Integrated Access in Live Performance

Twelve percent of UK theatergoers have a disability, and directors can help build audiences as diverse as the population by making their art accessible to all. This book discusses the challenges and opportunities of working with disabled actors and building in audience access even before rehearsals begin, offering strategies, case studies, and a step-by-step guide to help creative people integrate access into their live performance.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 22 November 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Twelve percent of UK theatregoers have a disability, which is significantly higher than the 18% of the UK's adult population. This disparity highlights the need for directors to make their art accessible to all, in order to build audiences as diverse as the population at large. Live performances are increasingly being made accessible to people with sensory impairments, not only to satisfy equality laws and the requirements of funding bodies, but also in the interest of diversity and as a catalyst for creativity. However, ensuring that access is not compromised by artistic considerations is a challenging task.

This book draws on the results of the Integrated Access Inquiry: "Is It Working?" A qualitative study with 20 theatremakers from around the UK, commissioned by Extant Theatre, the UK's leading company of blind and visually impaired people, combines feedback from disabled audiences with advice from the creative teams who have experimented with integrating access. The book discusses the challenges and opportunities of working with disabled actors and building in audience access even before rehearsals begin. It offers strategies, case studies, and a step-by-step guide to help creative people integrate access into their live performance for the benefit of all.

By making their art accessible to all, directors can create a more inclusive and diverse theatre experience for everyone. This not only benefits disabled audiences but also enhances the overall artistic quality of the performances. It is important to find a balance between accessibility and artistic integrity, and to ensure that access is integrated seamlessly into the creative process. With the right approach, theatre can become a truly accessible and transformative medium for all.

Weight: 346g
Dimension: 169 x 235 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367190729