This autumn, come behind the scenes at Stanley Arts to enjoy five unique performances in hidden spaces!

Join five artists as they come together to celebrate Stanley Arts. They are poets, dancers and projection artists and they will be creating pieces that respond to the unique architecture and history of this important building in the South Norwood community. Artists include; Justine Agbowu, Jeremiah Brown, Birdgang LTD (led by Sim Campbell), Zoë McWhinney & Rachel Sampley.

The performance will showcase their work to the public, revealing five completely different perspectives on the building. This event is your chance to see their work installed in the space that inspired it.

Performance dates are as followed:

October 5, 6
6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 8:00pm

October 8
3:00, 3:30, 4:00pm

October 9
3:00, 3:30, 4:00, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30pm

Shows are free but please reserve a ticket using the link below. 

If you have any access requirements, please let us know by emailing: bookings@stanleyarts.org or calling us on 020 8251 0184

Photo from ‘What songs may do’ shoot by Nic Guarino

This event is brought to you by our project partners Zoo Co. Your local Croydon theatre company who champion accessibility. Every Zoo Co event is relaxed as standard.

Overview:
This show celebrates the work of deaf, disabled and local artists. It explores lesser known spaces at Stanley Arts, which is a Grade 2 listed building. 

This immersive event will take audiences between 5 different performances/ performance installations, which all use mixed media and multiple forms of communication.

Due to working in a listed building, and with artists working in lots of different mediums, we want to make sure that we are really clear about the access provisions throughout this performance. 

Level access/ wheelchair access:
Entry to the performance building is level, via a ramp. The foyer/ bar area is wheelchair accessible. There is a newly fitted wheelchair accessible toilet next to the foyer.

The first 2 artistic pieces are fully wheelchair accessible and on ground level. 

During the 3rd piece, the audience will split to follow multiple performers through 2 different spaces. One of these routes is not level access, and requires the audience to walk down stairs and along an uneven pathway. 

The other route will be a level access route to all the 5 performance spaces. The level access route includes use of a manual lift, which will support wheelchair users to go from ground level, up on to the stage.

Please note: On the level access route, there is one performance space that is only accessible via a doorway which is 60cm wide. This is a width which can fit most small/ light/ non-power wheelchairs. If your wheelchair is wider than this, we apologise that it will not be possible to access one of the 5 performance spaces. 

If you are comfortable transferring into a smaller manual wheelchair for the performance, we can provide one for you with assistance from a volunteer if needed. Please email Fleur on fleur@wearezooco.co.uk to discuss.

On Saturday 8 October, for all performances, the level access route will be slightly affected by another event set-up, and therefore, the lift will raise to the stage with a small drop to the left (where usually there would be more staging). This drop will be marked with white tape, and volunteers will support you to ensure safety when dismounting from the lift. If you would prefer to avoid this slightly more precarious route, please book for Wednesday, Thursday or Sunday. We apologise for this inconvenience. 

Audio Description:
Audio Described: There will be an audio described performance at 7.30pm on Thursday 6th October. This will be our first time trialling Audio Description, and we welcome audience feedback. The audio description will be delivered live by a trainee Audio Describer.

At every performance: We can provide a pre-recorded audio description of each performance space and aesthetic to offer some context and information about the performances prior to entering. Just let us know when you arrive and we will make this available. 

Relaxed Performance:
All Zoo Co performances are Relaxed as Standard, and disabled/ neurodiverse audiences are welcomed to respond however is natural for them during the show during every performance.

Front of house staff can discuss any potential triggers prior to the production starting, please just ask. If you would like a discussion in advance, or have any specific access requirements, please email our Access Manager fleur on Fleur@wearezooco.co.uk.  

5 sets of ear defenders are available at the venue. Please ask Front of house staff if you would like to use them.

The bar area and outdoor areas at Stanley Arts will be available as a space to go to if you need to leave the performance. Due to the promenade nature of the show, it may be difficult to bring audience members back in, but front of house staff will do their best to accommodate re-entry. 

There is no strobe lighting in the performances.

Captions/ BSL:
The last performance slot of every performance will be BSL interpreted as well as the last Sunday matinee. 

These are the BSL interpreted performances:

5th and 6th October: 8:00pm
8th October: 4:00pm
9th October: 4:00pm and 7:30pm

In every performance:
The first piece uses Visual Vernacular and an interpreter will be present at every show.
The second piece will be captioned.
The third piece is dance, with no spoken/ signed language used.
The fourth piece will be creatively captioned using DIY captioning ideas.
The fifth piece will be creatively captioned.

If you prefer BSL interpreted shows, please book one of the BSL specific performance slots.