DAT Fest is expanding the idea of accessibility

Susan recognises the potential to grow both audiences and performers through accessibility.

“[think about] people who haven’t even been welcomed in to watching shows. What’s that expression? ‘You can’t be what you can’t see.’ If people are excluded even as audiences, then how do we ever expect them to get involved and passionate about the arts?” 

Intersectionality is a key principle, to overcome the tendency for groups to form around particular disabilities. 

“We want, as a much as possible, to make sure that every minority is welcome. We’re both LGBTQIA and often queer spaces are inaccessible or disabled places are very straight. It’s still a goal of ours to improve in terms of ethnic and racial diversity,” Susan says. 

Te Auaha is shaping up as a great venue to push accessibility to meet social and emotional needs as well as the physical needs of audiences and performers. DAT Fest will take over a floor of studio and workshop rooms as well as the theatre.

In the theatre, performances of the ten shows will be audio described and have NZSL interpreters. All will be ‘relaxed performances’. That means the lights are not fully down, varied seating is offered - including the floor, movement is ok, and fidget spinners and other objects are available.

Whenever the festival is on, audiences and performers can go upstairs. The workshops are for disabled people and will be audio described and NZSL interpreted. For anyone who needs a change of rhythm, there are quiet rooms, cos-play rooms, and space to unwind with board games, colouring, fidget spinners and clay. 

“It’s important to have that amount of space for a community of people that is broad and wide. And that they can all feel welcome in that space. Every time there is something on in the theatre, the other space will be available if people want to escape or get away from things,” Kate says.

Other accessible features of the festival are helping with transport around the city, including shuttles from the railway station and disability parking, and a sliding scale of payment so that money is not a barrier. 

In addition to all this, the co-directors are also performing the festival. Creatif Kate is doing an online poetry show that will be made available with NZSL. Susan is emcee at the opening event and is teaching an improv workshop. 

And they’ve had time for some big-picture thinking about their vision for the festival. The first one built up audiences and the second built up performers. This time they have developed templates and processes and, most important, a team.

“This is the game changer year that beds in the principles and kaupapa and the importance of the festival existing, making it truly accessible, and making it a landmark festival,” says Kate.

Susan agrees, “This is the one where we want this to be larger than the both of us and carry on. We want to cement the foundations.”