Access - Relaxed and BSL Performances

We feel passionately that our work should be accessible to everyone, and that it is our duty as a leading arts organisation to account for children’s varying needs. We do this through accessible activities like: 

• Relaxed Performances: Designed for individuals who benefit from a more relaxed environment, such as those with sensory needs, communication challenges, or learning disabilities. We limit attendance to 80% of capacity and adjust sound and lighting levels. Tickets are subsidised at £5, a reduction from our standard £12 for children and £14 for adults. We offer this reduced price as we understand that some guardians may feel concerned that their child may have difficulties along the way, and so the standard price might be a further barrier that we wish to remove. 
• BSL Performances: Tailored for those who use British Sign Language, with interpreters positioned at the front of the stage, ensuring D/deaf audiences can fully engage with the performance.
• Family Activities: Interactive workshops inspired by our current shows, designed for families. Funding helps us collaborate with specialists to offer free, creative activities for children attending our relaxed performances, promoting skill development and creativity.

The Disabled Children’s Partnership survey (2022) found that just 1 in 5 parents of disabled and neurodiverse children said that their family received the support needed to enable their child to fulfil their potential. Your support helps make these vital programs possible, plugging the gap and ensuring that everyone’s needs are accounted for.

We recognise there are additional steps we can take and more specialised shows we can offer to meet diverse needs, and we’re actively working towards this. 

However, we also face challenges in reaching those who would benefit most from these performances so if you know someone who might benefit from our accessible shows, please help us spread the word. Your support in sharing this information can make a significant difference in connecting those who need it with the resources we offer.

For more information on how these activities function and when they are, you can find that here.

A £25 monthly donation could support our access offering, ensuring we offer at minimum one BSL and Relaxed show per production run, with the potential for more. Please consider donating today.