Relaxed performances are designed to create a safe and welcoming environment for autistic people or people with sensory and/or neurological differences such as Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, Tourette Syndrome, and others. They are also amazing opportunities to break down the stuffy “etiquette” of performance and provide a more relaxed environment for all audience members to enjoy the work.

<aside> ▪️ “When you’ve met one person with autism: you’ve met one person with autism.” - Prue Stevenson, Dancer and Textile Artist, on the diversity and differences within the autistic community.

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Tom Middleditch, founder of A_tistic Theatre, and theatre director, says that “relaxed performances affect everyone’s experience of the show”. He says “a relaxed show needs to be an event in itself. It needs to be different, it can’t just be the show that only autistic people go to, because then it remains an othered item. It needs to be a show that anyone that feels ‘othered’ from the expectations of theatre can attend.”

In a Relaxed Performance, there is a relaxed attitude to noise and movement, and audience members are welcome to enter and exit the venue throughout the show. An easy way to understand the atmosphere is perhaps 'the opposite of the quiet carriage on the train'.

At the end of the day, a properly managed Relaxed Performance means neuro-diverse people will be comfortable to express themselves, as you have created a safe space for them to experience your work. Prue Stevenson says: “when there are other people from my community in the audience and something happens, and they’re stimming and laughing and screaming, that makes me feel really comfortable.”

How to Create a Relaxed Performance

There are a variety of ways you can (and should) make your event more sensory friendly and relaxed, but in order to specifically market your event as a Relaxed Performance you will need to be confident that you can meet the established expectations of a neurodivergent audience member. Failure to do so is unfair at best, and at worst could cause anxiety for the individual. If you do some of the following list, you are taking great steps towards making your event accessible and can market it as Sensory Friendly. If you want to market it as a Relaxed Performance you need to be doing everything in the following list:

• Set a date and time for your Relaxed Performance and communicate this clearly.
• Brief your performers thoroughly and discuss how the event would alter if, for example, an audience member had a loud verbal response during a quiet moment, or got up and left during an intense scene.
• You may need to make changes to lighting and sound effects – for example taking out strobe lighting or loud sound effects, and performers may need to moderate any sudden movements or loud vocalisation.
• House lights stay on at a low level during a Relaxed Performance to facilitate movement in and out of the audience space.
• Provide a Relaxed Pack in advance of the performance, ideally at least one month prior. Give audience members access to as much information about the performance as you can. Some examples of things that should be in your Relaxed Pack include:
  • What audience will be permitted to do during the Relaxed Performance (e.g. stand up, leave the auditorium, make noise, clap, shout, wriggle)  – be as clear as you can on what would and wouldn’t be appropriate for this particular show.
  • Clear directions to the venue, ideally accompanied by a photographic tour of the space.
  • A thorough content warning list.
  • A plot synopsis or script breakdown (if appropriate), along with a guide to where/when any particularly loud or sensory surprises may occur.
  • Pictures of the performers and a guide to what their characters are like.
• Provide a chill out room or area, where audience members who desire a break from the noise of a performance and foyer can go before, during or after the show.
• Ensure there is adequate Front of House support for the event to help guide audience members and provide any additional instruction if required.
• Create clear signage for venue entrances, exits, bathrooms, the box office and any other public or safety facilities, including the ‘Chill Out’ space.
• Where possible, introduce the performers prior to the show as to minimise the level of surprise for the audience.

“A quiet room is a must. Travelling to an event is a lot of information already and being in a new environment is a lot. To get a bit of respite before a show, or after, can help me a lot. My brain can have some downtime to process what’s happened, and then I can watch the show.” - Prue Stevenson, Dancer and Textile Artist

A Relaxed Performance is a great opportunity to reach out a positive invitation to audience members who may not have otherwise felt comfortable attending your event. Promote the show through your usual networks as well as arts and disability networks, and places that support people with learning difficulties.