Autism & Theatre - Inspiration Day 2013 Marks Culmination of Relaxed Performance Pilot Project

Organisers of the Autism & Theatre - Inspiration Day 2013 on Monday 2 September at the Lyceum Theatre, London, attended by over 170 delegates from theatres and arts organisations across the UK, have reported the event to be a huge success.

The Inspiration Day was the culmination of the national Relaxed Performance Pilot Project 2012/13, created through a partnership of the Society of London Theatre (SOLT), the Theatrical Management Association (TMA), The Prince's Foundation for Children & the Arts (Children & the Arts), the Ambassador Theatre Group and The Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation, and drawing together the experiences and evaluation of the eight UK theatres* participating in the pilot.

The pilot project was a strategic response following the Autism & Theatre Conference in 2011 to develop the existing work of theatres that had been providing autism-friendly or Relaxed Performances for many years - such as the Polka Theatre, London, and the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds - to build on the industry appetite to hold such performances on a regular basis, and to share learning and best practice about Relaxed Performances in order to encourage and facilitate a greater take up of Relaxed Performances in theatres across the UK.

The project directly addressed the fact that many families with autistic children or children with sensory and communication needs and/or a learning disability are reluctant for a variety of reasons to attend public theatre performances. Working closely with partners from the autism and learning disability sectors, including The National Autistic Society and mencap, the project team recognised early on that they had to engage with a diversity of individual needs across the audience.

Evaluation of the Relaxed Performance Project:

The theatres participating in the Relaxed Performance Project were selected based on the type of production on offer - a representative range of musicals, drama, comedy and pantomime - all of which were family friendly and appealing to a range of ages - in order to develop robust best practice for the theatre sector at large.

The project team provided:

- autism-specific training to 300 theatre staff, including the cast, box office, bar and ushers

- advice to marketing and box office teams on how to find and engage with potential audiences

- visual guides for all families to prepare them for their visit to the theatre and the show (in some cases, families had the opportunity to visit the theatre a few days earlier to familiarise themselves with the surroundings)

- every participating theatre was advised on adjusting light and sound levels during the performance to suit the needs of the audience

- designated chill-out areas for audience members to use should being in the auditorium become overwhelming, lessening stress for all family members

A research team was commissioned to assess the audience, staff and theatre experience.

From November 2012 to June 2013 the Relaxed Performance Project engaged with a total of 4,983 audience members at eight theatres with an average audience per relaxed performance of 622. This total audience comprised:

42% families living with autism

33% community groups (autism specific community organisations and SEN schools)

25% others who would benefit from a Relaxed Performance

Of those individuals interviewed after a Relaxed Performance:

60% reported that they had never been to the theatre before as a family

30% had never been to the theatre

90% had never been to a Relaxed Performance

Over 80% of those interviewed confirmed that they would attend another Relaxed Performance.

Parents suggested that the promotion of and attendance at a Relaxed Performance brought about a shift in public awareness and a greater understanding of autism through engagement with their local networks. This in turn increased their confidence in attending a further Relaxed Performance.

The overarching themes of the Inspiration Day were:

- A shared ambition for access and inclusion across all UK theatres and the arts sector more generally

- The development of new, increased and diverse audiences for UK theatres

- A commitment to adapting the Relaxed Performance model to museums, orchestras and dance organisations, and to new forms of artistic content

- The development of a huge range of theatrical performances now regularly available as a choice for this audience

- Enjoyment, inspiration and motivation for theatres and cast members in providing Relaxed Performances

- Skills sharing and professional support between UK and interNational Theatres on Relaxed Performances

A 10 Point Best Practice Model for Relaxed Performances

A 10 point best practice model for Relaxed Performances was developed from partners and theatres sharing their experiences at the Inspiration Day:

1. Type of show. If it is your first relaxed performance then finding the audience is easier if you have a well known show and one that appeals to a wide audience. The most obvious choices, for example, pantomimes may not be best suited for autistic children. Consider a show that is for the family as a whole to enjoy

2. The running time of the show will be important to families

3. Remember that a relaxed performance of a touring production is as easy to deliver as an in-house production

4. Scheduling - work out with your target audience in mind when and how often Relaxed Performances should be

5. Plan well ahead - audience development, training and ticketing take time

6. Partnering. Collaborating with local charities and community groups is essential. Think about setting-up an access focus group to assist you in planning your Relaxed Performance, and work with local branches and SEN schools in finding an audience - word-of-mouth is so important in marketing the performance

7. Ticketing. Consider what price will attract a new audience and whether discounting is necessary or affordable

8. Shared ownership. Relaxed Performances are not the responsibility of one department in the theatre but the responsibility of everyone. All staff need to be trained

9. Ambassadors. Some staff and volunteers may already have experience that can be shared with colleagues

10. Relaxed Performances are not a favour. This is about making the audience feel that they belong to the theatre not separate from it

Based on the success of the Relaxed Performance Project all eight theatres have programmed further Relaxed Performances in the next 12 months. As well as contributing a pledge on future Relaxed Performances, many of the delegates expressed an interest in introducing or improving Relaxed Performances for adults, as well as children and young people.

