A RANGE of services for people with disabilities will be on offer at this year’s Stockton International Riverside Festival.
Once again, SIRF17 performances will be accessible to all, with help available to access performance sites and accessible viewing areas.
SIRF continues to support disabled and disabled-friendly artists too, with a number featuring in this year’s programme.
One of this year’s shows – Thrill Laboratory’s ‘VR Playground’ – features a disabled access swing specially designed for wheelchair users.
It invites visitors aged 11 and over to don a virtual reality headset, and take to the swing to be transported through an exhilarating adventure.
The Wild n Beets show ‘Bingo Lingo’ presents a fun take on the nation’s love for bingo and the company’s hope to make it an official Paralympic sport.
And Deaf Men Dancing’s show ‘Corazon a Corazon’ fuses dance and BSL sign language.
Councillor Norma Wilburn, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Arts, Leisure and Culture, said: “SIRF is one of our most popular events and it’s very important to us that the programme itself is diverse and accessible to all.
“We’ve got the ‘buddy’ system again to provide visitors with disabilities with a guide to escort them around key performance sites and provide verbal or physical assistance when needed. All you need to do is book in advance.
“Easy access lanyards enabling visitors to gain entry to accessible viewing areas will also be available from SIRF staff on request. And our SIRF17 programme is available in a range of formats, including large print and braille.”
SIRF 17 takes place from Thursday 3 August to Sunday 6 August and will offer up to 30 individual shows a day from 1.15pm until 11pm.
For further details visit www.sirf.co.uk/accessible-sirf
Alternatively, contact the SIRF Visitor Experience Team – call 01642 528130, email visitorinformation@stockton.gov.uk or pop in to the Rediscover Shop on the High Street aka ‘SIRF Central’.
SIRF is supported by Arts Council England.
There will be a number of road and car park closures throughout Stockton Town Centre while SIRF17 takes place. For details visit www.sirf.co.uk/visitor-information