Preview: The Tiger Who Came to Tea Relaxed Performance at Newcastle Theatre Royal

IT’S TEA-TIME FOR THEATRE’S LATEST RELAXED PERFORMANCE.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea Relaxed Performance

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Fri 3 July at 4pm

Newcastle Theatre Royal says it is responding to overwhelming feedback from parents of local children with autism and other sensory conditions, by offering a Relaxed Performance of upcoming children’s show The Tiger Who Came to Tea, outside of school hours.

The Theatre recently became the first in the UK to be awarded the Autism Access Award by the National Autistic Society, in recognition of its work with autistic audience members through the specially adapted relaxed performances.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea

Photo: Alastair Muir

The shows, which have a less formal, more supportive atmosphere in order to reduce anxiety levels and which include toned down lighting and special effects have been met with an overwhelming response from audiences, particularly parents of children with special needs.

Louise Relton’s son is autistic and has attended Newcastle Theatre Royal’s Relaxed Performances of their record-breaking Pantomime and the recent tour of Shrek The Musical. She said: “In the past I tried to take my son to a regular theatre performance but he was unable to manage. The Relaxed Performances at Newcastle Theatre Royal have introduced him into a whole new world in a magical place and for that I can’t thank their Relaxed Performance team enough.”

All of Newcastle Theatre Royal’s Relaxed Performances so far have been held during the school day and the Relaxed Performance of The Tiger Who Came to Tea, on Friday 3 July, will be held at 4pm. Director of Operations at Newcastle Theatre Royal, Dawn Taylor, explained: “Our Relaxed Performances are extremely popular and exceptionally well received but we have had a lot of feedback that the mid-afternoon slot means that local parents find it difficult to attend as a family and the parents of those children who don’t attend a school where a trip is organised, are unable to bring their child out of school for the performance.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea

Photo: Robert Workman

“By offering The Tiger Who Came to TeaRelaxed Performance at 4pm, we hope that even more people who could benefit from attending a Relaxed Performance will be able to enjoy the experience of live theatre in this supportive setting. We still hope that schools will book to bring their children with extra needs to see the show as part of an out-of-hours school trip.”

Tickets:

The Tiger Who Came to Tea Relaxed Performance plays on Fri 3 July at 4pm, tickets are £8.50. For more information visit www.theatreroyal.co.uk or call Group Bookings on 08448 11 21 22.

Preview: Shrek The Musical - relaxed performance at Newcastle Theatre Royal

SHREK GOES ‘RELAXED’ AT AWARD-WINNING THEATRE ROYAL

Shrek The Musical - relaxed performance

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Tuesday 24 March

A uniquely adapted version of the West End family favourite, Shrek The Musical, will be playing for one special performance at Newcastle Theatre Royal, which recently became the first theatre in the UK to be recognised for its work with autistic audience members.

The ‘relaxed performance’ of Shrek The Musical will take place on Tuesday 24 March at 2pm and is the first such performance since the Theatre was presented with its Autism Access Award from the National Autistic Society. Newcastle Theatre Royal is the first venue on Shrek The Musical UK and Ireland tour at which a relaxed performance is being held.

Image by Helen Maybanks

Dawn Taylor, Director of Operations at the Theatre said: “We were extremely proud to be presented with our AAA award last month and since then we’ve had more and more families and teachers getting in touch to find out about our relaxed performances. They are all so excited that we are providing a relaxed performance of Shrek The Musical, which will have all the same elements of the wonderful storyline but with the lighting, special effects and very loud noises reduced.”

Image by Helen Maybanks

Relaxed performances are specifically designed to welcome people with an Autistic Spectrum Condition, learning disability or sensory and communication disorder into the Theatre. They have a less formal, more supportive atmosphere in order to reduce anxiety levels and chill out zones are provided for any audience members feeling anxious.

