Bright stage lights, loud music, scuffling through dark aisles to get to your seats: for anyone who has ever been to the theatre, this experience may sound familiar. For a standard theatre show, runtimes are usually at least 90 minutes, perhaps with one intermission, and, in most cases, there is a closed-door policy and no-talking etiquette. For some, these parameters can be unsuitable and exclusionary.
Relaxed performances are an inclusivity tool that restructure the standard theatre experience into a space that can include more audiences and increase accessibility. These altered performances can be included in a production’s show run, with the performance making adjustments to relax the experience for patrons.
