Our Impact in 2025 - 2026
SPOTLIGHT ON ‘ The Ancient Oak of Baldor’
This major touring production reached 1,053 people with PMLD and 1,358 carers at 38 venues across England, Scotland and Wales across 2025. There is very little provision of high quality accessible theatre for people with PMLD, so we tour as widely as possible to meet an increasing audience demand; across 2025 we sold more than 90% of available tickets, with 22 venues selling out completely.
Frozen Light make work for adults with profound learning disabilities, as there are virtually no opportunities for cultural engagement on offer for this group once they leave education. For ‘The Ancient Oak’ we explored adult themes of love and loss, with care and sensitivity to the needs and experience of our audiences. The performance wove an intricate, textured sensory world of folklore, nature and ceremony in the heart of the forest; audiences were invited to crunch, smell, taste, touch and listen as our skilled sensory performers guided them on this journey.
The response from our audiences was incredible, particularly highlighting these universal themes:
'Fab show - felt like a proper professional quality theatre performance, yet accessible to those with profound impairments. Respectful and not 'childish' like some things aimed at those with impairments are.'
Our high production values in visual and sensory design make a huge difference for our audience, providing a gateway into the experience and making them feel just as valued as any other theatre-goer:
'I didn’t feel like I was at a sensory session; I felt like I was watching a really high quality piece of theatre that also was accessible with a sensory element, and that is actually also powerful because again it shows the respect you have for these attendees. It’s the only thing I’ve ever been to I think where it was fully aimed at people with PMLD yet the quality didn’t lack.'
Our productions have a lasting impact, as SEND professionals take the experience back into their care setting:
'It was truly transformative in the way I think about communication and sharing experiences. As a social worker in a charity focussed on PMLD, I feel the experiential momentum from attending Frozen Light has changed the way I work. I am now working on a piece of work using the sky and a drum to correlate emotional experiences... all because of what I was welcomed to experience at the theatre show.'
The impact for our family audiences across the UK, who attend with a loved one, is immeasurable:
‘My daughter Laura is 36 and has severe learning disabilities we have never been to a show/live performance that meets her needs before and it was amazing. Thank you very much to all the cast and staff that made this a very special day for Laura.'
“Amazing. Everything was done to make Susie welcome and to offer her a complete sensory experience. The performers were absolutely fantastic and this is such a unique and special experience for my daughter. There is so little out there for her and this is just wonderful. Thank you.”
Spiral House
In 2025 we premiered our new venue takeover, ‘Spiral House’, at The North Wall Arts Centre, Oxford. This immersive production has our highest ever capacity, reaching 87 people with PMLD, carers and companions across 2 4-hour performance days. A variety of sensory delights were on offer across multiple spaces, including a DJ spinning disco beats, a rock gig, sensory cocktails, sensory storytelling, interactive music workshops, chill out zone and picnic area, all within our eccentric Spiral universe.
‘Spiral House’ gives our audiences the experience of a nightclub or musical festival - environments they may never be able to access - by lending them the freedom to move between spaces and enjoy the extravaganza on offer as their heart desires.
“Such a fun, exciting and sensory filled day with lots to experience and enjoy!”
Fire Songs
‘Fire Songs’ is Frozen Light’s multi-sensory choral experience for people with PMLD. Before bringing the show to a venue, we work for months in advance with local singers to form the community choir who will sing their hearts out, producing the beautiful soundscape of the show. In 2025 ‘Fire Songs’ was performed for the third year running at Kings Place, London, to sell-out audiences.
‘Fire Songs’ brings together choir and audience members, two groups who may live nearby but might never meet, for a soulful shared musical experience.
“An extremely personal and intimate show that was entirely accessible to my son with PMLD. The cast were amazing at quietly and confidently engaging my son, and others, in the show using props that stimulated all the senses. I’ve never seen my son so engaged in anything before. My jaw hurt from smiling so much.”
Night Out in Nature
Frozen Light are working with the National Trust and English Heritage to explore how they can improve access for people with PMLD. Since 2022, we have been bringing our outdoor sensory installation, ‘Night out in Nature’ into the grounds of some of their most stunning sites, including Walmer Castle in Kent, Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire and Oxburgh Estate in Norfolk. We hire a Mobiloo accessible toilet van for the day, so that our audience members can stay and enjoy the full day out.
As a result of our visits with ‘Night out in Nature’, the National Trust are considering more accessible alternatives to their gravel pathways. We aim that by demonstrating the positive impacts of accessible events and facilities, this project has a legacy reaching far into the future.
“This was a lovely celebratory, welcoming, inclusive event with fun, music and sensory exploration and friendly interactions in a new inspiring environment. A really valuable experience. Thank you so much!”