Further work is planned, as the project partners would like to see the Relaxed Performance concept adapted to other arts forms and cultural venues.

Commenting on the project Jeremy Newton, CEO, The Prince's Foundation for Children & the Arts, said:

"This project marks the beginning in improving access and making cultural venues much more welcoming and inclusive for children and families. The pilot has shown that there is an audience for Relaxed Performances, and we wish to see Relaxed Performances scheduled with the same regularity as audio-described, captioned and signed performances.

This is all about inclusion, tolerance and understanding. Children & the Arts believes that every child should have the opportunity to enjoy and be inspired by the arts, but unfortunately many children with autism have faced an unfair barrier to access. There is much more to be done and we are looking forward to continuing our work enabling more children and young people to experience life enriching cultural experiences."

A keynote speaker at the Conference, Catherine Mallyon, Executive Director, Royal Shakespeare Company, said:

"It was inspiring to be part of the Relaxed Performance Conference and to work with a group of people completely committed to enabling the widest possible audiences for great theatre. The individual stories of enjoyment, participation and transformational change emphasised how together we can now make an incredibly strong invitation to the families, schools and people, young and old, across the UK who currently feel excluded from our performances, activities and buildings: come inside, meet us and experience the best of what we do."

Julian Bird, Chief Executive of the Society of London Theatre and the Theatrical Management Association, said:

"Theatres have long welcomed disabled people. We are thrilled that with the presentation of the Relaxed Performance Project finding, there is a further opportunity for theatres and other arts spaces to welcome people with autism and disabilities. To be able to create a relaxed and unique environment, where an audience can be confident that their needs are paramount, is a step forward to ensuring that Live Theatre and other cultural events can be experienced by all members of the community.

The Conference also underlined the value of theatres and charities working in partnership on a national and local level to demonstrate their commitment to future provision of this kind. The enjoyment gained by audience members has been transformational and that, coupled with the pride felt by staff in the successful delivery of a Relaxed Performance, was palpable".

Rosemary Squire OBE, Co-founder and CEO of the Ambassador Theatre Group, spoke of the obligation on the theatre industry:

"As an industry we must strive to enable everyone to access and enjoy the experience of Live Theatre and Relaxed Performances are key to delivering this for those who find a theatre visit challenging. We were delighted to be able to take part in the pilot project to begin breaking down these barriers to attendance.

The achievements of the Relaxed Performances detailed in this report have been inspiring for us all and they have enabled families and groups who had previously found a theatre setting too daunting, to experience what we hope will be the first of many future visits."

Mark Lever, Chief Executive of the National Autistic Society, said:

"Autism is a serious, lifelong disability and the challenges the condition bring can make it difficult to enjoy activities such as trips to the theatre, which many people take for granted. Training staff and making adjustments to a production can make a huge difference, and the hard work of theatres across the UK has already opened the door for many families up and down the country.

"More and more theatres and other arts establishments are expressing their desire to support the autism community, so it's clear that although the pilot project is coming to an end, this is just the beginning for Relaxed Performances. It's vital that organisations continue to work together and share practical suggestions so that many more families and people affected by autism have the opportunity to enjoy live performance."

The Evaluation Report, Case Studies and Executive Summary can be downloaded at http://www.tmauk.org/events/presentations.aspx.

The Relaxed Performance Project was made possible through generous funding by the Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation.

The eight theatres and productions taking part in the Relaxed Performance Project were: The National Theatre's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at the Apollo Theatre, London; Cinderella, Grimsby Auditorium, Grimsby; Disney's The Lion King, Lyceum Theatre, London; Spot's Birthday Party, Oxford Playhouse, Oxford; The Mouse & His Child, Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon; Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare's Globe, London; The Railway Children, Theatre by the Lake, Keswick; 1001 Nights, Unicorn Theatre, London.

