Stage Door News
Stage Door News
The Stratford Festival is pleased to offer a special relaxed performance of the sold-out family hit of the summer, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, on Tuesday, August 2, at the Avon Theatre.
Relaxed performances are specifically designed to welcome patrons who will benefit from a less restricted audience environment. Patrons of all abilities are welcome, including but not limited to those with intellectual or learning disabilities, sensory processing conditions or autism. There is a relaxed attitude to noise and movement within the auditorium, and some minor production changes have been made to reduce the intensity of light, sound and other potentially startling effects.
“The joy of live theatre is a pleasure we often take for granted,” says Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino. “But we know that for some, a trip to the theatre can be daunting. A relaxed performance is a truly remarkable, freeing experience - and may change the way we all view theatrical performances in the future.”
“This performance is open to anyone who might benefit from a more relaxed environment,” says Executive Director Anita Gaffney. “People of all ages and abilities are welcome, including parents with small children and guests with additional needs. It’s a chance for the whole family to relax and enjoy this magical show without concern over the usual conventions of theatre etiquette.”
In preparing for this performance, the Festival worked in partnership with Autism Ontario, L’Arche Stratford and Stratford Community Living to create a comfortable and enjoyable experience for all guests. The play will be performed as written, with some modifications and accommodations:
•The actors will greet the audience before the show to introduce themselves and reveal various performance elements, such as masks and costumes, to help bridge the gap between reality and fantasy.
•The house lights will remain partially on and the intensity of some sound cues will be reduced.
•A relaxed attitude toward audience protocol will be encouraged, ensuring guests are comfortable with vocalizations and movement in the audience, as well as the need of some theatregoers to come and go during the performance.
•A quiet space will be available outside the auditorium for anyone wanting a break, offering a variety of items including sensory toys, colouring sheets and bean bag chairs.
• A set of resources, including a visual walkthrough of the play and a virtual tour of the theatre, will be distributed to guests in advance, and available online: https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/Visit/Accessibility/Relaxed
Tickets for this performance can be purchased through the box office at 1.800.567.1600.
For more information on accessibility programs and services offered by the Stratford Festival, please visit: https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/Visit/Accessibility.
C.S. Lewis’s timeless classic The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, dramatized by Adrian Mitchell, follows the fantastic adventures of four children sent from their home in wartime London to live at a professor’s house in the British countryside. Inspired by wonder, the siblings travel through a wardrobe to the land of Narnia to fulfill their destiny.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the 2016 Schulich Children’s Play. Support for the 2016 season of the Avon Theatre is generously provided by the Birmingham family.
Photo: Tom McCamus as Aslan, Gareth Potter and Sara Farb. ©2016 David Hou.
2016-07-21
Stratford: Stratford offers a "relaxed" performance of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" on August 2