To make live music and theatre available to people with disabilities, leave the lights on
May 13, 2026
Author: Amanda Shekarchi
It’s a cool, rainy, day in April and I’m sitting in the second row at Meridian Hall in downtown Toronto. Mattmac — a blind rapper/singer/producer from Lake Manitoba First Nation, known for his melodic pop beats and thoughtful lyrics — is set to take the stage in just a few minutes. Before the concert starts Rory McLeod, executive director and promoter at Xenia Concerts, addresses the crowd and explains how the show will go: Mattmac’s set time is 50 minutes. The crowd is allowed to walk around and make noise during this show. There is a station outside for anyone who gets overstimulated.
As a music critic, I have attended dozens of shows over the past few years. I’m also blind, and as a person living with a disability, this show already hits different. The speech is happening because this is a relaxed performance, and accessibility is the point.
What is a relaxed performance?
Relaxed performances are designed to support the neurodivergent community and those with physical disabilities who may face barriers attending traditional shows. They take place at venues that are wheelchair accessible, offer sensory-friendly tools such as blankets or noise-reducing headphones and have a quiet space set aside if people become overstimulated.
Marjorie Chan is the artistic director at Theatre Passe Muraille, a venue that offers a relaxed environment in Toronto. The theatre makes all their programming inclusive for audiences with disabilities.“People are there to experience a show,” she says. “They are not trying to be disruptive. Sometimes, people have needs and they may need to leave the show because the show may be something that is overwhelming for them.”
Chan says there are a few crucial elements in creating a relaxed performance. You need to leave some lights on in the theatre so patrons can easily leave and return. Let people talk. Have sensory tools available, like noise-reducing headphones to help with over stimulation. Have closed-captioning and audio description services for deaf or blind audiences.
Before the show audiences have access to a detailed description of what the performance is about. This way they can decide if the show is the right fit or prepare for any emotionally triggering content.
“The show is largely as it was initially designed, however, there is content warnings at the top of the show, there is an access guide, and at the front of house we have noise reducing headphones, light reducing sunglasses, as well as fidget toys or blankets for anyone who needs sensory reducing equipment,” said Angela Sun, community engagement manager at Theatre Passe Muraille.
Relaxed performances were started in the U.K. by comedian, theatre artist and disability activist Jessica Thom. Thom has Tourette’s and faced barriers attending a traditional show. She created a welcoming space so that people with different needs than regular theatre goers have an accessible space to experience live performances. She teamed up with the British Council to provide training to other organizations in different countries, including the staff at Theatre Passe Muraille, who adapted the practices to make it work for the specific needs here.
“You’re making such an impact for not only yourself but the people around you and the people that you haven’t even met,” says Mattmac.
Who are relaxed performances for?
Some disabled audiences may connect with the program in a way that may not fit traditional theatre or live performance norms. They may express themselves by making noise or needing to leave the theatre to break from overstimulation. But just because someone has different needs when attending a performance, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t get to go.
Although relaxed performances are geared towards the neurodivergent and disabled audiences, they also benefit everyone from families with young children who may also enjoy a space where they can walk around and make noise.
“I like to think that by seeing the example of what we’re doing and how we can create these inclusive spaces, other organizations have been inspired to do similar things and try to open their doors more widely,” says Xenia’s McLeod.
Xenia Concerts was founded in 2014 by members the Toronto-based classical ensemble Cecilia String Quartet. After playing a “Sensory Friendly” show in California through AZER Concerts, an organization that helps people with autism experience live music. They were moved by the way the audience reacted to the music, and wanted to create these shows here in Canada catering to the autistic community.
The quartet members spoke to members of the autistic community as well as caregivers, occupational and music therapists to understand the audiences’ needs. At first there were three shows per concert season, then Xenia Concerts expanded to support other disabilities. They now put on over 35 concerts a year.
So should you go?
A relaxed performance is, well, relaxed. In traditional spaces like bars, you are packed shoulder to shoulder with other people. There is not a lot of room to move around. Even if you’re neurotypical, the wide seating arrangement and extra breathing room is nice. And there is something really great and real about hearing other audience members let go and be themselves, expressing their connection to the music in a natural way.
Relaxed performances are another example of how, when you prioritize making things more accessible for one group, they wind up being more accessible for everyone. And in the case of Mattmac, himself a person with a disability, that included the performers.
“I felt so included,” he says. “That was one of the most accessible stages I have ever been on.”
