Yes! I’ve been to a few, mainly captioned and audio-described shows. Captioned performances are brilliant if you’re hard of hearing or even if English isn’t your first language. The screens are easy to follow and don’t take away from the performance. For audio-described, you’re given a headset and a live narrator fills in the visual details between dialogue.

Attending relaxed or captioned performances can be a truly enriching experience, making theatre accessible to a wider audience. For relaxed performances, the atmosphere is more informal, and audience members are free to move around or make noise as needed. Captioned performances display the dialogue and sound effects on a screen, which is fantastic for those with hearing impairments or even for non-native English speakers. My top tip is to always check the theatre’s website or contact their access team directly for specific details on what each type of performance offers and to ensure it meets your needs. Enjoy the show!

I had been to a relaxed performance of The Lion King. The atmosphere was completely different from a standard show — lights not as low, volume softened, and the freedom for kids to move around without anyone frowning. It meant she could enjoy the magic of theatre in her own way, and we could relax too.

I tried an audio-described performance at the National Theatre when I was in London, and it was amazing. The headsets were easy to use, and the live description filled in everything from set changes to facial expressions. It felt like I wasn’t missing a thing. I only wish more West End theatres offered this more regularly.