Key research question: How best might we invite young people with PMLD to create with, refine - with each user developing their own idiosyncratic aesthetic language - and ultimately celebrate, the power of their own (usually non-textual) voice?

Resonant Tails: Mobile Theatres of the Voice by and for PMLD (profoundly and multiply learning disAbled) Youth is the long-term research project that underpinned the development of the Resonant Tails artwork and education support programme. The thrust of this project began when Yvon Bonenfant was invited to improvise with young people with PMLD, and experienced how virtuosic and daring was their improvisational capacity, and how transformative their unusual relationship with the passage of time. Recognising that young people with PMLD could rarely visit arts venues, from this initial experience, the artistic team worked to develop a ‘mobile theatre of the voice’ that the young people with PMLD could use regularly inside their schools, and that could be moved from room to room. From initial testing of the artistic intention, integration of a support programme to schools became a priority. Outcomes of the project have included the artwork in four schools; a support programme; and a wide array of writings and theorisations.

Research Team included: Kingsley Ash (coding; audio; visuals; lighting; experience design for coding), Julien Masson (object design and co-fabrication), Tim Uffindell (voice intervention and voice-art lead, schools, phase 2), Mary Paterson (independent evaluator, all phases), Anna-Helena McLean (input on voice-art technique). Funders included Arts Council England (pre-R+D and phase 1); Youth Music (Phase 2); Postcode Community Trust (Phase 2); Wellcome Trust (pre-R+D); University of Winchester (all phases) and our contributing schools (phases 1 and 2).

For access to the Research Exposition on this project, contact Yvon.