STET’s statement on accessibility.
At STET we are continuously learning about varied experiences of non-able bodied theatre professionals and audiences. We have been working with and learning from activists, performers and educators about our role and responsibilities to make our shows accessible to all. This includes taking steps such as aiming to have one sign translated performance and one ‘relaxed performance’ per show, with discounted prices for companions. Additionally, in our learning of these issues we have also spent time making our website more accessible. We are incredibly grateful for the help of Swink and Vooral for auditing our website and providing measures that we can take to increase the accessibility of the website. We accept that there is still some way to go for us and all theatre and theatre makers in the Netherlands. We will continue to learn and hope to do more in the future. If you have any questions, comments or concerns around our theatre practices and website, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us at info@theenglishtheatre.nl.
Below we outline further some of the steps we’re taking to realize this.
General info
- STET works primarily in the three Het Nationale Theater venues in The Hague. For wheelchair accessibility of each venue, please follow this link for the full information.
- At the moment we make sure at least one performance of our monthly shows includes sign language
- If you have any concerns about your visit to an upcoming show or will be visiting using a wheelchair, walker, guide dog etc. please contact Berta Cussó on production@theenglishtheatre.nl.
- If you are attending a STET performance with a supporter for your disability, please get in touch with us about ticket prices and discounts.
- Our staff are continuously learning about how to make each event safe and enjoyable for all. Please feel free to talk to them at any time at our shows about any issues or concerns!
D/deaf and hard of hearing
At STET, our shows are often spoken in English, with a Dutch Sign Language Interpreter present (NGT). As an English theatre, why not include British sign language (BSL)? Research has shown that the BSL speaking d/Deaf community in The Netherlands is extremely small, compared to the Dutch. And so we have chosen to invite the Dutch d/Deaf theatre loving community to our shows by making them more accessible with Dutch sign language.
At the moment, NGT interpreters are present at one of the performance dates of each show. If desired, we can sit you close to the front of the stage so that the sounds are louder, and the actors’ mouths can be seen more easily.
Relaxed performances
We try offering a relaxed performance for each of our shows. A relaxed performance is designed to make watching theatre more accessible. The lights will be kept a low level throughout the performance so there will never be complete darkness and the sounds will be at a lower volume. You are welcome to do what you need to be comfortable during this shows. In these shows everyone is free to get up, make sounds or leave the room (and return) at any time without explanation.
When the venue allows it, there will be an extra area designated as a safe space for audience members to go to for any reason. During these shows, the safe space will be a low stimulus space where audience members can de-stimulate.
Theatre for the blind and visually impaired
At the moment STET is unable to offer ‘Meet and Feel’ workshops or audio descriptions for our shows. However, recently we were able to work closely with the organisation ‘Komt Het Zien!’, who provide services that help persons with visual impairment understand – “see” – the show. We offered them a percentage of the sales from our education workshops from November 2021 until January 2022 to help fund them for other shows in The Netherlands.
At all venues we do still welcome all audience members who are visually impaired and can offer reserved seats at the front and service dogs can join as well. Please feel free to get in touch with us to let us know how we can make your visit more welcoming. With better funding, knowledge and teaching we believe that it is possible to provide the facilities at each show that allow any audience member to enjoy our performances. To learn more about interpreters for blind and visually impaired audience members, see the Komt Het Zien website here (only in Dutch).
Learn with us
On 1 November 2021, we hosted a symposium about theatre and disabilities and what the Dutch theatre world can learn from the UK. Click here to read the most important things we’ve learned.
We are still continuing to grow and learn. Below we have an list detailing just a few of the incredible groups we have had the pleasure to work with, learn from and support:
Sign language interpreters for theatre
Accessibility training by Marianne Dijkshoorn
Accessibility check in The Hague
Online accessibility
Accessibility advice
Funding sign language interpreters and speech to text interpreters
Surtitle technique
Agenda voor inclusive performing arts
Speech to text interpreters