'Come exactly as you are': The Citadel welcomes guests of all abilities with new programming

The Citadel Theatre has a slate of new accessible performances this season including sign language interpreted, live-captioned and “relaxed."

All three features were on display at a performance of A Christmas Carol last month.

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Multiple ASL interpreters conveyed actors’ interactions, screens on both sides of the stage displayed live captions and before the show started, actors and staff explained what to expect from the performance.

“It’s folks that have sensorial concerns, folks that have autism, but also we’re finding young families want to come,” said accessibility coordinator Kristi Hansen.

“The idea that you can bring your baby and that it’s a more relaxed environment to come and go.”

Hansen was hired last summer to work with consultants and develop programming that appeals to a larger audience.

“The Citadel has been really interested over the last few years in welcoming more disabled artists and more disabled patrons through building renovations, and now it’s being implemented into the programming itself, which is really exciting,” she said.

Push to improve accessibility

The Citadel’s executive director told CTV News Edmonton that compared to its counterparts across the country, the theatre had fallen behind on accessibility.

This new push to enhance its programming was made possible with a grant from the Edmonton Community Foundation.

“There are so many different artists and advocates and community members who have been really loudly proclaiming they deserve a space in Citadel,” said executive director Jessie van Rijn.

“It’s because of them that we’ve been able to hear and action a lot of this work.”

The Citadel will put on its first-ever audio-described performance and “touch tour” of Goblin:Macbeth next month.

“(It's) an access point for blind and low vision folks to come and feel a costume maybe. They have really cool masks they’re using,” explained Hansen.

“Our mantra is ‘you should be able to come exactly as you are and be your own human in that space however you need to be,’” said van Rijn.

Information about the special performances can be found on the Citadel’s website.

Van Rijn calls this season “a test year” to see what audiences like; however, she promised improved accessibility is here to stay.

“This is part of our world now.”