Make performance halls more accessible to people living with physical, visual or hearing limitations: around sixty organizations from diverse backgrounds have been working together for two years to achieve this same objective.
The sharing of resources and the numerous exchanges within this community of practice have enabled the emergence of several initiatives, which are in addition to the tactile tours of the sets offered at the Théâtre du Rideau Vert or the audio descriptions of choreographed works offered by Dance City. Here are four that deserve attention.
On May 14, a rare visitor came to the Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier for a performance of La Traviata, by the Montreal Opera. In fact, around ten visually impaired people and their companions were able to take part in a tactile tour of the set in addition to feeling some of the costumes before the curtain rose. Subsequently, the performance was adapted to be offered in theater description via an application downloaded to a smartphone.
According to Charlotte Gagnon, manager of the social action and education department at the Opéra de Montréal, this was a first in Canada.
“Audio description poses particular challenges in opera, because there is never really silence,” says Ms. Gagnon. But according to the comments received after the event, the comments on the action were inserted at the right time, and in the right quantity, so as not to compromise the musical beauty. »
For the moment, no decision has been made on whether or not these adapted performances will return. But Charlotte Gagnon hopes to be able to offer theater description for a performance of each show on the program in 2024-2025. The decision will be communicated to the public in August as to whether activity will return for The Barber of Seville, presented from the end of September.
It was at the beginning of 2023, during a performance of the play Clandestines, that the Center du Théâtre d’Aujourd’hui (CTD’A) began offering services for people living with visual or hearing disabilities. Since then, performances with audio description or with surtitles have multiplied.
Next season, something new will be added: a performance of the play La démagogie des dragons will be offered in a relaxed version in the Jean-Claude-Germain room. What is it about ? “Relaxed performances, also called sensory-adapted performances, are intended for people who are neurodivergent, who come with young children or who experience stress or discomfort in a traditional theater environment,” explains Marion Guillaume, communications and communications coordinator. mediation at the CTD’A.
She continues: “During this performance, the lights and sounds that could be violent are softened, the audience is not in complete darkness, because there is always a small light on. The door is also always open so people can come in and out if they feel the need. In addition, the room is not filled to the maximum, to allow those who wish to not be seated too close to others. »
A quieter space will be set up in the hall and weighted objects can be borrowed to attend the performance. “We will also send in the weeks preceding a notebook to explain how the outing will go, with photos of the locations and explanations of the play and the characters. »
Alongside this activity, a performance of the play Neige sur Abidjan will be offered in audio description and three other plays will benefit from a performance with surtitles.
In Quebec, the Théâtre du Trident has also set up services for spectators living with visual or hearing disabilities. “Last season, the 20 performances of the play Pompières et pyromanes were presented with a sign language interpreter on stage,” explains Véronic Larochelle, director of philanthropic development and partnership at Trident and responsible for the universal accessibility file. .
“A performance with audio description of the play Coup de vieux was also offered to visually impaired people. Before the start of the play, a mediation activity allowed them to familiarize themselves with the voices of certain performers in addition to being able to touch the textiles of certain costumes. »
This evening was an unexpected success, says Ms. Larochelle. “A group of 30 people signed up. We realized how real the need is! »
The presence of two wheelchair-bound artists on stage during the 2023-2024 season also required work to be carried out at the Grand Théâtre, where Trident’s activities take place. “The theatre was built in the 1970s and there were no accessible toilets near the stage. This had to be remedied!”
Next season, we already know that the play Paul à la maison will be offered in sign language for at least one performance. And at least one audio description with mediation activity before the curtain rises will also be offered.
Note that Le Diamant will also offer in November a performance with audio description of the play Courville by Robert Lepage.
Also in Quebec, the youth theater company Les Gros Becs is working on the construction of a new venue, La Caserne – stage for young audiences, which will be located on rue Dalhousie. The company consulted numerous organizations and people living with disabilities to ensure that it offered the most accessible and inclusive building possible.
Jean-Philippe Joubert, Managing Director and Co-Artistic Director, explains: “We were able to think about these questions from the start of the design of La Caserne. Decisions have already been made to offer removable seats that can accommodate wheelchairs both at the bottom and at the top of the stands. The ticket office has also been redesigned. There will be no physical barrier to help people with hearing disabilities purchase tickets. A chat system will be set up. »
Since a good portion of the spectators who attend Gros Becs shows are children, several facilities – such as the ticket office and service counters – have been designed to be at their height. This will make life easier for people in wheelchairs.
As for visually impaired people, the work will be done in a second phase, once the construction work is completed. “The thinking will begin during the signage work,” says Jean-Philippe Joubert. We will be able to see how far we can go to properly accommodate this clientele. »
The work, which began in July 2023, is expected to be completed in fall 2025.