Story
Awen is committed to improving the accessibility of our venues. Here are just a few examples of our recent progress.
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Since May we have been working with Access Provocateur and Deaf Artist Emily Rose as part of the Breaking the Box partnership project led by Taking Flight Theatre. Emily has been reviewing all areas of our theatre and creative wellbeing work such as marketing, recruitment and programming to see where we can improve accessibility.
With Emily’s help, we are making our marketing assets more accessible with BSL flyers and audio-described flyers for accessible performances such as our pantomime Rapunzel this Christmas. We are also including BSL, captions and audio description at our pantomime and Bridgend Youth Theatre performances.
We are developing our Awen Box Office website so it is easier for people to find out about our accessible performances. Our booking process for access customers has been streamlined so we can ensure we meet our customers’ needs with confidence. As Hynt members all Hynt card holders can access a free carer’s ticket when they book for any of our shows.
We have increased our accessible programming, with regular relaxed and captioned cinema screenings coming soon, and regular work from inclusive performing arts companies such as Frozen Light, Theatr Iolo, Oshi's World, Hijinx, Humans Move and others being available across the year.
All staff have been trained on disability awareness and inclusion, with some specialist training for front of house staff in neurodiversity, deaf and blind awareness.
We have launched a Deaf Theatre Club in Bridgend. They attended Ballet Cymru’s performance of Giselle over the summer and will be visiting Rapunzel this Christmas.
We have free sensory packs to borrow which include headphones and fidget toys for anyone who needs them at any time they visit our venues. We also provide quiet spaces for relaxed and accessible performances and events.
We will soon be sharing audio descriptions of our venues on our website, along with visual stories and 360 degree videos of our spaces.
All our venues offer infra-red hearing loop facilities and accessible seating areas - at Y Muni this also includes an accessible balcony ensuring great views for wheelchair users at both standing and seated events.
You will find Changing Places toilets at several of our venues including Maesteg Town Hall and Y Muni in Pontypridd.
