Relaxed Performance
Pre-show Information
A West Yorkshire Playhouse production
William Shakespeare’s
Romeo & Juliet
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Tuesday 21 March 2017, 12pm
What is a Relaxed Performance?
Our Relaxed Performances are mainstream theatre shows adapted to create
an enjoyable and relaxed atmosphere for young people and adults with
learning disabilities and their families and friends to experience theatre.
Noise and Movement
We ask every audience member and staff member to be accepting of the
fact that people in the audience will express enjoyment of the show in
different ways. The attitude to noise and movement is relaxed, and we ask
anyone who attends to be supportive of this.
We hope this pre-show information will help you to prepare for your visit to
West Yorkshire Playhouse and give you an idea of what to expect when you
watch Romeo & Juliet.
If you have further questions, or to feedback about your experience please
contact [email protected] or call 0113 213 7278
@wyplayhouse
#RelaxedPerformance
#RomeoandJuliet
For ticket enquiries contact our Box Office on
0113 213 7700
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What else does West Yorkshire Playhouse offer?
Our Creative Engagement team runs a variety of creative engagement
projects for young people and adults with learning disabilities:
BUZZ
At First Floor, our creative venue for young people, our Buzz
programme of art, drama and music sessions offer regular
activities for 14 – 25 year olds with learning disabilities,
including an accredited weekly two-day arts course.
Beautiful Octopus Club
We support a team of adults with learning disabilities to
run a twice yearly club night for over-18s called Beautiful
Octopus Club. The next club night is Thursday 30 March,
7pm at Leeds University Student Union. Please check the
back page for more information.
West Yorkshire Playhouse offers the following access services for our own
productions and some touring shows:
Captioned shows for deaf and hard of hearing customers
British Sign Language interpreted shows for deaf
customers
Audio-described shows for blind or partially sighted
customers
Dementia-friendly shows for people living with dementia
Adapted to meet the needs of audience members with
learning disabilities
For more information visit our website wyp.org.uk
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Arriving at the Playhouse
This is West Yorkshire Playhouse, a theatre
in Leeds city centre, just across the road
from the City Bus Station.
The postcode is: LS2 7UP
Parking
There is a pay and display car park at Quarry
Hill.
You can pay with coins or pay by using a
mobile phone to park here. A stay of up to 5
hours will cost you £6. You will need to type
in your registration plate number.
There is free parking for Blue Badge holders
very close to the Playhouse entrance.
The car park gets very busy so allow
enough time to find a space.
Main Entrance
The accessible entrance to the Playhouse
is through the main doors on the left side of
the building.
Push the silver button on the wall to open
the doors.
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Box Office
Once inside, you will find our Box Office.
This is where you can book and collect
tickets for the show. Our staff will be happy
to help you.
This is the Box Office
It is best to arrive early for the show to have
enough time to collect your tickets, go to
the toilet, use the lift and get settled in your
seat before the show starts.
Foyer
Our foyer area gets very busy during show
times so you can expect there to be lots of
people around. It may be also be a bit noisy.
This is the Foyer
Attendants
Our attendants wear purple
t-shirts and are here to help you.
Attendants
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Eating, Drinking and Visiting
Coffee Shop
Our Coffee Shop is open from 8am selling
hot and cold drinks and a range of snacks.
You can use the lift or stairs to get to the
Café and Coffee Shop.
This is the Coffee Shop
The Café
There is a Café at the Playhouse where you
may want to buy something to eat before
or after the show.
From 10am – 4pm there are hot and cold
drinks available, as well as sandwiches,
meals and snacks.
This is the Café
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During the Interval
During the interval of the performance
you can eat and drink in the auditorium.
Ice creams will also be sold inside the
auditorium in the interval.
The Quarry Theatre
The Relaxed Performance of Romeo & Juliet
will take place in the Quarry Theatre.
It is a large theatre with 750 seats.
This is the Quarry Theatre
Auditorium
Getting into the Quarry Theatre
West Yorkshire Playhouse has lifts to each
level. There will be people called attendants
to help you use the lifts.
There are also stairs to get to the Quarry
Theatre.
The Quarry Theatre will open 40 minutes
before the show is due to start. There may
be a queue to get in.
These are the stairs going up to
the Quarry Theatre and down to
the toilets
You can find your seat as early as you like. If
you prefer to wait until the show is about to
start, you can go in within a few minutes of
the show starting.
You can bring drinks into the theatre in
plastic or paper cups.
This is the lift which will take
you up to the Quarry Theatre or
down to the toilets
Finding Your Seats
On your ticket you will find your seat
number. Our attendants will help you find
your seat. There might be some steps up
or down to your seat.
We have booster cushions available to give
a bit more height on the theatre seats for
people who need them.
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Our spaces for wheelchair users are on the
back and middle levels with companion
seats next to them.
This is where wheelchair users
can sit.
If you have requested an aisle seat to
transfer from your wheelchair or mobility
aid we can store your mobility equipment
during the show.
For Relaxed Performances we keep two
sections of seats at the back free, so that
if you want to move back and have some
space to move around you can.
This also means that if you need to leave
the theatre at any point, you can come
back in and sit at the back rather than
returning to your original seats, if that is
easier.
There will be a chill out space for anyone
who needs to leave the theatre space.
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Toilets and Changing Places
Facilities
The male and female toilets and our
Changing Places facility are accessed by
stairs or by lift.
This is the sign for the Changing Places
facility.
This is the door for the Changing
Places toilet
You can use your own Radar key to get in, or
we have a key at our Box Office.
There is a H-frame tracking hoist, a shower
and an adjustable changing bed. You will
need to bring your own sling (with loops,
not a clip system) to use the hoist.
We also have another accessible toilet if
there is a queue for the Changing Places
facility.
