Disability Inclusion Action Plan
Our
Disability Inclusion Action Plan highlights our work to date and outlines our approach for further improving accessibility and inclusion for people with disability across all aspects of our festival.
It reinforces and focuses our work to ensure we include and represent people with disability – as artists, audiences, staff, partners, donors and other stakeholders.
We want all members of the community to have the opportunity to experience our festival and this plan acts as our Roadmap to how to we will continue to work towards this over the next three years.
Read our Disability Inclusion Action Plan in the following formats:
View PDFView Word.doc
Festival Guide
The 2025 Sydney Festival preview guide is available in the following formats:
Access Guide and Accessible Performance Calendar:
Vision
AUDIO DESCRIPTION
Audio description is a service provided for patrons who are blind or have low vision. Audio describers give live, verbal descriptions of actions, costumes, scenery, and other visual elements of a performance. This is done during gaps in the dialogue via a small earpiece, provided to patrons pre-show. The audio description begins 10 minutes prior to the performance and provides program details together with descriptions of costumes and stage settings. Patrons must book the service in advance and pick up a free FM headset on arrival.
MagritteAudio description program
Wednesday 22 January 1:30pmMultiple Bad Things
Tactile tour
Thursday 9 January 6pmAudio Described performance
Thursday 9 January 7pm
Dark NoonTactile tour
Tuesday 21 January 5:30pmAudio Described performance
Tuesday 21 January 6:30pm
TACTILE TOURS
Tactile tours allow patrons who are blind or have low vision to have a hands-on experience. Depending on the production/installation, patrons are given access to costumes, props and stage set in order to capture the atmosphere of the work. Tactile tours occur before the performance. Patrons must book in advance.
MagritteAudio description program
Wednesday 22 January 1:30pmMultiple Bad Things
Tactile tour
Thursday 9 January 6pmAudio Described performance
Thursday 9 January 7pm
Dark NoonTactile tour
Tuesday 21 January 5:30pmAudio Described performance
Tuesday 21 January 6:30pm 
AUDITORY CONTENT
Shows with this symbol indicate which shows are highly auditory and have low visual content, which can aid people who are blind or have low vision to decide whether they can access a show.
ASSISTANCE ANIMALS
Assistance animals are welcome at all Festival events and venues, bookings are essential. If you are blind or have low vision and want to attend an event at Sydney Festival, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT can provide you with free training on how to travel safely from any location to your event at the Festival. Call 1800 804 805 to discuss your travel needs.
Disability Inclusion Action Plan
Our Disability Inclusion Action Plan highlights our work to date and outlines our approach for further improving accessibility and inclusion for people with disability across all aspects of our festival.
It reinforces and focuses our work to ensure we include and represent people with disability – as artists, audiences, staff, partners, donors and other stakeholders.
We want all members of the community to have the opportunity to experience our festival and this plan is our roadmap, mapping how to we will continue to work towards this over the next three years.
Read our Disability Inclusion Action Plan in the following formats:
View PDF
View Word Doc
Get In Touch
We welcome all visitors to Sydney Festival events and are committed to making the festival a safe and accessible space for everyone. Your feedback helps us continue to improve our access program and services.
Please get in touch with us on 02 8248 6500 or access(at)sydneyfestival.org.au if you have any queries or suggestions regarding accessibility at Sydney Festival.
We would like to thank the members of the Sydney Festival Access and Inclusion Advisory Panel for their expert advice and advocacy:
Coral Arnold
Morwenna Collett
Dan Graham
Lisa Jackson Pulver
Julie Jones
Greg Killeen
Rob Lang
Vanessa Lucas
Naomi Malone
Liz Martin
Paul Nunnari
Hearing
AUSLAN INTERPRETED PERFORMANCE
Auslan interpreted performances are for audiences who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing and use Australian Sign Language (Auslan).
Experienced Auslan theatre interpreters stand to the side of the stage and interpret dialogue and any text into Auslan, signing live. Audiences requiring this service are seated in the section closest to the interpreter to ensure good sightlines.
A Model Murder
Auslan interpreted performance Friday 17 January 7:30pm
Siegfried & Roy: The Unauthorised Opera
Auslan interpreted performance Sunday 19 January 1:30pm
The Tamilization of Ahilan Ratnamohan
Auslan interpreted performance Sunday 19 January 2pm
DOBBY: WARRANGU; River Story
Auslan interpreted performance Saturday 25 January 9pm
CAPTIONING
For people who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing, theatre captioning is an accurate text display of a theatre performance in its entirety, including actors’ dialogue, ad libs, song lyrics, musical descriptions and other sound effects.
