To this relaxed performance sounds great?

[Haggisfish3]

www.thsh.co.uk/event/the-gruffalo-relaxed-performance

It reads like they have thought of a lot of things for the target audience. Amazing.

'What is a relaxed performance?
Relaxed performances are open to everyone but are specifically for people with an Autistic Spectrum Condition, a learning disability or sensory and communication disorder. It’s a great way for individuals, families, groups and schools to experience live performances together in an adapted environment. For example, small changes are made to the lighting and sound levels, while the attitude to noise and movement in the audience is more relaxed.

How is the show adapted?
A relaxed performance is designed to be less formal and embrace different types of audience reactions – an easy way to think of them is ‘the opposite of the quiet carriage on the train’.

We’ve also added wheelchair spaces in addition to our standard seating plan, a chill-out zone away from the auditorium and we will keep some of the doors open in case you need to come and go during the performance.

In planning for the relaxed performance, we have consulted with individuals knowledgeable in the areas of autism and learning disabilities, and will provide specialist training for our front of house staff, and a briefing to cast members.

It’s an important step in making our performances more accessible to everyone. If you have any feedback or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to contact our Customer Service team on 0121 345 0493.

Resources
Watch a short film designed to give you a preview of the historic concert hall, explore the facilities and help you to prepare for a visit. Just click on the video section on the right hand side of this page.

A visitor’s guide to Town Hall will soon be made available online to download and by mail or email upon request. To accompany the guide, we will also be hosting a free familiarisation tour of Town Hall closer to the show – exact date tbc to help get to know our venue, facilities and staff ahead of the performance.

In addition, a visual story of the performance will be soon made available online to download and by mail or email upon request. The storyboard aims to help you prepare for the performance before and during your visit.

Familiarisation Visit

We’re opening Town Hall on Monday 18 August between 2-6pm for customers to take part in a familiarisation visit prior to the Relaxed Performance on the 24 August. Entry is free.

If there are any other resources that may assist you with your experience and visit to Town Hall, please feel free to ask our Customer Service team on 0121 345 0493'

I don't work for them, by the way!

Last year I took my class of children with severe learning difficulties to an 'autism-friendly' cinema performance of Despicable Me 2. It was brilliant, the lights were dimmed but not as much as usual so you could still see and the sound was not turned up to full volume. They let us bring in our own snacks and drinks etc. Lots of children in the audience were moving around and making noise and no-one minded. Doors were open so we could take children in and out as we wished. Unfortunately there was no chill-out zone so I ended up being sat in the cafe with a couple of the children who weren't coping for the end of the film but that was fine.

Anyway I agree that this showing sounds brilliant, wish it was a bit closer and in term-time as my class would love it!

That's great - I knew they had them at cinemas, but didn't realise they did them at theatres, too - and they put so much effort into it, with familiarisation visits etc.