Guest Blog: Little Angel’s Slavka Jovanovic on ‘relaxed performances’

It’s currently running at
Little Angel Theatre until 8 July. The
relaxed performance takes place at 2pm 16 June.

At Little Angel we have always
had an open doors policy and try to create a welcoming environment to
all people who come through the doors – whether it’s to see our
shows or to participate in a workshop. However, over the past two or
three years we have been trying out ways of making specific shows
more accessible for different types of audiences. For example, we
introduced ‘baby friendly’ shows, where we welcome families with
babies or toddlers (under the required lower age range of the show)
to bring them along to share the experience with the older sibling.

‘Relaxed performances’ are
similar but are for people of all ages. They
are designed for those who benefit from a more relaxed atmosphere
with regards to making noise, but tend to be experienced at attending
the theatre. There are no chill-out rooms or pre-show visits, but
people are welcome to come in and out of the auditorium or talk
during the show, if they need to. Essentially it’s a bit like the
quiet carriage on a train – but the opposite!

I know to some people this
scenario might seem like hell but, as the mother of a child on the
autistic spectrum, I can only tell you what a heavenly situation this
offers. I have had many a dreadful experience where my boy has bolted
from the auditorium because something has frightened him and we have
been unable to return as the theatre policy is not to allow
‘latecomers’. Or he has needed verbal reassurance from me because he
is having an anxiety moment during a play and we have had to put up
with the stares and tuts of the other audience members or the theatre
staff who may have to uphold a ‘no talking policy’.

Only last week did we have
another bad experience. My son and I went to see an alternative
cutting-edge theatre company called Race Horse. They were performing
their show Petit
Mal
at a lively venue where the audience were obviously having a good
time and clearly interacting with the spectacle and skill on stage.
There was lots of clapping and whooping and general merriment. Whilst
my son enjoyed the show, he also felt anxious at times, especially
when 20 giant blow-up balls appeared on the stage for the performers
to bounce on (my son has a phobia of balloons and of them popping).
So he was chattering away nervously (in a low voice) and needing much
reassurance. I was amazed that he didn’t run from his seat and out
the door!

I was absolutely gob-smacked
when a woman, two rows down, turned round and told us “sssh! Be
quiet!”. It was awkward and embarrassing and confusing, especially
since she had a kid on her lap and it was an interactive show. It
made me so cross, and puzzled my son. We sat awkwardly though the
last 20 minutes of the show, with me plotting what to say to her if
she approached us at the end to tell us off (and worried that her
‘Hulk’ of a husband would flatten me). At the end they left rapidly
and I breathed a sigh of relief. My son kept asking me what the
problem had been.

So, there you have it – a
typical family outing gone wrong. Okay, no one got hurt, but it makes
us feel horrible. It’s difficult getting out in the first place
(coping with public transport, walking to the theatre, the on-going
fear of thunder that my son has), without having the additional
hurdles of dealing with difficult audience members and dismissive
staff.

This is why I think that there
is a place for ‘relaxed performances’. Some people might think it’s
corralling a certain type of audience but for us it’s a blessed
relief. At least you know that you will be surrounded by like-minded
people. Those who love going to the theatre but find sitting still a
challenge. Or need to go to the loo several times during the course
of the act. Or need to whisper to their mums for a bit of
reassurance. Or who rock back and forth when they are enjoying
themselves.

The funny thing that I find
when I go to these performances is that the quirky behaviours that
are presented when people are anxious sometimes subside
when the theatre adopts a ‘relaxed policy’. It means that parents and
carers relax and then children relax, and we all breathe a big sigh
of happiness.