A five-year-old boy from Chalfont St Giles who suffers from autism had a special theatre experience after being given his own special viewing room.
Barnaby Wallace is autistic and his condition means social settings can be challenging for him, so a big day out, such as a visit to the theatre, can be a strain for him.
However, he and his grandmother, Nicole, who took him to the theatre, needn’t have worried as Wycombe Swan Theatre pulled out all the stops for Barnaby.
Having been made aware that Barnaby had special needs, the theatre immediately offered their viewing room, a quiet space he could use to view the performance if it began to overwhelm his sensory input.
This is crucial for people like Barnaby, who can easily become distressed.
The theatre could have stopped there, but they had a very special present for Barnaby. As a rare treat, he was allowed to join the press in meeting the cast after the show.
Struggling as always with socialising, Barnaby retreated into himself, but then the dazzling Naomi Cowe (Snow White) spotted him. Together with Robert Tripolino (Prince Harry), she put him at his ease and even won a smile.
A spokesman for Wycombe Swan said: “It is always a pleasure to do something special for our guests, and I’m delighted to know that Barnaby had such a magical time.”
0 Comments