When we went to see Snow White at the theatre last week, Little Bear had ants in his pants. He was a little tired and couldn’t get comfortable in his seat during the first half of the show so he kept standing up and sitting down.
Usually this would make me anxious for the people sitting around us but this time was different. This time there were lots of other children wriggling around and jumping up out of their seats. One little boy was sprawled out at the top of the stairs as we walked into the stalls.
For the last two years we’ve booked tickets for the relaxed performance at the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford.
Relaxed performances allow for noise and movement in the auditorium, some have a chill-out space for visitors who may need time away from the performance, and re-entry when needed. Some also have technical changes to the production, such as adjustments to light and sound effects, for those with sensory sensitivities.
A few weeks before the show, we received a visual story showing us exactly what would happen during the evening, including the story, who the characters were, and reminding us that the baddie was played by an actor who was actually very nice in real life. It would have been nice to be forewarned about the loud giant T Rex which would suddenly appear in the middle of the pantomime, scare the kids and then leave again but, that aside, The Bears enjoyed knowing what the characters looked like and generally what was going to unfold during the show.
Relaxed performances are becoming more and more common in the theatre which is great. Here, I’ve put together a few of the shows – some aimed at children, others at adults – happening around the UK in 2020.
YORKSHIRE
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield
Thursday 27 February at 2pm
Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
Thursday 19 March 2020 at 1.15pm
Grand Opera House, York
Friday 8 May 2020 7pm
Little Red Riding Hood (Northern Ballet)
Bridlington Spa
Friday 15 May at 5pm
Little Red Riding Hood (Northern Ballet)
Harrogate Theatre
Friday 29 May at 2pm
Alhambra Theatre, Bradford
Tuesday 16 June 2020 at 5pm
Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
Thursday 9 July at 1.30pm
Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield
Thursday 10 December at 10.15am
NORTH WEST
Manchester
ROYAL EXCHANGE THEATRE
Tuesday 25 February 2020 at 2.30pm
Tuesday 24 March 2020 at 2.30pm
Tuesday 19 May 2020 at 2.30pm
Tuesday 16 June 2020 at 2.30pm
Tuesday 23 June 2020 at 2.30pm
Tuesday 21 July 2020 at 2.30pm
Tuesday 28 July 2020 at 2.30pm
The Strange Tale of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel (age 12+)
HOME Manchester
Thursday 6 February 2020 at 2pm
NORTH EAST
Little Red Riding Hood (Northern Ballet)
Durham Gala Theatre
Wednesday 1 April 2020 at 4pm
Little Red Riding Hood (Northern Ballet)
Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre
Saturday 4 April 2020 at 4pm
Theatre Royal, Newcastle
Sunday 6 December 2020 at midday
Tuesday 12 January 2021 at midday
SOUTH EAST
London
Sunday 9 June 9 2020
Cambridge Theatre
NATIONAL THEATRE
Relaxed Performances (freedom to move around)
Dorfman Theatre
Saturday 4 April 2020 at 7.30pm
Tuesday 21 April 2020 7.30pm
Friday 1 May 2020 at 7.30pm
Tuesday 12 May 2020 at 3pm.
Sensory Adapted Performances
A relaxed performance environment that also includes technical changes to the production, such as adjustments to light and sound effects, for those with sensory sensitivities.
Dorfman Theatre
Wednesday 8 April 2020 at 2pm
Dorfman Theatre
Saturday 11 April 2020 at 3pm
Wednesday 15 April 2020 at 7.30pm
Lyceum Theatre, London
May 31 2020 at 1.30pm
Oxford
Oxford Playhouse
Saturday 4 April 2020 at 4pm
Southampton
Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
Wednesday 7 October 2020 at 1.30pm
Brighton
Brighton Dome
Friday, February 21 2020 at 11am
EAST OF ENGLAND
Norwich
Norwich Theatre Royal
Thursday 7 January 2021 at 6pm
Norwich Playhouse, Norwich
Sunday 16 February at 2pm
Suffolk
Ipswich
New Wolsey Studio, Ipswich
Saturday 15 February 2020 at 11am and 1.30pm
New Wolsey Studio, Ipswich
Wednesday 11 March 2020 at 1.30pm
New Wolsey Studio, Ipswich
Thursday 2 April 2020 at 10.30am
New Wolsey Studio, Ipswich
Saturday 11 April 2020 at 5pm
SOUTH WEST
THEATRE ROYAL BATH
Midnight (age 5+)
Sunday 2 February at 11.30am
The Naughty Fox (age 0-5)
Saturday 15 February 2020 to Monday 17 February 2020
11.30am and 3pm each day. All performances are relaxed
The Bear (age 3+)
Thursday 27 February 202 at 10am
Adrift (age 7+)
Friday 6 March 2020 at 1pm
Saturday 28 March 2020, at 11.30am
Sunday 29 March 2020 at 11.30am
Wednesday 3 April 2020 at 1pm
Bonhomme (age 5+)
Sunday 5 April 2020 at 11.30am
Meet Me A Tree (age 0-2)
Saturday 18 April 2020 at 10am, 12.30pm and 3pm
This show is naturally relaxed
WEST MIDLANDS
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME
The Twisted Tale of Hansel and Gretel
February 14, 2020 1pm
February 15, 2020 2pm
Tuesday February 25, 2020 at Midday
Friday 22 May 2020 at 1pm
Stratford-Upon-Avon
Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Thursday 13 February 2020 at 1pm
EAST MIDLANDS
Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham
Wednesday 5 February 2020 at 2pm.
Little Red Riding Hood (Northern Ballet)
Buxton Opera House
Tuesday 7 April 2020 at 2pm
Little Red Riding Hood (Northern Ballet)
Mansfield Palace Theatre
Tuesday 12 May 2020 at 4.30pm
Little Red Riding Hood (Northern Ballet)
Corby The Core
Wednesday 13 May 2020 at 6pm
Little Red Riding Hood (Northern Ballet)
Derby Theatre
Tuesday 26 May at 2pm
WALES
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Thursday 20 August 2020 at 1.30pm
SCOTLAND
Eden Court Theatre, Inverness
Tuesday 18 February 2020 at 2pm
Queen’s Hall, Dunnoon
Wednesday 6 May 2020 at 7.30pm
Scottish Ballet’s The Nutcracker Inclusive
Festival Theatre, Edinburgh
Thursday 17 December 2020 at 2.30pm
- If you found Where to find relaxed theatre performances across the UK in 2020 useful, please share it.
- Why not read 10 Unusual Ideas for Autism Days Out in 2020
Comments 2
This is so helpful. I wanted to try out a relaxed performance of Zog coming up locally at Easter but it clashes with when my husband is away. Not sure can do both boys on my own for something so different for them. Looks like there are other options we can try when my husband is around. Thanks for sharing this.
This is super-helpful, thank you! Will be looking at ‘The Lion King’ in Southampton this autumn! 🙂