English National Ballet (ENB) has announced its first ever relaxed performance of Nutcracker when the show takes to the stage over the Christmas period.
Taking place on January 9 at the same London Coliseum venue as the other performances, it will be specially designed to create a more relaxed environment for neurodiverse and autistic audiences.
As high art institutions are encouraged to adopt more inclusive policies, it’s seen as a positive step.
Founder of local autism support group ‘A2ndVoice’, Venessa Bobb Swaby said: “It’s good news for us. It’s about having a space where anything goes.
“In these environments, people don’t feel abnormal. They avoid shushes and funny stares.”
ENB follow in the footsteps of the Royal Opera House who held a relaxed performance of the Christmas classic last year.
Increased demand for relaxed environments has led to the appearance of consultancies like ‘A Relaxed Company’ who advise arts establishments on accessibility and inclusion.
Co-founder Chris Pike said: “Relaxed performances truly open up the world of the arts for so many people.
“Currently, relaxed performances tend to be for musicals or family shows, so having a relaxed ballet is wonderful to see and we look forward to seeing more.“
According the ENB’s website, the relaxed performance of the Nutcracker will support and accept noise and movement within the auditorium, re-entry as and when needed, and access to a chill-out space outside of the auditorium.
However, many in the inclusion community believe more can be done, with the main issue raised with these relaxed environment settings is that one size does not fit all.
Nicole Ray, paediatric occupational therapist from Kids in Sync South West, said: “It’s important to remember that children with modulation and regulation issues experience them in individual levels.
“An activity which may stimulate one child may down regulate another.
“Screening the children first might be a good way to get the same kind of group to attend.“
Likewise, relaxed performance advocate Jess Mabel Jones wants ENB to go further, given that this offering is for only one of the thirty-nine performances.
She also criticised the choice of a day performance: “It plays into the old myth that only children benefit from relaxed performances – what about all the adults who’d like to attend but will be at work?
“It’s a step in the right direction but we’re not at equity yet.”
A spokesperson for the English National Ballet said: “ENB believes that ballet is for everyone. We are pleased to be able to offer a relaxed performance of Nutcracker and we are focused on opening up further possibilities for people to experience and be moved by this artform.”
Featured image credit: Vlah Dumitru on Unsplash
