Can relaxing the (sometimes unspoken) rules around performances allow theatre to welcome and embrace new audiences by meeting their needs?
When did "relaxed performances" appear, where do they come from, what are the goals of offering them? What changes would you have to make to your "normal" theatre evenings to offer a more relaxed experience to your neurodivergent, noise-sensitive or chronically ill audiences?
Guided by the expertise of French non-profit "Culture Relax" as well as concrete examples from other ETC Member Theatres, such as a case study from Teatro Stabile di Torino - National Theatre (Italy) and Malmö Stadsteater (Sweden), join the ETC Webinar on Relaxed Performances on 31 January 2024 to explore one more way towards more accessibility and inclusion in European theatre!
Webinar schedule
Wednesday 31 January 2024, 14:30 - 16:30 CET (Online)
ETC Members only
Webinar experts
Culture Relax is a French not-for-profit organisation which was founded in 2005 in order to facilitate access to film and performing arts for people with divergent behaviour due to disabilities (people with autism, mental or cognitive disability, or with dementia, etc).
Today, 70 cinemas and 15 performing arts venues around France offer Relaxed screenings, shows and concerts.
Culture Relax offers training and support to cultural organisations and local authorities that wish to improve their access schemes and create a Relaxed offer. Culture Relax is supported by the French public authorities as well as institutional and private sponsors.
Amar Nafa has been the head of Culture Relax since 2019. Before joining the organisation, he worked in public authorities and non-profit organisations in the field of anti-discrimination and the promotion of rights and equality.
Marie Clerget is a project officer for Relaxed performances. She works with the partner venues to ensure the quality of the experience for the spectators with disabilities and the persons accompanying them. Before joining Culture Relax, she graduated as a nurse and worked in the access service of a Parisian concert hall.
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Teatro Stabile di Torino (Italy):
Irene Di Chiaro has been working for 14 years within the field of performing arts, after a master's degree in literature and philosophy at Bologna University (Italy) and Nice University (France). She collaborated with international festivals, independent companies, a private art museum and a private dance centre; she also worked as a project manager within a European transboundary project between France and Italy. Today, she is part of the Engagement, Communication and Development Department at Teatro Stabile di Torino – National Theatre (TST). Irene has been closely following the TST accessibility project's development since its inception, and she is currently in charge of it.
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Malmö Stadsteater (Sweden):
Hedvig Claesson is the theatre director for children and young at Malmö City Theatre.
Alexandra Hill, producer and manager at the department for children and young at Malmö City Theatre, will talk about their recent experience of developing and showing Relaxed Performances of ”Grävlingen” (The Badger) and ”Emperor’s New Clothes” for children and youth.
Programme
- Presentation by Culture Relax
- Q&A
- Case Study 1: Malmö Stadsteater
- Break-out rooms to discuss Case Study 1 in smaller groups
- Q&A with Case Study 1 & Culture Relax
- Case study 2: Teatro Stabile di Torino
- Break-out rooms to discuss Case Study 2 in smaller groups
- Q&A with Case Study 2 & Culture Relax
- Conclusion and outlook to the next ETC Webinar
Photo: © Lloyd Winters
