A five-week sensory journey into the Victorian Pleasure Gardens
Music, live bassoon, voice and tactile materials brought the Museum of London’s Victorian Pleasure Gardens into a five-week project with children at Riverside Special School.
What we did together
I composed music in repeating layers that could be simplified or expanded to suit the group on the day. Grass, feathers, coins, tickets, an acrobatic toy and shared rope play offered different ways into the story. Live bassoon followed small gestures and interactions: a rocking movement, fingers exploring a texture, or a moment of shared anticipation.
Teachers and teaching assistants joined the activity and helped interpret pupils’ responses. Their knowledge of the children shaped what we noticed and how the work developed.
What staff noticed
“Everyone was able to join in their own way and on their own level.”
Teacher feedback recorded during the project
Possible curriculum connections
This project offers starting points for music, communication, sensory exploration, shared attention and learning about the past. In a new commission, we would agree the relevant connections with your team and adapt them to your learners.
Project film
Museum of London & Riverside — Victorian Pleasure Gardens
Film to be added.
Planning something similar?
A linked school and museum project, sensory residency or staff-supported workshop series can be shaped around your collection, topic and setting.
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