This is inside the Changing
Places toilet
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The Show
When the show is about to start you will hear an announcement telling you
some of the rules of the theatre. This includes turning your phone off and
not taking photos during the performance.
We look forward to welcoming you to
West Yorkshire Playhouse for our
Relaxed Performance of Romeo & Juliet.
We ask audience members not to come onto the stage at any point
before, during or after the performance, unless you are asked to do so.
The show is 3 hours long and will include an interval of 20 minutes.
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The Characters
Montagues
Capulets
Juliet (Tessa Parr)
Romeo (Dan Parr)
Daughter of the Caplulets
Son of the Montagues
Lord Montague (Keiran Flynn)
Head of the household / Romeo’s father
Lord Capulet
(Jack Lord)
Head of the household
Benvolio
(Lawrence Walker)
Mercutio (Elexi Walker)
Relative of the Prince and Paris,
and Romeo’s best friend
Romeo’s cousin and friend
Reverend Lawrence
(Olwen May)
Prince (Jeff Alexander)
The Prince of Verona
Lady Capulet
(Natalie Anderson)
Head of the household
Paris (Ciaran Kellgren) Tybalt (Tachia Newall)
Cousin of the Prince
Juliet’s cousin
Nurse (Susan Cookson)
Juliet’s trusted friend
Friend of both
Romeo and Juliet
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The Story - Part One
The first part of the show is about 1 hour 20 minutes long.
At the start of the show the teenagers of Verona speak to the audience.
They say that this is the story of two warring households – the Montagues and
the Capulets. The households have an ancient grudge and recently there have
been three big riots.
In this story the children of both families meet and fall in love. Unable to be
together the children will kill themselves causing the parents to re-think their
hatred towards each other.
It’s the last day of school, the sun is hot and a huge fight between the
Montagues and the Capulets takes place. This is stopped by the Prince who
says that if anyone fights anymore they will be killed.
Romeo’s father Montague asks Romeo’s best friend,
Benvolio what is wrong with Romeo. Romeo has been
very sad recently and sitting in the dark. Benvolio talks
to Romeo. Romeo is in love! He longs for Rosaline but
she is not interested in any man.
The Capulet’s are training in their boxing gym. Tybalt,
a member of the Capulet family and Paris, a friend
of Capulet are practicing boxing. Paris wins and asks
Capulet if he may marry his daughter Juliet. Capulet
says Juliet is too young but he would like the match.
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That night Capulet is having a big party and Paris is invited.
Romeo and Benvolio bump into the boy who is
delivering Capulet’s party invitations. All the good
looking women are going to the party. Benvolio
suggests, even though it is very dangerous for
Montagues that they go to the Capulet party.
Juliet is getting ready for the party. Her mother,
Lady Capulet and her Nurse ask her if she would
like to marry Paris one day. Juliet is surprised.
At the party Juliet and Romeo meet. Romeo
forgets Rosaline and they fall in love. They
discover that they are from rival families but
Romeo hides and speaks to Juliet alone at her
balcony. They decide to get married the next day.
After their secret marriage Tybalt threatens Romeo. Mercutio, Romeo’s friend,
fights him and is killed. Romeo is angry and stabs Tybalt.
Interval
There is a 20 minute interval. You can eat and drink in the theatre. Staff will
come around with rubbish bags for you to use and ice creams will be available
for you to buy from your seat. You can also use this time to visit the toilet if
you want to.
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The Story - Part Two
The second part of the show is 1 hour 20 minutes long.
As punishment the Prince banishes Romeo from
Verona to Mantua and shuts down the mobile
phone network.
The Nurse tells Juliet that Romeo has killed her
cousin and is banished. Juliet is distraught. In an
attempt to comfort her, the Nurse arranges for
Romeo to secretly visit Juliet that night.
Capulet is upset about Tybalt’s death and asks
Paris to marry Juliet. Juliet tells her father she
does not want to marry Paris. She cannot say
that she is already married to Romeo. Capulet is
furious.
Juliet turns to the Reverend Lawrence who gives
her a potion that will make her appear dead for
48 hours. The Reverend writes to Romeo telling
him about the plan and that he must meet Juliet
at her tomb when she wakes up to run away
together.
Benvolio hears that Juliet has died and goes
to Mantua to tell Romeo. Thinking she is dead
Romeo goes to her tomb and drinks a toxic
poison. Juliet wakes up to find her dead husband
and instead of living without him, stabs herself.
Montague and the Capulets are devastated.
The teenagers of Verona gather to protest
against the violence of the older generations. They ask the audience to think
about the sad story they have seen and talk about how it could be better for
everyone.
The End.
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All production photos used in this booklet are by Anthony Robling.
After the show
Once the actors have left the stage, they will return to the theatre to
meet the audience members straight after the show. You can choose to
leave at this point, or stay to meet the actors.
If you meet an actor, you can take a photo of them, or with them. Please
remember not to use any flash photography at any time though.
At the end of the show our staff will help you leave the Quarry Theatre
and the building.
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The original club night run by and for people
with learning disabilities presents
Thursday 30 March 2017
7pm - 11pm (strictly over 18s only)
Come dressed ready to party as we dance the night away inspired by
Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. The big DJ room is back so we will
have our usual mix of dancing to our regular DJs, hot food, licensed
bar, free face painting, live music and open mic singing sessions.
The Union building has now been refurbished and is fully accessible
for wheelchair users.
Venue
Leeds University Union
(The Terrace &
Riley Smith Hall)
Lifton Place, Leeds
LS2 9JZ
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Buy tickets in advance
£7 from West Yorkshire Playhouse Box Office
and online
Buy tickets on the night
£8 at Leeds University Union. Please note there
are no discounts and everyone pays to get in.