Celebrating inclusion through storytelling
At The Makaton Charity, we love to shine a light on organisations who go the extra mile to make their spaces inclusive, welcoming, and accessible. That's why we're thrilled to share the story of Story Craft Theatre, the first theatre company in York to become Makaton Friendly. Read on to hear directly from co-founder Janet Cosgriff about their inspiring journey...
Hello! I’m Janet-Emily Cosgriff, and together with my wonderful friend and fellow actor Cassie Vallance, I co-founded Story Craft Theatre back in 2018. We’re based in York and are passionate about creating joyful, interactive theatre and storytelling experiences for young children and their families. Our work blends our professional backgrounds in theatre with a real love for early years education.
In 2020, everything changed for me when my youngest child was born with Down syndrome. Very quickly, we were introduced to Makaton and discovered that it not only supported my child’s communication, but also their confidence, emotional wellbeing, and relationships with others.
I was fortunate to meet Emma Thompson, a local Makaton Tutor at Handmade Voices, and took part in her Level 1 training. The impact was immediate. Makaton gave my child a voice and reduced frustration. For me, it was a true lightbulb moment - not just as a parent, but as a theatre-maker. I suddenly saw how powerful Makaton could be, not only in our family life but in our creative work too.
Cassie and I were both inspired to continue our Makaton learning with Emma, weaving signs into our stories and performances. Over time, it became a natural, joyful part of what we do. Whether we’re in small storytelling sessions or on stage in bigger productions, Makaton is a part of us —making sure everyone feels welcome, seen, and included.
Today, we tour our Makaton-supported shows across the country, with recent performances at venues like York Theatre Royal, Burnley Mechanics, and Chichester Festival Theatre. We also launched “Makaton Mondays” on Instagram, where we share a new sign each week to help our audiences keep learning and signing together at home. It's playful, it’s practical and we hope it brings a little bit of Makaton magic into people’s weeks.
We’re incredibly proud to be the first theatre company in York to become officially Makaton Friendly. For us, it’s about more than a badge; it’s a reflection of our belief that every child deserves to be able to express themselves, to understand, and to feel included.
We are really proud to work alongside organisations like Story Craft Theatre that are making a difference in their communities every day. Their story is a wonderful reminder that inclusion starts with communication—and that with just a few signs and symbols, we can all help others feel seen and heard.
Could your organisation be next?
Join our growing community of Makaton Aware and Makaton Friendly organisations. Visit our Makaton Places webpage to find out how you can make your setting more inclusive and accessible for all.