like installation, draped with fabrics and with soft lighting for a calming sensory experience.

Who is See Saw for?

See Saw has been created as an experience for young people with a range of complex needs and disabilities (SEND).

However, we recognise that people don’t fit into neat categories and so a general description may not always be helpful. Here are a few extra pointers to help you decide whether See Saw is right for you and your young person.

What do we mean by ‘young people’?

We would advise that See Saw is most suitable for children and young people aged between 4 and 12. Age isn’t always the best guide for those with SEND, though there is an upper weight limit of 80kg. We recommend 4-12 as a guide to include young people that would have the most meaningful involvement with the storytelling, while also being able to take full advantage of the space and equipment. See Saw was developed in conjunction with young people up to the age of 11.

What do we mean by ‘complex needs and disabilities’?

There is no tick list or minimum requirement to participate, though See Saw was made with those young people in mind who would otherwise struggle to access it in a traditional setting. That could be because they have profound or multiple learning disabilities, Down’s syndrome, those who are non-verbal or pre-verbal, or whose physical limitations are a barrier to participation in other settings.

Are there any physical requirements for participants?

There are no physical requirements for participants including the need to self-support. There are lots of adaptions that can be made for how the young people interact with the apparatus to accommodate their individual needs, which is entirely at the discretion of their parent/carer. For instance, swings can be lowered so that the participant’s weight is partly or fully supported by the floor, they can lie down in the swing, or they may prefer to stay on the mats throughout.

Each participant’s parent/carer will be asked to assess the best way for the young person to interact with or transfer onto the swings. The Reallynice team will confirm that you and your young person are comfortable with the setup before and throughout the performance as needed.

What safety precautions are in place at See Saw?

The Reallynice team consists of two storytellers, plus two additional facilitators, all of whom are on hand to help in any way you direct. For Appetite, there will also be a designated Access Steward, plus an event volunteer.

The performance takes place in The Old Spitfire Gallery, which is an enclosed space with a door. The performance is fully relaxed, so participants are free to move about the space at any time. However, we ask that adult carers ensure that young people are not crossing the centre space where the performance takes place and swings will be in use. The Appetite event volunteer will make sure that nobody leaves unattended who shouldn’t.

While we will make every effort to ensure that your time at See Saw is as safe as possible, we would remind all parents/carers that you remain fully responsible for your young person at all times. This includes their physical and emotional well-being for the duration of your visit.

Please note that while the Reallynice team have two facilitators on hand to support participants, those young people who require 1-to-1 support would be best accompanied at all times by their adult carer and should not be left unattended in the slings or space.

If you have any queries or specific safety concerns before booking, please contact producer.seesaw@gmail.com

Can others join in?

Parents/carers are welcome and encouraged to help their young person navigate the See Saw experience, or depending on comfort levels, give encouragement from the sidelines or simply enjoy the show. We welcome siblings or other family/group members who the participants are happy to share their experience with to enjoy the storytelling as audience members as space allows. Siblings are also invited to join participating young people to explore the performance space during the optional Stay and Play session after the performance.

Photography

Appetite events can include photography. If you would prefer that your young person is not included in photographs taken by our event photographer, make it known to a member of the Appetite team, who will advise the photographer should they be at your performance.