Accessible Performances and Screenings

Audio Description performances and cinema screenings enable those who are blind or have a visual access need to listen to a commentary describing the set, characters, expressions and actions alongside the dialogue, sound effects and any music to help paint a picture of what is happening onstage or screen through sound.

If a film has audio description it will be available across all the screenings for that film. For live theatre events, audio description is provided by the touring companies and may only be available for some performances.

You can collect your headset from our Box Office.

A Touch Tour allows audience members to touch and explore some of the set, props and costumes from a show before the show starts to further help picture what is onstage, and being described in the Audio Describer’s commentary.

Sometimes you will get to meet some of the actors to familiarise yourself with their voices.

Touch Tours usually take place in the auditorium before the show, you may need to book a separate ticket for a place on a Touch Tour. 

Captioned performances are like having subtitles on a film or television programme except for live performance. The dialogue will appear on captioning screens as the actors speak along with any song lyrics or sound effects there may be.

Captioned performances are useful for anyone who is deaf or has hearing access needs but they can also be beneficial for people whose first language is not English, or Welsh if the show is in Welsh, and for language learners to further their learning. They can also be useful for understanding certain accents and dialects.

BSL Interpreted performances are where a British Sign Language Interpreter will interpret the show for Deaf audience members. This will include the dialogue, sound effects, songs if there are any, expression and emotion to go alongside the physical action onstage. Generally, the Interpreter stands on the side of the stage.

The location of the interpreter in the theatre will be noted on the show webpage.

BSL Interpreted performances are for audience members who identify as Deaf or who may be learning British Sign Language.

Relaxed performances are performances or cinema screenings where the rules and the atmosphere are much more relaxed. This can mean that audience members are free to come and go from the auditorium as they need, the lights won’t go completely dark, sound effects and music may be quieter, some lighting and special effects may be removed to lessen the sensory impact and, in some cases, there may be changes to the script.

Relaxed performances and cinema screenings are often associated as being for autistic and learning disabled audience members but they can also be beneficial for anyone who has tics or makes involuntary noises, people living with dementia and Alzheimer’s, anyone with sensory processing or communication disorders, and for anyone with anxiety or fears relating to the dark, loud noises and crowds.

Anyone who may find going to the theatre or cinema too stressful and too much of a sensory overload. Even for people who may need to stand and walk about more due to a pain condition or visit the toilet more frequently.

Audience members are welcome to wear ear defenders, glasses for light sensitivity, and bring along any fidgets or comfort items, regardless of whether the performance or cinema screening is a specific Relaxed performance or not.