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Accessibility Development Resources
Intrepid Theatre strives to be a creative home for all artists and theatre-loving audiences. Bringing important, innovative stories to audiences and supporting a diversity of artists are fundamental to our values. We know that equity-seeking communities face barriers in the arts, including d/Deaf and disabled people, especially those who are IBPoC, queer and trans, and we are committed to reducing barriers so that everyone can experience and participate in our festivals and presentations. We are sharing some resources, put together by the Intrepid team to help give artists free and open access to these materials, resources, and examples.
On this page, you’ll find information about different types of accessibility resources that you can create for your show and about the different resources we offer at Intrepid.
Resources for your show
Script Library
Some shows choose to provide scripts, in case it is useful for audience members to read in advance of attending the show. While building the script library, we have in mind people whose first language isn’t English, people who process information better textually, d/Deaf and h/Hard of hearing people, people who would like to review the script for content that may be sensitive or triggering, and anyone who would like to know more about a show’s content in advance. Our script libraries are password protected.
When creating a script for this purpose, there are some recommendations to make sure it is accessible and screen reader friendly. Use a sans serif font in size 12-14, include page numbers and your own copyright in the header or footer, avoid using italics, and save the script as a PDF when sending it to Intrepid. Below are links to documents with instructions on how to make documents accessible for screen readers on both Microsoft Word and Google Docs. We also have a written disclaimer that can be added to scripts to make it clear that these scripts are for accessibility purposes and shared in good faith, for private use only.
Click here for the Script Disclaimer Text
Content and Sensory Warnings
Content and sensory warnings provide more details about what to expect. These warnings highlight elements of a performance that someone might want to know about to decide if this show is right for them, or to prepare them in seeing the show. They center care for your audience as it gives them the opportunity to decide what works for them in coming to see your show. Warnings will be available on each show’s webpage, as well as at the box office.
Content warnings are a statement about the topics and themes within a show, whether they are depicted, discussed or alluded to. Here is a list of things you might want to note to support audiences coming to your show. This is not an exhaustive list, there may be things not on this list that you wish to include. You can use broader descriptions (ex. Adult themes) or give very specific descriptions, it’s up to you to determine what is helpful for the audience to know in deciding to see your show. You know your show best and we empower you to include information you feel is important.
- Coarse language
- Adult themes
- Violence or fighting (verbal or physical)
- Mental health (themes or discussions)
- Mentions, themes or depictions of sexual content
- Mentions, themes, or depictions of sexualized violence
- Mentions, themes, or depictions of racialized violence
- Mentions, themes, or depictions of suicide
- Mentions, themes, or depictions of substance use
- Institutional (residential school, psychiatric facilities, prison/incarceration)
Sensory warnings are a statement about elements of the show involving an audience’s sensory input (sight, sound, touch, etc.) that may affect whether they choose to attend a show. For example, someone may be sensitive to flashing lights and choose to avoid shows with strobe lighting. Here is a list of things you might want to note to support audiences coming to your show. This is not an exhaustive list, there may be things not on this list that you wish to include. You can use broader descriptions (ex. loud sounds) or give very specific descriptions, it’s up to you to determine what is helpful for the audience to know in deciding to see your show. You know your show best and we empower you to include information you feel is important.
- Strobe lighting
- Flashing lights other than strobes
- Sudden blackout or sudden stop in sound
- Haze or fog
- Projections (fast-moving images)
- Loud sudden sound(s)
- Allergens on stage (ex. nuts, perfume, air freshener, etc.)
- Characters eating on stage (use of real food, talking with mouth full)
- Character suddenly appearing (ex. jumping out from behind a set piece)
- Audience interaction and/or participation
Visual Stories
A visual story is a guide for people to look at prior to going to the theatre so that they know what to expect during the performance. Visual stories were developed for people on the autism spectrum, but they may be useful for anyone who wants to get a sense of what a show is like before experiencing it. Visual stories are often paired with relaxed performances, but it’s fine to offer a visual story without a relaxed element of your show.
Below is the link to a template created with PuSh International Performing Arts Festival & Anika Vervecken and the link to an example of a visual story. Make a copy of the template and change the name to start editing a version for your show. Before saving the document for sharing purposes, delete all highlighted text (instructions and further information are highlighted). This document includes pictures of your set and cast, content and sensory information, and a full description of everything that happens in the show. Save it as a PDF when sending it to Intrepid.
Relaxed Performances
Relaxed Performances are specifically designed to welcome people who will benefit from a more relaxed performance environment, including people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, sensory and communication disorders, neurological disorders, a learning disability anxiety, arthritis, chronic pain and many more.
