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An increasing number of theatre companies are bringing great art to everyone through relaxed performances. Matt Trueman argues for them to become standard practice.

Theatre is on an accessibility drive – and rightly so. The Arts Council’s mission statement – “Great art for everyone” – requires as much, and disabled access falls squarely within its remit. Legislation has made most theatres wheelchair-accessible, and hearing loops and captioned performances have opened up the art form to deaf audiences. There is, however, much more to be done.
As many as one in 100 people in Britain are on the spectrum. For people with autism, theatre can present a number of problems. It is a visceral, experiential and unpredictable art form, watched in a social setting in an unfamiliar place with a specific, often unspoken, etiquette. This means the opposite is also true: austistic people can seem like a problem for theatre. Their behaviour, everything from involuntary noises to overexcitement, can become disruptive for other theatregoers... Keep reading on The Guardian