Relaxed Performances to be added to Bristol Hippodrome shows this year

During the busy Christmas pantomime season at the Bristol Hippodrome in December 2013, a significant milestone in the theatre’s history was reached. It wasn’t about celebrities, world premiere shows or record breaking runs. But just as important as the glitz and the glamour, the Hippodrome quietly celebrated twenty years of accessible performances.

Currently, the theatre offers three types of Assisted performance to help patrons with additional needs:

Sign Language Interpreted performances, feature a sign language interpreter using BSL for deaf patrons.

Captioned performances are for audience members who are hearing impaired. Captioned performances work in a similar way to sub-titles on TV. The wording is delivered live by a captioner, who must work hard to deliver text at the right time in order not to spoil jokes or surprises.

And Audio Described performances, are for visually impaired patrons, as well as touch tours prior to the show.  This features a sighted person describing the action and events on stage to visually impaired audience members.

The Hippodrome now offers all three types of assisted performance on long-running shows where possible.

As well as this, facilities in the listed building have updated during the years to feature an accessible toilet, lifts and a special platform in the auditorium for wheelchair users and their helpers.

A dedicated team work hard at the theatre to help with seating arrangements for access requirements and on the night, trained front of house staff are on hand to help during performances.

When Group Sales Manager Trish Hodson, started at the Hippodrome in 1994 as the Access Officer, the Hippodrome only offered Sign Language Interpreted performances.

Now, twenty years later, the theatre has embraced the Disability Discrimination Act, extending the types of accessible performances offered, to culminate in the Hippodrome’s first Relaxed Performance later in the year.

Staff at the Hippodrome are now looking forward to adding Relaxed Performances for theatre patrons who are on the autistic Spectrum, have sensory and communication disorders or a learning disability.

Lots of research and trials have taken place in London’s West End to come up with a Best Practice for Relaxed Performances.

A typical performance will see a relaxed attitude to noise in the auditorium, safe chill-out areas which can be used during performances and bookers will be sent a special pack – a visual story – with detailed information and photographs so audience members where necessary can be fully prepared for what will be happening when. To help reduce anxiety, there will also be familiarisation meetings in the theatre before shows.

For more information about Assisted Performances at the Bristol Hippodrome contact Trish Hodson at: Bristol Hippodrome Access Department – 0117 302 3222 (Monday – Friday, 10am – 6pm or Email: trishhodson@theambassadors.com

For more information on Relaxed Performance research in London’s West End, visit: www.solt.co.uk/relaxed-performances

For the Bristol Hippodrome: www.atgtickets.com/bristol