Sensory-Friendly Cinema

Sensory-Friendly Cinema screenings are over for 2023. Thank you to everyone who attended!

‘Wild World’ Cinema Weekends!

Sensory Friendly Cinema – A weekend of inclusive, interactive and immersive cinema screenings for neurodiverse families and friends to enjoy together!

“Cinema has no boundary, it is a ribbon of dream” – Orson Welles

Different Planet Arts – winners of the Children and Young People Now Play Award 2022 – are thrilled to be bringing their new innovative Sensory Friendly Cinema to Depot, Lewes. This event is a beautifully curated programme of films and animations based around the natural world, delivered in an innovative experiential way, SEND inclusive, immersive, interactive and fun!

For one weekend every season in 2023, we will watch and experience films in a unique new way, with specialist performers bringing stories to life through sensory moments, live music, activities, movement and play!

Sensory Friendly Cinema explores and embraces how we all see the world in different ways.

Think secret cinema meets autism friendly relaxed cinema meets sensory cinema. It’s a cinematic event for the whole family!

These films are particularly suitable for 5-11 year olds, but will be immensely enjoyed by all age groups.

So get your creature costumes on, and come sing, dance and make some noise with us!

Sensory-Friendly Cinema

What will happen

When you arrive at Depot you and your families and carers will be welcomed by our friendly team of performers in the foyer and given a bag of interactive sensory surprises.

You will be shown around the space and have time to get used to the environment. You will meet our team who will greet you with music, puppetry and a playful welcome.

We will then settle into our screening room and get comfy, ready for the screening. There will be lots of music, interaction and sensory activities and all performances will be tailored to the needs of the audience.

The films and animations

In this carefully selected programme of epic, funny and heartwarming acclaimed films and animations, you and your family and caregivers will become part of the adventures as we explore each of the films through sensory moments, bringing the stories to life with puppets, live music, props and special effects by Different Planet Arts’ team of specialist facilitators, performers and musicians.

You will be part of the experience as we transform the cinema into a Wild World quest, across land, sea and mountains.

Age Range

These films are particularly suitable for 5-11 year olds, but will be immensely enjoyed by all age groups.

Feel free to get in touch and ask us about suitability. 

Seasonal Weekend Dates for 2023

Events run from 10:45 – 12:35

 Sat 1 & Sun 2 July

Sat 2 & Sun 3 September

Sat 7 & Sun 8 October

Sat 9, Sun 10 & Mon 11 December

Event Infomation

SATURDAYS Screening
10:45 – 12:35

Enter the world of the Wildlings and their friends. The Saturday programme will be a collection of several short films, with a cast of animated characters like Twoot The Newt, Rock, Spinikey the Hedgehog and Ink the Octopus. Our performers and musicians will help you become part of the stories, taking you into the faraway wild worlds through imagination, music, interactive sensory activities, puppets, play and fun.

Come dressed as your favourite animal!

Saturdays Timings, just to give you an idea
All screenings are interactive and as such will vary in length, according to the live adventures that unfold!

10:45 – The fun begins in the foyer where the team will meet and greet
11:00 – 11:30 –  First screening
11:30 – 11:50 – Break
11:50 – 12:20 – Second screening
12:20 – 12:35 – Goodbye and exit

SUNDAYS Screening
10:45 – 12:35

Different Planet Arts sensory film Squirrel and the Midnight Forest will feature in Sundays programme. Join Squirrel, Stag, Owl and other magical adventures in the midnight forest.

Loads of interactive fun for all the family to join in together as we join Squirrel and his friends in The Midnight Forest to help him on his quest to find his hidden stash of nuts, and solve the mystery of the face at the bottom of the pool. Our team will once again draw you into the wild, transporting you into the forest and over the ocean with music and performance.

This programme will run for the same duration as Saturday but there will be no break. The audience are welcome to come and go and take a short break if they wish.

Come dressed as your favourite animal!

Sundays timings, just to give you an idea…
All screenings are interactive and as such will vary in length, according to the live adventures that unfold!

10:45 – 11:00 – The fun begins in the foyer where the team will meet and greet
11:00 – 12:00 – Screening
12:00 – 12:15 – Goodbye and exit

MONDAY Screening
17:15 – 19:00

Enter the world of the Wildlings and their friends. The monday programme will be a collection of several short films, with a cast of animated characters like Twoot The Newt, Rock, Spinikey the Hedgehog and Ink the Octopus.

Our performers and musicians will help you become part of the stories, taking you into the faraway wild worlds through imagination, music, interactive sensory activities, puppets, play and fun.

Come dressed as your favourite animal!

Mondays Timings, just to give you an idea…

All screenings are interactive and as such will vary in length, according to the live adventures that unfold!

17:15 – The fun begins in the foyer where the team will meet and greet
17:30 – 18:00 – First screening
18:00 – 18:20 – Break
18:20 – 18:50 – Second screening
18:50 – 19:00 – Goodbye and exit

Facilities

Access and support film for Sensory Friendly Cinema at Depot

The Cinema

Audiences will be limited to 30 people, so there’s lots of room to move around and get up for a wander. Alongside the Different Planet Arts team, Depot’s staff will be on hand to help.

The lighting and sound will be adjusted and we have an easy-going attitude to comings and goings and making noise, if people need to move around, be vocal or take a break from the screening.

Entrances and exits will be monitored by staff who regularly host relaxed cinema events

Breakout Space

There will also be a designated breakout space, just to chill. This will be next to the cinema screening room in Roberts Bar (which will be reserved for this event) and the team will show you where it is should you need it.

Food

You can enjoy food in our cafe/restaurant (take a look at our daytime menu), or you can bring a snack with you.

Toilets

There are two accessible toilets at the venue. Please note these are large toilets, each with a child changing table suitable for weights up to 23kg. There is no hoist at this facility.

Getting here

Depot is on Pinwell Road at the bottom of Station Street, next to Lewes railway station. Mini buses and taxis can drop off directly outside the entrance.

Depot, Pinwell Road, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 2JS
Enquiries: 01273 525354

Depot has two disabled spaces outside. The council-run Pinwell Road Car Park has one disabled space. Lewes railway station car park is immediately adjacent and has arrangements for Blue Badge holders. Find out more >

Different Planet Arts

About Different Planet Arts

“Different Planet Arts produces unique sensory theatre and immersive arts experiences and delivers Inclusive Play Skills Training, for children and young people with complex disabilities

We work in theatres, arts centres, schools, hospitals and community settings to create events, experiences, and environments in which we facilitate participants to co-create and play – connecting their inner and outer worlds. We are an artist-led charity that promotes inclusion and empowerment through imagination and participation. We work with hard to reach individuals and communities, devising different events and happenings tailored to the needs of specific groups of participants.

We achieve this through the principle of 360 degree inclusion, this enables children and young people with complex disabilities and their families who are often excluded and isolated to participate in cultural activities within the wider community.

We also deliver training in sensory theatre and inclusive play for parents, carers, and professionals.”

Find out more at differentplanetarts.co.uk