The charities involved were: The Prince's Foundation for Children & the Arts; National Autistic Society; Ambitious About Autism; mencap; The Mousetrap Foundation; Theatre Development Fund US

About Relaxed Performances: Relaxed Performances are creative, safe and inspiring public theatre performances for children with special needs, including Autistic Spectrum Conditions and/or learning disabilities and, crucially, their families. Performances are specially designed to give those who otherwise might feel excluded the chance to experience Live Theatre.

Relaxed Performances have a less formal, more supportive atmosphere in order to reduce anxiety levels. To achieve this, performances are adapted in a number of ways, including through hosting familiarisation pre-performance visits for families; training actors and front of house staff; cultivating an embracing attitude to audience movement and noise during the performance; adjusting light levels and special effects; and providing chill-out spaces for families.

About The Prince's Foundation for Children & the Arts: The Prince's Foundation for Children & the Arts (Children & the Arts) was founded by HRH The Prince of Wales, who believes that every child in the United Kingdom has the right to be inspired the arts. The charity reaches out to children in deprived areas, and builds long lasting partnerships between their schools and local cultural venues, giving schools the motivation and means to engage their pupils in immersive arts experiences.

Thanks to Children & the Arts, pupils are able to attend life-changing professional performances and exhibitions and benefit from workshops and enrichment activities lead by highly trained artists. These experiences raise children's confidence, boost their self-esteem and help them develop vital skills such as communication, language and teamwork. These skills will give them the chance to achieve a more positive future. Since 2006, Children & the Arts has transformed the lives of over 360,000 disadvantaged children.

About the Society of London Theatre: The Society of London Theatre is the association which represents the producers, theatre owners and managers of the 52 major commercial and grant-aided theatres in central London. The organisation exists in order to promote theatregoing, develop audiences, and to serve, protect and promote the interests of those engaged in theatre across London, through activities including The Olivier Awards with MasterCard, TKTS ticket booth, the Official London Theatre guide, Theatre Tokens, West End LIVE and the promotions Kids Week and Get Into London Theatre.

About the Theatrical Management Association: Established in 1894, the TMA is a leading trade association representing the interests of and providing professional support for the performing arts in the UK. Our members include theatres, multi-purpose venues, arts centres, concert halls, commercial producers, touring theatre, opera and ballet companies, sole traders and suppliers to the performing arts. www.tmauk.org. Since 1991 the annual TMA Theatre Awards have celebrated the creative excellence and outstanding work seen in UK theatres each year. These awards were relaunched as the Theatre Awards UK in 2011.

About the Ambassador Theatre Group: Co-founded by Sir Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire OBE in 1992, ATG has grown to be the UK's largest theatre group with a total of 40 venues in Britain and on Broadway and an internationally recognised award-winning theatre producer with co-productions in New York, across North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. It is also a leader in theatre ticketing services (ATG Tickets).

Current and recent ATG co-productions include Macbeth starring James McAvoy, The Hothouse starring Simon Russell Beale and John Simm, The Pride starring Hayley Atwell and Mathew Horne, Passion Play starring Zoë Wanamaker, Posh, Jumpystarring Tamsin Greig and Constellations starring Rafe Spall and Sally Hawkins (Royal Court at the Duke of York's), Dolly Parton's 9 to 5 The Musical, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Legally Blonde the Musical, Monty Python's Spamalot, The Rocky Horror Show, Goodnight Mister Tom, The Mystery of Charles Dickens, Lincoln Center's production of South Pacific starring Samantha Womack and Paulo Szot, All New People starring Zach Braff, Ghost the Musical, Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker!,Being Shakespeare starring Simon Callow, The Misanthrope starring Damian Lewis and Keira Knightley, West Side Story,Elling and Guys and Dolls starring Ewan McGregor. On Broadway ATG co-production productions include The Mountaintopstarring Samuel L Jackson and Angela Bassett, Exit the King starring Geoffrey Rush and Susan Sarandon and John Doyle's award winning production of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd.

About the Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation: The primary mission of the Nancy Lurie Marks (NLM) Family Foundation is to help people with autism lead fulfilling and rewarding lives. The Foundation is committed to understanding autism from a scientific perspective, increasing opportunities and services available to the autism community and educating the public about autism.

In pursuit of its mission, the Foundation develops and provides grants to programs in research, clinical care, policy, advocacy and education. Founded by Nancy Lurie Marks over 25 years ago, the NLM Family Foundation is one of the largest supporters of initiatives in these areas.

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