Welcome to the July Access e-newsletter, reproduced below with details of plenty of exciting performances and events coming up.
We’re in the middle of a scorching heatwave, and while we’re loving the sunshine, the Official London Theatre team are also taking every opportunity they can to get out of the heat for a couple of hours – and into one of July’s amazing shows. Check out our round-up of the best of July.
Foundation: disability equality & unconscious bias
Monday 15 October 2018, London
This session sets out the landscape for disability equality in theatre, using the different ways of talking about disability to simplify and demystify the issues.
“I thought Michèle was terrific – very clear and knowledgeable and didn’t pull any punches, which is exactly what the sector needs” Previous delegate
Book your place on UK Theatre’s course here.
Abigail’s Party
Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch
Audio Described: available at every performance
Sign Language Interpreted: Wed 19 Sep 7.30pm (by Martin Fox-Roberts)
Dementia Friendly Performance: Thu 20 Sep 1.30pm
Beverly and husband Laurence are entertaining their newlywed neighbours. Joining them is twitchy divorcee Sue, banished from the party of her teenage daughter. Over a stack of cheesy-pineapple sticks, small talk and splashes of alcohol, the appalling host’s soiree soon descends into chaos. As the sniping begins, this delicious comedy cracks open social climbing suburbia to savagely funny effect.
Book online or call the Box Office on 01708 443333.
Please note tickets for the dementia friendly performance can only be purchased through calling the Box Office.
Aristocrats
Donmar Warehouse
Audio Described: Sat 15 Sep 2.30pm, Touch Tour 1pm
Captioned: Mon 10 Sep 7.30pm
Ballybeg Hall once played host to grand balls, musical evenings, tennis parties: its rooms busy, bursting with painters, poets and politicians. And presiding over all of it, the imposing figure of Judge O’Donnell.
Now, on the eve of a wedding, the O’Donnell children return to their ancestral home to find that the rot has set in.
Book online, call 020 3282 3808 or email access@donmarwarehouse.com
Carmen La Cubana
Sadler’s Wells
Audio Described: Sat 11 Aug 2.30pm, Touch Tour 12.45pm
A sizzling new musical featuring Bizet’s classic score flavoured with authentic Cuban styles and mixing opera with salsa, mambo, rumba and cha-cha-cha. Audio Described by Caroline Burns.
Book online or call the Ticket Office on 020 7863 8000.
To book a headset and touch tour/ workshop place please contact the Ticket Office on 020 7863 8000.
For more information, email access@sadlerswells.com
Double Act
Polka Theatre
Audio Described: Sat 28 Jul 11am, Touch Tour 10am
Relaxed Performance: Wed 18 Jul 10.30am, Sat 28 Jul 11am
Vicky Ireland’s funny and gripping stage adaptation, based on Jacqueline Wilson’s multi award-winning book, returns to Polka following its hugely successful 2003 UK tour. There will be a pre-show synopsis pack and audio notes available to download from our website. Audio Describer: Jez Watts.
To book, call 020 8543 4888.
The Everywhere Bear
Polka Theatre
Sign Language Interpreted (integrated): Sat 4 Aug 11.05am
Relaxed Performance: Sat 28 July 2.35pm
This captivating and beautiful new story from best-selling author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Rebecca Cobb springs to life with rhyme, original music and delightfully expressive puppets in Polka’s fun and exciting stage adaptation. A pre-show synopsis pack is available to download from our website.
To book, call 020 8543 4888.
Harry Potter And The Cursed Child, Parts One And Two
Palace Theatre
Autism Friendly Performance: Thu 23 Aug 7.30pm (Part 1) and Fri 24 Aug 7.30pm (Part 2)
Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, Harry Potter And The Cursed Child is a new play by Jack Thorne.
This adapted performance doesn’t take away any of the magic of the original performance, but small adaptations, particularly to the theatre experience, means this inaugural performance will be perfect for autistic people and their families.
To book tickets, please call the dedicated access line at 0330 333 4410 or email CursedChildAccess@nimaxtheatres.com
Measure For Measure
Donmar Warehouse
Audio Described: Sat 17 Nov 2.30pm, Touch Tour 1pm
Captioned: Mon 12 Nov 7.30pm
Vienna is corrupt. The Duke, who has let the city fall to vice, hands control to his Deputy, a hardline, puritan reformer.
The Deputy uses ancient laws to sentence citizens to death for sexual misconduct. But when a religious Novice pleads for clemency, their heady encounter leaves the Deputy guilty of the very crime that the law condemns.
Artistic Director Josie Rourke’s production of Measure for Measure imagines the play in its original year of performance, 1604, and also in 2018.
Within every performance, Hayley Atwell and Jack Lowden will alternate the roles of powerful Deputy and powerless Novice.
Book online, call 020 3282 3808 or email access@donmarwarehouse.com
We’re Going On A Bear Hunt
Lyric Theatre
Sign Language Interpreted: Wed 18 Jul 11am (by Jeni Draper)
Relaxed Performance: Fri 13 Jul 11am, Wed 8 Aug 2pm
Join our intrepid family of adventurers and their musical dog on a quest to find a bear; as they wade through the gigantic swishy swashy grass, the splishy splashy river and the thick oozy, squelchy mud! Live music, original songs and lots of audience interaction makes this the perfect summer treat!
Adapted for the stage from the modern classic written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury.
To book, call 0330 333 4815 or email access@nimaxtheatres.com
For a list of audio-described, captioned, signed and relaxed performances, visit our Access section.