Converted!
Captioned performance Thursday 23 January 7pm
SURTITLES
Antigone in the Amazon
Surtitles available on all performances
Cinderella (Cendrillon)
Surtitles available on all performances
ASSISTIVE LISTENING
The Assistive Listening Systems symbol indicates which venues provide hearing augmentation and amplification. Ensure you inform us when booking so you can be seated in the relevant area of the theatre.
Assistive listening systems / hearing loops available at:
VISUAL CONTENT
A guide for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing.
100% visual content. Contains no music or dialogue.
75% visual content. Fully captioned or has minimal dialogue, some background music and/or sounds.
Sensory Friendly
RELAXED
Designed for patrons with disability and their families or anyone who may benefit from a more relaxed environment (this may include people with a learning or physical disability, autistic spectrum condition or sensory sensitivities). Relaxed performances usually have slight modifications to sound and lighting, support aids and an open-door policy with a dedicated quiet area.
Animal – Riverside Theatres
Relaxed performace Saturday 11 January 2:30pm
Multiple Bad Things
Relaxed performance Saturday 11 January 7:30pm
The Tamilization of Ahilan Ratnamohan
Relaxed performance Saturday 18 January 2:15pm
Air Time
Relaxed performance Thursday 9 January 2pm
BullyBully
Relaxed performance Thursday 9 January 10:30am
Colour Maze
Relaxed sessions:
- Wednesday 8 January 9am
- Saturday 11 January at 9am
- Wednesday 15 January at 9am
- Saturday 18 January at 9am
- Wednesday 22 January at 9am
- Thursday 23 January at 9am
- Saturday 25 January at 9am
Cao Fei: My City is Yours
Sensory friendly Kids Access Workshops Tuesday 14 January 10am / 12:30pm
QUIET SPACE
Multiple Bad Things
A Quiet Space will be available at the performances on Wednesday 8 January 7pm, Thursday 9 January 7pm, Friday 10 January 7:30pm and Saturday 11 January 7:30pm.
Mobility
Sydney Festival ensures that its venues are as physically accessible as possible.
WHEELCHAIR ACCESS
The wheelchair symbol indicates the venue/location is wheelchair accessible or has been made accessible for Sydney Festival. Designated wheelchair spaces (where available) will be sold at the lowest full price in the house for that performance. For access information on specific venues visit sydneyfestival.org.au/venues.
Designated wheelchair space availability and bookings must be made through our Customer Service Team on 02 8248 6500 (9am-5pm Mon to Fri) or emailing access@sydneyfestival.org.au
For further access information or to assist in improving available information, visit WheelEasy. WheelEasy is a useful web portal fostering and creating better access to leisure activity for the mobility-impaired and their companions, conveniently providing lists of mobility-friendly places and events.
Booking
Bookings are essential for all accessible services.
Bookings for Auslan-interpreted and captioned performances can be made online by selecting seats marked ‘Auslan-interpeted’ or ‘captioned’. Bookings for tactile tours & headsets for audio described performances can be made via contacting our customer service team.
We encourage booking tickets prior to Friday 16 December. Seats cannot be guaranteed after this date although we will always do your best to accommodate our request.
To discuss your access requirements, make bookings or give us feedback call 02 8248 6500 or email access@sydneyfestival.org.au
Companion Card
Sydney Festival supports the Companion Card program.
Companion Card holders qualify for a second ticket at no cost for their companion. Please contact Sydney Festival directly on 02 8248 6500 to assist with your booking.
Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Initiative
Sydney Festival is proud to support the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Initiative.
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a discrete tool designed to help people with hidden disabilities communicate that they might need extra help, understanding, or just more time. There are over 900 non-visible disabilities, conditions or chronic illnesses that Sunflower wearers use the Sunflower for.
If you identify as someone with a hidden disability or as a Sunflower Supporter, you are invited to collect complimentary merchandise from the following locations during the Sydney Festival:
- Moonshine Bar Box Office (available on all dates)
- Riverside Theatres Box Office (from 3–12 January)
* Please note: Merchandise is available while stocks last.
You can read more about Hidden Disabilities Sunflower here
Get In Touch
Your feedback helps us continue to improve our access program and services.
Please get in touch with us on 02 8248 6500 or access@sydneyfestival.org.au if you have any queries or suggestions regarding accessibility at Sydney Festival.