Relaxed performances involve making changes to create a more relaxing environment for patrons and have a relaxed attitude to noise and movement coming from the audience. If needed, changes are made to the light and sound effects. There is sometimes an introduction before the show starts to help people understand what is happens in the show. There is a link below to a document with more detailed information about arranging relaxed performances and a link to a document with resources to learn more.
If you want to arrange any relaxed performances for your show, please contact Intrepid’s production team. It takes some extra work to make sure everything will run smoothly when adding relaxed performances and they will work with you to organize everything necessary.
Show Introductions
A show introduction is specifically aimed at either d/Deaf and hard of hearing audiences or
Blind and low vision audiences, and describes, respectively, the audio elements or visual
elements. This is recommended if your show has minimal visual or audio elements (for
example, if yours is a dance show with only a few meaningful sounds, the introduction would “fill in the gaps.”) Note that it is recommended to create an audio file for an introduction for Blind and low vision patrons.
If your show has minimal visual elements and most information is represented in the sound and speech of performers, creating an introduction may help make it more accessible for people who are blind or low vision. Below is a link to a document with information on what Introductions are and how to create one for your show. There is also a link to an example.
Click here for information about Blind/Low Vision Introductions
If your show has minimal audio elements and most information is represented in the visuals of the show, creating an introduction may help make it more accessible for people who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing. Below is a link to a document with information on what Introductions are and how to create one for your show. There is also a link to an example.
Click here for information about d/Deaf or Hard of Hearing Introductions
Captioning
Captioning involves the display of all speech and sometimes descriptions of sound as written text. This can be helpful for people who process information better textually, d/Deaf and h/Hard of hearing people, people whose first language isn’t English, and many others. The process of creating and displaying captions for a show will involve a lot of preparation, technology, and teamwork. The process may involve the use of multiple projectors if you already use projections in your show, installing a specific projection surface, and having an additional operator just to run the captions. If you are interested in providing captions for your show, please reach out to Intrepid to discuss whether it will be possible to arrange. Due to the variable nature of the resources and spaces available for certain programming at Intrepid, the option to caption may not be possible.
Social Media Accessibility
Social media often plays a key part in promoting shows. Making sure that your posts on social media are accessible helps more people interact with your show.
Below is a link to a guide with information about making social media posts more accessible. It includes things like checking your visuals for colour contrast, adding Alt Text, captioning videos, and more.
Resources at Intrepid
Accessible Venues and Box Office
The Intrepid Box Office and the Venues we use are wheelchair accessible. Full details about the accessibility of each venue is documented in a Venue Guide for each location we use.
Venue Guides
Intrepid creates a venue guide for every venue they use. These guides were created with folks on the autism spectrum in mind, but can be useful for everyone. The guide gives written information and pictures about what to expect at the venue when you come to see a show, including transit & parking, arriving at the venue, what to expect during a show, and Communicable Disease Prevention Plan information. If you are an Unconventional Venue at the Fringe Festival, you may want to create a guide for your venue. We have a template we can send to you, please reach out if you are interested. Below, as an example, is the Venue Guide for Intrepid Studio used at the Victoria Fringe Festival in 2025.
Ticket-Related Information and Ticket Programs
Intrepid encourages patrons to indicate any access needs, such as wheelchair accessible seating, in the provided accessibility needs box when booking tickets online. Patrons can also let the Box Office staff know about any needs if booking in person. This gives us time and information to provide accommodations when assigning seats.
Priority seating can be arranged with the Box Office and Front of House team if someone needs early admission for accessible seating. The designated spaces for priority and accessible seating vary between venues, specific information is always available in the venue guide for each venue.
Intrepid often offers a reduced cost ticket option that helps address the barriers different groups may face in accessing theatre. There are also companion tickets for companions to patrons who identify as a part of the d/Disability community. Information about ticket programs varies between the different programming offered by Intrepid, so please check the program page for the relevant information. Some options are available when booking tickets online, some may need patrons to contact the Box Office by phone or email to book.
Fringe Festival Accessibility
The Victoria Fringe Festival has many accessibility offerings such as the Accessibility Guide, At-A-Glance Accessibility Breakdown, the Fringe On The House program, and more.
For more information, please visit the Fringe Accessibility page.
Questions?
If you have questions, feedback or accessibility requests, please contact us (email) sean@intrepidtheatre.com. For ticketing access questions or requests, please email tickets@intrepidtheatre.com. We are grateful for feedback as we continue to build accessibility and inclusion into our programming and learn.
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Photo credit: Chris Dodd in Deafy, presented as part of Intrepid Theatre’s Incoming Festival. Read more about Chris’s festival dedicated to the Deaf performing arts, Sound /Off Festival.
