Hello Everyone, welcome back to another post and yet another change for us here at StageSideUK. We are constantly evolving and developing and we are still finding our path as we grow. So we have decided to implement a change to our rating system… again.
Going forward I think I should change the way I talk about accessibility. I will no longer be reviewing accessibility in stars. I want to keep the conversation going and be open about my experiences in the theatre, so I will not be taking the section out. However, rating a show for their accessibility comes with a few issues.
About me.
My sensory issues come from sound. Whether it is a sudden loud sounds, a swelling sound or a long high pitched sound, I can either jump or become fidgety. My local theatres can be quite small, so if I rate them 3 stars for being really loud and then a show is transported to a larger venue and it is not really loud, my experience isn’t going to be the same as the person in the larger venue.
Rating accessibility
Rating the show for access seems to be a bit negative. Some of the older shows are perhaps not as accessible, and some of the newer shows may just completely gloss over access. But me saying that the accessibility of the show is a 1 star may create a negative opinion of a show for some people. This is not the aim. I also don’t want that rating to reflect on the company of said show. 9 times out of 10 the decisions on access come from theatres, producers and directors many of whom will either not tour with the show all of the time or enjoy the show so much as it is that changes won’t be made, so rating the show seems to be unhelpful here.
Finally, although ratings are subjective, I do not want to sway people away from shows based on access when my access needs are relatively small in the grand scheme of things. Loud and sudden noises make me jump, and immersive theatre can be intimidating to me. But that does not mean that a show is bad or that they don’t deserve to be seen. I also don’t want to speak up on the access issues and have my word taken for fact when my sensory issues can be flared up one day and be completely relaxed the other (blood brothers had me jumping out my seat and heart racing but Bat out of hell was comfortably loud and energetic and I actually think both were as loud as each other but one was on a bad day).
Our conversations on accessibility going forward
So going forward I will be putting in the following steps.
StageSideUK will continue to talk to theatres, venues, directors, creatives and local artists about accessibility in the world of entertainment.
I will continue to talk about accessibility in my reviews, I will mention if I thought the show was accessible FOR ME and I will no longer try to take in as many potential risks to access as possible. From now on, I won’t try to comment on all risks. I can not comment on every risk as I do not know what will be a risk, and what is a risk for me may not be for you.
I will make an effort to learn more about accessible theatre and techniques that can be implemented to make a show more accessible and more audience friendly.
You will see “onto the ratings accessibility” but you will not see a star awarded for this section. This section will be made up of text to explain my experience. If you are interested in reading this section please do and let me know what you think. If accessible theatre isn’t your thing, you are welcome to skip over it, but who knows there may be a little golden nugget of information that may change the way you see theatre.
I hope you are all well and are staying safe.
A new review of a rock and roll musical is coming soon! Which could it be!!
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