Derby LIVE offers accessible Christmas shows

Beauty and the Beast cast

Tue 7 Nov 2017

Derby LIVE is pleased to offer relaxed, British Sign Language (BSL) interpreted, BSL shadow interpreted, captioned and audio described performances of the all-star family pantomime Beauty and the Beast at Derby Arena and Prince Stroppy Pants and the Christmas Caper at the Guildhall Theatre.

Christmas pantomimes and theatre productions are something that many look forward to during the festive season and Derby LIVE believes that it is important to help make their programme accessible to a wide audience. This season Derby LIVE is offering a range of access performances of Beauty and the Beast and Prince Stroppy Pants and the Christmas Caper aimed at catering for various needs.

A trip to Beauty and the Beast is sure to get families into the Christmas spirit. Stepping into Derby Arena, transformed into a magical theatre space, is sure to thrill audiences of all ages who will be transported to the French village of Spondon-on-the-Seine.

A traditional Pantomime is full of audience participation and there will be plenty in Beauty and the Beast, with the chance to boo and hiss as the Wicked Enchantress casts a spell on the dashing Count, transforming him into a grotesque beast, condemning him to live for only two years unless he can be saved by true love.

Everyone’s favourite characters will be bought to life in this enchanting and spellbinding tale that will combine hilarious comedy, fabulous sets, fantastic music and dance routines. Can true love set the Beast free? Only Beauty holds the power to break the spell and give everyone a happy ever after!

The dazzling star-studded, family pantomime will feature Derby's very own Gwen Taylor and Ben Faulks (CBeebies' Mr Bloom).

In Prince Stroppy Pants and the Christmas Caper audiences will follow the story of his Royal Highness the Prince, who is the bossiest, stroppiest, snottiest Prince that ever did live. He is rude and he is lazy and worst of all he is given everything that he asks for. Spoilt rotten by everyone he demands more and more until finally he demands the unthinkable: “I want Father Christmas’ Magical Sleigh and I want it now!”

With this latest outrageous request his father the Right Royal King sets out to find it. After a week of waiting the Prince starts to worry, after a month he is scared.

Theatre-goers will join the Prince on his Christmas caper sure to bring a ton of laughs and hijinks. Will the Prince get his daddy back? Will he learn some manners along the way?

 

Relaxed performances offer an enjoyableenvironment for all, including children, young people and adults with disabilities. The productions are adapted in various ways such as altered sound and lighting effects to make the show more accessible. During the performance there will never be a full black out in the auditorium. There is also a quiet area outside the auditorium which can be used if audience members want to leave the auditorium at any point, where they can relax before they are ready to return to the show.  During a relaxed performance everyone is encouraged to enjoy the show and express their appreciation and there is a relaxed attitude to noise and movement.

The Beauty and the Beast relaxed performance will take place on Sat 30 Dec, 1:30pm

The Prince Stroppy Pants and the Christmas Caper relaxed performance will take place on Sun 10 Dec, 2:30pm

 

Ideal for blind and partially-sighted people, audio description is a form of audio-visual translation, using the natural pauses in dialogue or between critical sound elements to insert narrative that translates the visual image into a sense form.

Free touch tours take place 75 minutes before the performance, with the chance to get up close to the set and costumes and often with a chance to meet some of the actors. Customers should let the Derby LIVE Box Office know if they wish to attend the touch tour. Tickets are free, but should be booked in advance.

Audio described performances of Beauty and the Beast will take place on Sun 17 Dec 5pm, Mon 18 Dec 1:30pm and Sat 23 Dec, 1:30pm.

Audio described performances of Prince Stroppy Pants and the Christmas Caper will take place on Sat 16 Dec 2:30pm and Wed 27 Dec 11am.

 

British Sign Language (BSL) interpreted performances feature a signer at the side of the stage who signs the dialogue from the performance. It is suggested that customers let the Derby LIVE Box Office know when booking where they would like to sit: directly in front of the interpreter or on the opposite side, looking across the stage.

BSL interpreted performances of Beauty and the Beast will take place on Thu 7 Dec 10am, Sat 9 Dec 1:30pm, Fri 22 Dec 5pm and Thu 28 Dec 5pm.

 

Shadow interpreted performances are an alternative approach to sign language in the theatre, in which interpreters stay on the stage rather than off to the side. By incorporating interpreters into the performance itself, theatres aim to provide a more seamless experience for the entire audience.

Shadow interpreted performances of Prince Stroppy Pants and the Christmas Caper will take place on Tue 12 Dec 1:30pm, Fri 15 Dec 10:30am, Sun 17 Dec 2:30pm and Wed 27 Dec 11am.

 

During captioned performances words appear on screens either side of the stage at the same time as they are spoken - ideal for those who are deaf, hard of hearing or if you'd just like to read along.

Captioned performances of Beauty and the Beast will take place on Fri 29 Dec at 2pm and 7pm.

 

Beauty and the Beast will be on stage from Tue 5 – Sun 31 Dec at Derby Arena, with tickets priced from £14.75.

Prince Stroppy Pants and the Christmas Caper will be on stage at the Guildhall Theatre from Thu 7 – Thu 28 Dec, tickets priced from £10.