Inclusive Storytelling Circle — The Feeler
Working in pairs, participants explore touch and smell — with one sense temporarily limited — to shape a character and a setting from sensory impressions, then negotiate these elements into a shared story. The story is finally transformed into a comic strip, blending imagination, collaboration, and visual expression.
THEME
Sensory exploration, creativity, and collaborative storytelling.
COMPLEXITY
Beginner
GROUP SIZE
8–30 participants, divided into pairs.
AGE
16+
TIME
90–120 minutes
Objectives
- To stimulate creativity and imagination through sensory exploration
- To develop storytelling and narrative-building skills
- To encourage cooperation, communication, and negotiation within pairs
- To increase awareness of how different senses influence perception and meaning
- To support self-expression through visual and narrative forms
Materials
- Blindfolds (one per pair)
- A selection of small objects with different textures
- Scents or fruits (e.g. citrus, spices, herbs)
- Paper and pens for note-taking
- Drawing paper or comic templates
- Markers, pencils, or crayons
Overview
Storytelling invites participants to explore creativity through touch and smell while working in pairs. By temporarily limiting one sense at a time, participants create a character and a setting based on sensory impressions. These elements are then combined into a shared story through discussion and negotiation. The final step transforms the story into a comic strip, encouraging visual storytelling and group sharing. The activity supports collaboration, imagination, and reflective learning in a safe and engaging environment.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Group Setup:
Divide the large group of participants into pairs. Explain that the activity focuses on imagination, sensory exploration, and collaborative storytelling.
2. Part One: Touch and Character Creation–“The Feeler” Activity:
One participant in each pair is blindfolded. This participant is given an object to hold and explore using only their sense of touch. While holding the object, they answer the following questions:
- What do you think it is made of?
- What colour do you think it is?
- If it were a man or a woman, which would it be?
- Give it a name.
- How old is it?
- What does it do? Where does it work?
- What are its passions?
- What does it dislike?
- Think of a phrase that keeps repeating.
- What would it like to achieve?
The second participant, who is not blindfolded, writes down all the answers on a sheet of paper.
3. Part Two: Smell and Setting Creation–“The Smeller”:
After all the questions for the first part are answered, the roles are switched. The second participant is blindfolded and asked to smell different scents or fruits. Based on the smell, they answer the following questions:
- Do you like the smell?
- Have you smelt this before? Where?
- Imagine you are in a place that smells like this. Where are you?
- What does the place look like?
- Who else is there?
- What is happening?
- What are you doing?
- How do you feel?
- What would you like to do?
- Why can’t you do it?
All responses are written down by the partner on a separate sheet of paper.
4. Story Creation and Negotiation:
Once both sets of questions have been answered, the pair is invited to create a shared story using the collected responses. Participants discuss and negotiate which elements they want to include and how the character and setting connect. The goal is to agree on a final version of the story that combines both perspectives.
5. Comic Strip Creation and Presentation:
After the story is finalised, the participants create a comic strip based on their narration. They illustrate key moments of the story, focusing on characters, setting, and emotions. Once completed, each pair presents their comic to the larger group and briefly shares their creative process.
Debriefing and Evaluation:
Invite participants to reflect on the activity in a group discussion. Use guiding questions such as:
- How did it feel to rely on only one sense at a time?
- What was challenging or surprising during the activity?
- How did you negotiate which ideas to keep in the final story?
- What did you learn about collaboration and communication?
- How did turning the story into a comic change the way you thought about the narrative?
Encourage participants to share both emotional reactions and practical insights. Evaluate the activity by observing levels of engagement, cooperation within pairs, creativity in storytelling, and the ability to transform abstract ideas into a visual narrative.
Tips for Facilitators:
- Explain the instructions clearly before starting, especially the blindfolded parts, to ensure participants feel safe and comfortable.
- Choose objects and scents that are neutral, familiar, and non-triggering.
- Monitor the pairs during the activity and offer support if participants get stuck or feel unsure.
- Encourage respectful listening and equal participation within each pair.
- Keep time reminders visible to help participants move smoothly from one stage to the next.
- Emphasise that there are no right or wrong answers and that imagination is more important than realism.
Variations:Adapt the activity for younger participants by reducing the number of questions or focusing only on one sense (touch or smell). For larger groups, form teams of three, adding an observer who supports note-taking and timekeeping. Replace smells with sounds or textures for a different sensory focus. Instead of a comic strip, invite participants to create a short performance, storyboard, or illustrated poster based on their story. The activity can also be used as a writing exercise by turning the final story into a short text or poem.
Disclaimer:This activity involves temporary sensory deprivation through blindfolding. Participation should always be voluntary, and participants must feel free to stop at any time. Avoid using strong, unfamiliar, or potentially allergenic scents. Clearly check for allergies or sensitivities in advance. Ensure a safe environment by keeping the space clear of obstacles and supervising all blindfolded participants at all times.
Theatre activities
MODULE 1 NEEDS ANALYSIS
Needs analysis activities
MODULE 2 MUSIC AND MOVEMENT
Contact
Iuliana Adriana PAVEL (project manager)
iuliana.pavel@a4action.ro
A4ACTION – Antim Ivireanu Culture House, Islaz Alley, Ghermănești, Snagov, Ilfov District, Romania, 077170
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the ANPCDEFP. Neither the European Union nor the ANPCDEFP can be held responsible for them.
The project is conducted by the following organisations: A4ACTION (Romania) – coordinator, Udruga Delta (Croatia), InterAktion (Austria), Asociación Espacio Rojo (Spain) and GAIA Museum Outsider Art (Denmark).