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Description of initiative
The Caravan Orchestra | CarO is a tailor-made musical theatre show for children and youth with mental and multiple disabilities. A group of three specially trained clowns travel from “oasis to oasis” visiting institutions for special education. The concept was initially developed by the organisations CliniClowns in the Netherlands and was then transferred to RED NOSES for implementation in more European Union countries.
This format, developed specially for the needs of this particular audience is implemented by 7 local RED NOSES partner organisations. It makes possible for the clowns to connect directly with the children on eye level. The goal of the show is to give the possibility for the audience to enjoy theatre and the art of clowning. Through a partly interactive play, based on sensitivity and respect, the clowns use humour and laughter but they also decrease the speed and put themselves in the background giving moments of spotlight to each member of the audience individually.
The door to the performance room is wide open and one can hear a melody approaching. The “Caravan Orchestra” enters the room and the clowns are on the search for additional musicians for their orchestra. Making music is their passion and preferably with the children and youngsters present. The show is all about a key, which fits the big trunk that holds all the instruments for the new musicians. The trunk will open and the keys are used as rhythm instruments that the children will use themselves. During the show some little surprises are generated by the clowns. The children are encouraged to help the clowns and thus become part of the story (just if they want to, so no stress is caused for them, the teachers and the clowns). At the end everything will be packed again and the caravan leaves the room with the door wide open. After 30 min. everything is over and the caravan has moved on.
The CarO structure, plot, its simplicity, length, the intimacy of the environment where it takes place, the volume and energy of the show, and the abundance of sensory elements to engage children, on their own terms, are all drivers of the positive impact that CarO has on children, educators and the school community alike.
Further information on the initiative
Themes: Culture and...
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Cultural field
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Results, benefits, impact and lessons learnt
Caravan Orchestra improves children’s communications skills, interest and ability to open up and share, react to emotions, play and replicate humorous/clowning performances. Thanks to CarO, children accumulate positive memories and a sense of well-being and self-worth. CarO contributes to a sense of belonging in children’s groups – they root, cheer for each other, show empathy with each other not only during but in class activities immediately but even after time has passed after the show. Educators report positive effects on individual children joining new groups for the first time after experiencing CarO together.
While children are the primary target group of CarO, evaluation revealed impact for educators as well. Educators are as emotionally touched by CarO as they are inspired to apply elements of CarO in their everyday work with children. Educators note gaining new learnings about the children they work with courtesy of CarO – children often surprise them with their reactions, they learn of new channels to reach the children they work with, share a new appreciation for the capacities children have and feel motivated to reach them in ways that CarO manages to. As is the case for specific groups experiencing CarO, educators note impacts on team-building and shared excitement on the educator workforce and even the whole school community.
Important lessons learned: Communication with educators before CarO is essential; misunderstandings about what CarO is, how to prepare for it, which children, how many of them should be present, all limit impact, not least by creating anxiety for the teachers and distracting the clowns from their main mission. Learning activities should also be integrated throughout the programme, to share experiences and act on emerging findings.
In total RED NOSES partner organisations in 7 countries implement around 300 CarO interventions per year, benefitting more than 2.500 children on a yearly basis.