Beyond the Footlights: Curtains Up on a Sensory-Friendly Theatre

Drama for All Ages: A Case Study in Making Theatre Accessible for Sensory Sensitivities

Theatre has the unique power to unite diverse groups, spark imagination, and inspire change. Yet, not everyone has had the chance to experience the magic of live performance due to various sensory barriers. At Young People’s Theatre (YPT), the mission to make accessible theatre more inclusive to all young people, regardless of their abilities, is more than an ambition – it’s a promise in action.

Accessible Theatre: Opening the Curtain for All

Accessible theatre isn’t just about ramps and wider doorways. While physical accessibility is crucial for ensuring everyone can comfortably enter and navigate the theatre space, a truly inclusive theatre experience goes beyond the physical. Accessible theatre encompasses a range of practices that cater to diverse needs and sensory sensitivities.

This includes offering sensory-friendly performances with modified lighting and sound levels, designated quiet areas, and fidget toys for those who might find the traditional theatre environment overwhelming.

Many people experience the world differently. Some have sensory sensitivities, where everyday sights, sounds, and textures feel overwhelming. Others are prone to sensory overload, where the typical theatre environment, with bright lights and loud sound effects, can be incredibly uncomfortable. These challenges can be faced by people with a wide range of disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and sensory processing disorder.

Accessible theatre addresses these concerns. It offers sensory-friendly performances with modified lighting and sound levels. Designated quiet areas and fidget toys provide a sense of calm for those who might find the traditional setting overwhelming. Additionally, theatres can incorporate assistive listening devices for hearing difficulties, audio descriptions for visually impaired patrons, and sign language interpretation for deaf and hard of hearing, partially deaf, or has partial hearing loss audiences.

By creating an accessible and sensory-friendly environment, theatres can ensure that the magic of live performance is open to everyone. This not only promotes inclusivity and social equity, but also allows a wider audience to experience the power and joy of theatre.

Background on a Sensory Rich Performance

Young People’s Theatre, located in Toronto, Canada has been growing awareness of the need for inclusivity. Their team is committed to accessible theatre. Moreover, their leadership recognized a critical gap where not all potential patrons could enjoy what YPT had to offer. This realization sparked a commitment to ensure that every child and family could experience the transformative power of theatre. With long experience fostering accessiblity and inclusion in arts and culture, they decided offer relaxed performance for their new production, ‘The Darkest Dark’ one of the most sensory-rich performances around. Based on the book by astronaut Chris Hadfield and Kate Fillon, the play is full of noise and light. Could it be made sensory-friendly? With the commitment of YPT and Sensory Friendly Solutions, the answer is yes!

Key Steps in Assessing for a Relaxed Performance

Sensory Friendly Solutions completed a thourough audit of the experience:

• from purchasing tickets on the website
• through to a visit to the theatre to explore the space
• enjoying an un-altered performance of “The Darkest Dark”
• reviewing every line and direction in the script

​In addition, the YPT team brought their years’ of experience with relaxed performances and, importantly, their exceptional skills at fostering inclusion to the brainstorming and sharing sessions. Accessbile theatre experiences need to include the performers, the crew, in addition to theatre front of house staff to create solutions, together. Sensory Friendly Solutions has impact because we create solutions with other people.

Sensory Friendly Recommendations for Accessible Theatre

Ticket Purchase Process​

• Adjust the contrast ratio between the font and the background colour to improve user experience. ​

Entering the Building​

• Ensure staff are easily recognizable. E.g. add a brightly colored shirt or scarf, visible from front and back views of the person.​
• Add seating on the second-floor mezzanine, even temporarily.
• ​Add spaces and seating for people to wait.​
• Also, set up a calming space where patrons can take a break.​

Planetarium

• Use outbound emails during the ticket purchase process to manage customer expectations.​
• Update the website should be updated to reflect the capacity limits and timing. ​
• Finally, add timed booking capability to reduce anxiety about the planetarium experience. ​

Navigating to the Assigned Seats ​

• Consider keeping the middle seats unoccupied to facilitate mobility in the theatre. ​
• More space will allow patrons the opportunity to move more freely during the performance. ​
• Coats and bags can create visual distraction. ​
• Consider having a coat check option available (especially in winter) to reduce clutter. ​
• In addtion, turn on aisle lights to facilitate mobility and navigation (especially for latecomers navigating to their seats).​

Theatre Environment​

• Prior to the show, the air was was foggy and hazy (likely from the fog machine use prior to curtains). Eliminate this feature.​
• Loud music was playing as patrons were taking their seats. Decrease the volume or eliminate the entrance music altogether.​
• While having refreshments available is advisable, consider providing any refreshments and snacks for sale in packaging that will create less noise/distractions. ​
• Alternatively, let people know what to expect when food and beverage can be consumed in the theatre.​
• Communicate a scent free policy during the ticketing process to inform patrons that it will be a scent free environment.​

Performance

• Consider adding an intermission for a sensory friendly performance. ​
• An introduction to the cast before the start of the play would be helpful, as well as more warnings pertaining to certain scenes such as when the characters come through from the back of the theatre with flashlights.​
• The staff used bright flashlights to guide people who were late/took a break. Let patrons know that bright lights are used; important for safety but also sensory-rich in a dark environment. So patrons can select seats further away.​
• Keep house lights up to eliminate some of the intensity of the stage lighting.​
• Dim flashlights used during the performance as well as the flashing lights, red panic light and green monster eyes.​
• Mute scene transitions; decrease the volume of the music and provide less intense visual effects. For example, consider monochromatic visual effect that are the same each time.​

End of the Performance and Exiting the Building ​

• Provide communications (through an announcement and signage) the end of the show to inform people that anyone who would like additional assistance leaving are invited to stay in their seats until the aisles are clear.​
• Ensure staff are on hand at the conclusion of the performance to assist patrons in exiting the theatre and the building. ​

Conclusion

In conclusion, Young People’s Theatre’s commitment to making ‘The Darkest Dark’ a sensory-friendly performance as part of their accessible theatre is a fantastic step, one of many they take consistently to promote inclusivity in the arts and accessible theatre. This initiative serves as a shining example of how theatres can proactively address the diverse needs of their audience, creating a welcoming and accessible environment for all.

Are you like YPT and imagine a world where everyone feels welcome and comfortable, regardless of sensory sensitivities? This short video will show you how to make it a reality with our training membership where you get all the courses you need to learn how to create sensory-friendly events for one low price!

The Journey Continues: you can also continue to explore a world of sensory-friendly possibilities with additional case studies!

Creating a sensory-friendly space is a fantastic step towards building a more inclusive world. But budgetary concerns can sometimes hold you back. The good news is, there are resources available to help bridge the gap between vision and action!

Explore our blog post, Making Inclusion a Reality: Funding Your Sensory-Friendly Transformation to discover a range of funding options, from grants to creative fundraising ideas.

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