Bringing Makaton to the Millennium Forum
At The Makaton Charity, we’re always inspired by the powerful stories of families who use Makaton to break down barriers and build connection in their communities. This is the story of Ana and her daughter María – a journey of joy, challenge, and advocacy that helped make their local theatre a more inclusive space for everyone!
Hello, my name is Ana and I live in Derry. I’ve been a Makaton Tutor since 2021. One of my aims in becoming a Tutor was to deliver training in mainstream education, and my other goal was to bring Makaton into the heart of my local community—so that people who experience communication difficulties every day can feel included, understood, and heard.
I love going to the theatre, and I’ve always made a point of taking my daughter María to live performances whenever possible. María has a rare chromosome disorder—she’s the only one in the world with this specific diagnosis—as well as complex medical needs and communication difficulties. She is non/pre-verbal and uses a Total Communication approach to express herself. She understands English, Spanish, and Makaton.
We started going to the Millennium Forum, our local theatre, as soon as María was well enough after surgery and there was no risk to her health. I used to take her to the Wednesday matinees. In those early days, a trip to the theatre was like packing for a weekend away: seven changes of clothes, a portable step so she could rest her feet on the toilet, containers of specially prepared food... But the moment we arrived, it was all worth it. The music, the lights, the acting, the singing—it was pure joy. And the look on María’s face, the laughter and giggles, made every bit of effort worthwhile.
I couldn’t help noticing, though, that María was often the only child with additional needs in the audience. And I understood why: a theatre visit can feel overwhelming and exhausting when your child has complex needs.
Everything changed in 2013, when Derry-Londonderry became the first ever UK City of Culture. The city came alive! Local talent was everywhere, and thanks to María’s ability to charm her way to the front of any queue, we often had the best seats in the house! More importantly, we got to see first-hand how kind and understanding people can be. María made people laugh, sparked conversations, and seemed to bring strangers together. Disabled people weren’t just present - they were visible, included, and celebrated as part of the wider community.
As part of the City of Culture programme, the Millennium Forum introduced its first ever Relaxed Performance of the Panto. We love Panto in Derry! María was 12 at the time, and her little brother Raúl was 3. The theatre invited parents and carers to preview the show and share our ideas on what a relaxed performance should look like. They adjusted the lighting and sound, shortened a few scenes, and offered seat adaptors so that everyone could feel comfortable. Before the show, we received an email with photos explaining what to expect.
It was bliss. I bumped into other parents and carers—we chatted, we understood each other, and no one blinked an eye when our children did what they do: sat, ran, clapped, sang, danced, got restless, needed to leave and come back. We all just got it. It was the best feeling in the world—our children were enjoying Panto like everyone else, and as parents, we got to just be parents at the theatre.
That first relaxed performance was such a positive experience that it’s become a regular fixture in the Millennium Forum’s programme ever since. When I qualified as a Makaton Tutor, I reached out to the team—and they welcomed Makaton with open arms. The Millennium Forum is now proudly Makaton Friendly, and I’m honoured to support them as their Tutor.
Since then, they’ve gone above and beyond. In 2023, the cast and theatre staff performed “Jingle Bells” using Makaton. In 2024, it was “Sweet Caroline,” and in 2025, “Working 9 to 5”! During the relaxed performances, I volunteer to support one of María’s friends—our very own “Makaton Master” Eve McIvor—and I’ve even ended up on stage signing in front of the audience!
María now lives in a residential setting, but going to the Panto is still a key date in her calendar. It’s a time to reconnect with friends and feel part of the Derry community. In 2021, it was especially emotional—it was the first time María had seen her friends since moving in 2019. The staff at the Millennium Forum are always kind, respectful, and non-judgemental. On one occasion, María came home to see Hairspray. It wasn’t a relaxed performance, and I was nervous—would she be too loud? Would we bother other audience members? But the staff reassured me. “We’re an inclusive theatre,” they said, “We take María just as she is—and her mother too!”
Ana and María’s story is a wonderful reminder of how much inclusion matters – not just in education or care, but in everyday experiences like a trip to the theatre. Their journey helped shape a more welcoming space for families in Derry, and their continued involvement has inspired others to follow their lead.
Do you know a venue, group or organisation in your community that goes above and beyond to support communication and inclusion? You can encourage them to become Makaton Friendly too! Find out more about the Makaton Friendly scheme and how to get involved.