Early summer 2022 sees Scottish Opera offering new Access afternoon shows of Don Giovannithat are specially created for those who enjoy a more relaxed theatre experience. While everyone is welcome, it is aimed at those who are living with dementia; recovering from an operation; have breathing difficulties; have a young baby; can only travel to the theatre in the daytime or would simply benefit from the relaxed and spacious nature of these productions.
The shorter, relaxed performances that will take place at Eden Court Inverness, Festival Theatre Edinburgh, His Majesty’s Theatre Aberdeen and Theatre Royal Glasgow, will run alongside the Company’s full-length performances directed by Sir Thomas Allen, with the Inverness venue offering this type of performance for the first time.
Doors open 45 minutes before the start, allowing time for audience members to get settled in before the performance begins. The brighter lighting levels in the auditorium let audience members come in and out as they please, and there is no need to keep quiet or sit still during the show. Quiet areas will also be made available if audience members need a break during the performance, with the option to watch from TV screens around the theatre if they do not wish to sit in the auditorium. There are wheelchair spaces and extra staff on hand to help.
Sung in Italian with English supertitles, the Don Giovanni Access performances are narrated by Assistant Director Mark Burns, that will help to guide audiences through the story as it is performed.
Eden Court Chief Executive Rebecca Holt said “We are delighted to be offering one of Scottish Opera’s Access shows at Eden Court for the first time as part of the upcoming run of Don Giovanni. These performances offer an opportunity to experience the show in a more relaxed environment, which we hope will help in making people feel more comfortable returning to the theatre or giving opera a go for the first time. Scottish Opera has had an important long-standing relationship with Eden Court for a number of years, and we’re pleased to be developing that partnership in a way which opens up performances to more people.”
Scottish Opera staged the UK’s first dementia friendly opera performance in November 2016 at the Festival Theatre Edinburgh, with The Marriage of Figaro. The Company has since developed these pioneering shows to allow an even wider audience to enjoy as easy and stress-free opera experiences as possible.
Tickets for Access performances, which are kindly supported by The Scottish Opera Syndicate, are priced £10, and are free for school groups (booking fees may apply.) For more information visit www.scottishopera.org.uk/shows/access-don-giovanni/
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 