BY STEPHANIE ESLAKE
Opera Australia’s West Side Story is hitting the Sydney Harbour with a bang. (That’s certainly what you’ll get with a concert that launches fireworks each night.)
It’s a show for everyone to enjoy. And that’s why OA has designed a “relaxed performance” to support all concertgoers who would like to head along.
According to OA executive producer Louisa Robertson, this relaxed performance, coming up this 17 April, will be as great an experience as any other. But it’s also designed to ensure the production’s sound and light are better suited to people with sensory needs. (This includes providing the audience with an indication about when to expect those fireworks we mentioned.) There will be a Quiet Space to support attendees who need a break from the production, too.
There’s a lot more involved in a performance designed to make everyone feel comfortable. We chat with Louisa about how it all comes together to create a safe environment for people with a disability, friends and families.
Editor’s note: While this interview was undertaken for publication in CutCommon, it contains a small number of supplied quotes that have also been published on the Opera Australia website and approved for sensitivity. This OA production involves a partnership with Autism Spectrum Australia.
Louisa, thanks for chatting with CutCommon about West Side Story. Tell us about your role in the production.
I am the executive producer for West Side Story on Sydney Harbour, and oversee the creation and execution of the production as well the build and operations of the venue.
OA has designed a “relaxed performance” of the production for this month. Talk us through what this sort of performance is, and who will benefit from attending.
A relaxed performance is designed to ensure young adults with disability and their families, or anyone who may benefit from a more relaxed environment, can more fully enjoy the performance experience together.
This can include people on the autism spectrum, anyone with sensory and communication differences, learning disabled people, families*, or any individuals who prefer to watch the performance in a more flexible setting. Anyone can benefit.
It will allow guests to come and go from their seats during the performance, offering ‘quiet spaces’ if a break from the show is required as well as dedicated support staff onsite to assist guests.
The sensory environment at the site will also be modified, with venue lights on at low levels, and some adjustment of the lighting and sound features around the site. There are also broader access features to the evening, including audio description and captioning on handheld devices.
For West Side Story on Sydney Harbour, OA has partnered with Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) to work towards delivering a relaxed performance.
*Note: West Side Story on Sydney Harbour is not recommended for children under the age of 12, as the production contains strong language and adult themes.
What are some of the technical considerations when you are designing a relaxed performance?
The key is to provide detailed information prior to the performance about what to expect and the nature of the sensory environment so people can be prepared.
OA has worked closely with Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) to create a social story which describes everything from getting to and from the venue, what to expect at the site, and then what to expect during the performance (when there will be fireworks or other loud noises).
Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) representatives, including individuals on the spectrum, attended preview performances of West Side Story on Sydney Harbour in order to provide feedback on the social story and overall experience. From that feedback, we were able to extend the social story to include the expectations of being on the harbour – what guests will see, smell, hear, and feel (for example, sounds of water lapping on the harbour walls, the smell of salt water, seeing and hearing birds and bats in their natural habitat).
We are creating several quiet spaces within the venue to enable people to have a break from the show, or the environment, to ensure they feel comfortable for the whole time they are on the site, and especially during the performance.
We will also have more signage, where possible, to assist people to navigate the space. The volume of the front-of-house music prior to the performance and during interval will be reduced, and the number of announcements will be minimised.
We are looking at using a visual indicator, such as a blinking light, on one of the sound/lighting towers to indicate (about a minute prior) when the show will be starting, when the fireworks will happen, and to signal any other loud noises in the production. We are not making any other significant changes to the production.
Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) will also have a number of volunteers on the night to assist guests, including providing support in purchasing food from the food and beverage outlets and finding allocated seats.
Will this be the first relaxed performance for OA?
This won’t be the first relaxed performance for OA […] Every year, we donate our Schools Touring productions to a number of specialist schools across New South Wales and Victoria, which requires performers to modify the show to make it more ‘relaxed’ for those audiences. The company also mounted a dedicated relaxed performance of The Magic Flute in 2015.
These performances have been well received in the past – especially by the children in the audience who vocalise, move around, and engage with the performers on stage, enjoying the different aspects of the show in a very active way. In these particular cases, teachers have seen breakthroughs in their students displaying focus and enjoyment in a way not seen before.
OA has found these relaxed performances to have very positive effects in the past, and we are proud to be extending our work in this space to Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour this year.
Why do you feel it is important for artistic organisations in Australia to go out of their ways to design accessible performances?
To experience an operatic production is to experience something very special and unique. OA wishes to share that experience to all people within our community. In providing a relaxed performance, we have simply adapted small aspects of the show to make it more inclusive.
This journey has been very rewarding for our production team, and we look forward to sharing this very unique production to people who may not have felt comfortable attending this kind of event before.
If someone plans to support a family member to attend a relaxed performance, how can they be respectful of the space to ensure the environment remains safe?
People attending the performance without a disability just need to be respectful and accepting of the people around them to ensure everyone enjoys the event experience and performance.
Make your arrangements to see the Opera Australia “relaxed performance” of West Side Story, 17 April.
What does this story mean to you?
Thanks for supporting Steph as she volunteers her time to bring you stories like these about the Australian arts community. No amount too much or little.
[purchase_link id=”12246″ style=”button” color=”red” text=”Pay what you like”]
Pay what you like securely via PayPal. We protect your information.
Images supplied. OA production captured by Guy Davies. Stephanie by Graziano di Martino.