Newcastle Theatre Royal also provides a ‘visual story’ to those attending the performance, to allow them to familiarise themselves with both the theatre and the themes of the show before arriving. And as a special one-off, face painters have been specially commissioned for the Shrek The MusicalRelaxed Performance to help the children get into the spirit of the action both before the show and during the interval, for free.

Shrek The Musical is based on the story and characters from William Steig’s book Shrek! and the Academy Award®-winning DreamWorks Animations feature film, featuring all new songs as well as cult Shrek anthem I’m a Believer. Dean Chisnall stars as beloved swamp-dwelling ogre ‘Shrek’, the role he previously played in the West End, with Faye Brookes as damsel in distress ‘Princess Fiona’, Idriss Kargbo as Shrek’s wisecracking sidekick ‘Donkey’ and Gerard Carey as pint-sized villain ‘Lord Farquaad’.

The producers of Shrek The Musical UK and Ireland Tour said: “Following a highly successful relaxed performance at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane, we are delighted that the first relaxed performance of Shrek The Musical UK and Ireland Tour will take place at Newcastle Theatre Royal, especially following their recent Autism Access Award. These specially tailored performances welcome those audience members with autism or learning disabilities who might normally find it hard to attend and enjoy live theatre. We appreciate how important these performances are and we are committed to ensuring Shrek The Musical is a show the whole family can enjoy in a warm and inclusive environment, together.”

Tickets:

For more information about Shrek The MusicalRelaxed Performance visit www.theatreroyal.co.ukor call Group Bookings on 08448 11 21 22.

News: Theatre Royal’s Relaxed Performances of Pantos And Shrek

Theatre Royal’s Relaxed Performances of Pantos And Shrek

A North East mum says she’s thrilled that her son will be experiencing the joy of theatre this year thanks to an extended programme of relaxed performances at Newcastle Theatre Royal.

Louise Relton’s son Thomas (11) was diagnosed with Autism when he was 4 years old and now attends Thomas Bewick School in West Denton, which specialises in education for children and young people with Autism. 

She said: “Thomas’ condition means he might get very distressed during a standard performance of a show, which has always meant I had concerns as a mum about disturbing others around us. When we heard about Newcastle Theatre Royal working to create the relaxed performances it sounded like it would be an impossible task, but it works so well and Thomas just loved coming to the panto last year; it has become the highlight of the Christmas season for him.”

Dean Chisnall (Shrek) and

Faye Brookes (Princess Fiona).

Photo: Helen Maybanks.

Dawn Taylor, Director of Operations at the Theatre explained: “Our relaxed performances are specifically designed to welcome people with an Autistic Spectrum Condition, learning disability or sensory and communication disorder into the Theatre. They have a less formal, more supportive atmosphere in order to reduce anxiety levels. At relaxed performances the lighting and special effects are altered - for example removing strobes and flashing lights and reducing very loud noises, but the general content of the show stays pretty much the same.”

Now in its second year, Newcastle Theatre Royal’s relaxed performance of the pantomime has been so successful, that they have worked to extend their scope and have introduced a relaxed performance for Shrek The Musical in March 2015.

Louise said: “It’s great that there are more relaxed performances coming now because it’s so special for my son to be able to go to something alongside his friends and peers with similar conditions, where I as a mum don’t have to worry.”

Diane Scott, Headteacher at Thomas Bewick School, which has worked closely with the Theatre on the development of the specially adapted shows, said: “It means so much that pupils who cannot always cope with a standard performance are able to enjoy these specially modified performances along with their friends and staff. Thanks to the Theatre Royal our children are, once again, able to experience the magic of theatre in a wonderful setting.”

Tickets

The relaxed performance of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs takes place on 13 January 2015, Shrek The Musical relaxed performance will be on 24 March 2015 and a relaxed performance of the 2015/16 pantomime Dick Whittington is scheduled for 12 January 2016.

For more information visit www.theatreroyal.co.uk or call 08448 11 21 22.