Feeling festive? Check out our list of accessible festive performances!
December is upon us, which can mean only one thing - Panto season of course! Everyone loves a bit of Panto magic at Christmas, and that’s why we think no one should miss out.
We’ve put together a list of Yorkshire-based relaxed, signed, dementia-friendly Pantomime and other festive performances happening over December. Tickets will be limited to the capacity of the venue. Always check with the venue to discuss how they can support your access needs before you book your tickets to avoid disappointment.
Grand Opera House, York
Robinson Crusoe and the Pirates of the River Ouse
‘York legend Berwick Kaler returns with all of the gang for his hilarious take on the classic story of the sailor from York who finds himself marooned on a desert island, but he’s not alone!
Galleons of laughter are guaranteed in this sea-faring tale. A captivating tale of magic, mayhem and misunderstandings live on York’s famous stage.
Berwick Kaler’s panto is a York tradition, a must-see laugh-a-minute extravaganza with stunning sets, fabulous costumes and amazing effects to keep audiences both young and old entertained.’
Audio Described - Thursday 28 December at 1pm
Signed (BSL) - Wednesday 27 December at 5pm
“Join Shrek and his trusty sidekick Donkey as they set out on a quest to defeat the fearsome dragon and rescue the beautiful Princess Fiona. With a heart-warming story and a cast of unforgettable characters, this musical extravaganza is a journey you won't want to miss.”
Audio Described and Signed (BSL) - Friday 1st December, 7:30pm
York Theatre Royal
“Starring Nina Wadia as Fairy Sugarsnap (EastEnders, Citizen Khan, Still Open All Hours, Goodness Gracious Me), James Mackenzie as the villainous Luke Backinanger (CBBC’s adventure game show Raven and CBeebies’ Molly and Mack) and York favourite Robin Simpson (Mrs Smee in All New Adventures of Peter Pan and Manky in Cinderella), as the hilarious Dame Trott!
With stunning sets, hilarious comedy and breath-taking special effects, Jack and the Beanstalk promises to be our most spectacular pantomime ever!”
Dementia Friendly – Friday 22nd December at 2:30pm
Relaxed – Sunday 31st December at 11am
Signed (BSL) – Wednesday 3rd January at 1pm
Audio Described – Saturday 6th January at 1pm
Captioned – Saturday 6th January at 1pm
Castle Howard
Father Christmas in the Castle
“Make magical memories, and meet Father Christmas, Mrs Claus and jolly WonderPhil at Castle Howard this Christmas. Watch a joyful performance bursting with jingle bells and Christmas spirit, sing Christmas songs together, and enjoy a special, individual moment with Father Christmas himself.”
Signed (BSL) – Tuesday 12th December at 5.15pm
Relaxed - Wednesday 13th December at 6.30pm
Halifax Victoria Theatre
“Come and join us for everyone's favourite rags to riches tale, Cinderella!
Poor Cinderella works night and day but dreams of a very different life and with an invitation to the royal ball it looks as if her wish may be granted. Will her Wicked Stepsisters succeed in ruining Cinderella’s dreams of happiness or will her Fairy Godparents and loyal friend Buttons be able to thwart their devilish plans?”
Signed Performance (BSL) - Thursday 21st December, 2pm
Signed Performances (BSL – Integrated/on stage) - Wednesday 3rd January at 6:30pm and Thursday 4th January at 2pm
Relaxed Performance - Friday 5 January, 10:30am
Harrogate Theatre
“Join Dick Whittington on an adventure of a lifetime to seek his fame and fortune in London town where the streets are paved with gold! Alongside his trusty sidekick Tammy the Cat, Dick is going to need all the help he can get if he’s going to win the day, become the Lord Mayor of London and defeat the evil King Rat!”
Signed (BSL) and Audio Described – Saturday 9th and Friday 29th December at 12pm
Captioned – Sunday 10th December at 12pm
Relaxed – Thursday 21st December 2pm
Leeds City Varieties
“We are proud to announce that Robin Hood is the latest classic tale to get the Rock ‘n’ Roll treatment.
A very different format to the traditional Christmas pantomime, Rock ‘n’ Roll Pantos mix traditional elements of audience participation and corny gags with a jukebox full of classic rock anthems and chart-toppers, all performed live on stage by an ultra-talented cast of actor-musicians.”
Signed (BSL) – Friday 1st December 7pm
Captioned – Sunday 3rd December 6pm
Relaxed – Wednesday 3rd January 2pm
Leeds Carriageworks
“When the vain Wicked Queen realises that she is no longer the fairest in the land, she seeks revenge against her beautiful stepdaughter Snow White. With the help of the magical Forest Fairy and her seven faithful friends, can Snow White escape the Wicked Queen’s evil clutches and live happily ever after with her handsome Prince?”
Relaxed - Sunday 3rd December at 1pm, Wednesday 20th December at 1.30pm and Wednesday 27th December at 2.30pm
Signed (BSL) - Tuesday 5th December at 10am, Thursday 21st December at 1.30pm and Saturday 6th January at 2.30pm
Dementia friendly - Tuesday 12 Dec, 1.30pm
Online
Concrete Youth:Santa has the sneezes
“Santa's caught a cold right before Christmas! Achoo! Join us for our festive, online sensory story for people labelled with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD).”
Monday 4th December, 1.30pm
Friday 22nd December, 11am
Click the link above for tickets to experience this from the comfort of our own home, school or setting.
What does it mean?
When you’re booking an accessible performance, there are a few things you can look out for that will tell you what sort of performance it will be.
Dementia friendly (DF)
This performance is designed with people living with dementia in mind. They’re very similar to Relaxed Performances and can vary depending on the show and the venue. Key differences might be additional, trained staff on hand to support audience members and a relaxed attitude to audience responses.
Audio Described (AD)
Audio described performances are much like listening to sports on the radio, where the action is described to you as it happens. There’ll be explanations of everything that’s happening on stage, including facial expressions and visual gags so that you don’t miss out. This tends to happen on an individual headset, provided by the venue, that doesn’t interrupt anyone else's enjoyment of the performance.
Signed (BSL)
Signed performances tend to be interpreted in British Sign Language (BSL) unless otherwise stated by the venue. These can be helpful to D/deaf audience members. There’ll often be a trained interpreter on or to the side of the stage signing the spoken dialogue and sounds as they happen.
Relaxed (RP)
In a relaxed performance audience members can move around the space freely and leave and enter it when they want. The lighting tends to be softened, as are sound effects or music. These performances are a great alternative for people who do not feel comfortable with attending a typical performance or show.
Captioned (CAP)
Some shows can be captioned. This is like subtitling that we might see on a screen at home or in the cinema, only in real-time, as the actors speak. These types of shows can be helpful to D/deaf audience members.
Did we miss any accessible shows in your area? Get in touch by emailing hello@aamedia.org.uk and we’ll add them to our listings.