Transforming the future for young people
with complex autism
Quarterly Newsletter
April 2022
Prior's Court News
A new fundraising appeal has begun
to ensure more young people with
autism can reap the benefits of
the transformational power of the
performing arts.
Prior's Court is fundraising to support the build of
an innovative and ground-breaking performing arts
centre on our site.
The Let Me Shine Performing Arts Centre will feature
adapted facilities to support young people with
complex autism to access opportunities in music,
dance and drama and enjoy the life-enriching
benefits these provide.
Individuals with autism face many barriers to
accessing the arts - from light and noise sensitivities,
to understanding of social rules - and one aim of
the centre is to mimic theatre environments to
prepare young people to access arts venues in the
community successfully. This is in addition to young
people having the opportunity day-to-day to express
themselves creatively in a dedicated, bespoke space.
Tailored facilities at the centre, the conversion of
our existing "school hall"-style space (The Princess
Theatre), will include:
l An area for drama and theatre work, ideal for
hosting touring companies and groups,
with specialised acoustics and light
controls to better support inclusion.
l Two music rooms for large instrument work and
music therapy space.
l A dance studio featuring retracting hidden mirrors
and a sprung floor.
l An outdoor learning area and a breakout room,
both to suit individual learning needs.
l Foyer and reception area to support vocational
learning.
Sue Piper, our Director of Young People's Learning,
said: "Creativity is not bound by language or social
conventions making it a powerful outlet for our
young people - who often are pre or non-verbal - to
communicate their needs, expressions and feelings.
"Ultimately, access to the arts is a right, not a
privilege. And by creating this centre, we hope to
deliver that right to our young people, and provide
access opportunities for other young people with
autism who do not attend Prior's Court.
(cont on page 2)
Appeal launched to make groundbreaking
performing arts centre a reality
An artist's impression
of the Let Me Shine
Performing Arts
Centre