Disney’s landmark musical, The Lion King, is embarking on a UK Tour this Autumn.
Relaxed performance in each city
The Lion King will be hosting a Relaxed Performance in each city that it will visit, as well as a Relaxed Performance in its West End home, the Lyceum Theatre, on Sunday 2 June at 1.30pm.
The Lion King is committed to creating a friendly and inclusive audience experience.
Having hosted a hugely successful Autism-Friendly Performance in its inaugural tour in 2013, along with five Autism-Friendly Performances in London, the landmark musical is delighted to be presenting a Relaxed Performance in every city that the second tour will visit.
Relaxed performances are designed to provide an opportunity for people with autism, learning difficulties or other sensory and communication needs who might prefer a more relaxed environment.
Adjustments to create a more relaxed environment
Slight adjustments are made to the lighting and sound effects to make them slightly less surprising, and lights in the auditorium are not fully dimmed so that guests are able to come and go as they please.
Relaxed areas with books and toys are created in the theatre foyer and bar areas whilst the performance is taking place for anyone who wishes to use them.
In order to make each guest’s visit as comfortable and enjoyable as possible, the theatre staff, including cast and crew, attend autism awareness sessions and there are also extra staff and volunteers in the theatre to help with directions or queries.
A guest writes…
A guest at the 2013 Autism-Friendly Performance wrote: “It wasn’t until we took our seats that I started to realise quite how special an experience this was to be. I looked around as the 2,000-seat auditorium began filling with a truly unique audience.
“All around me were children, teenagers and adults with varying degrees of autism. Many were flapping their hands and jumping up and down. Some were rocking back and forth ferociously in their chairs. Others were making unusual hand gestures, or clapping their hands over their ears. And the noise level grew and grew, with the sound of people groaning, screeching, hooting and laughing.
“To the uninitiated this might have looked daunting, even frightening. But to us, the parents and families of people with autism, this was pure happiness.”
Book The Lion King for Bristol, Edinburgh and London dates
The first Relaxed Performance on the tour will be at The Bristol Hippodrome on Tuesday 19th November 2019 at 5pm and the Edinburgh Playhouse on Sunday 26th January 2020 at 1.30pm.
