Visiting the theatre can be exciting but also challenging. Your child may find coping with new environments difficult or be sensitive to noise. The following suggestions can help you to plan ahead and make the trip enjoyable for everyone.
 

When booking your tickets 

• When booking, mention you are bringing someone who is autistic. If your child might need time away from the show during the performance, ask for an aisle seat. 
• If your child needs to use a phone or tablet to play games to help them focus or to keep calm, ask the theatre before booking tickets to see if this is allowed. 
• If your child is sensitive to noise or lights, ask if there are any loud bangs or strobe lighting during the performance. 
• Ask if there are any concessionary rates. Some theatres offer discounts for anyone registered disabled or their carer.   
• If your child needs to move around a lot, it may be worth asking the theatre about booking a "box" - a separate seating area. 
   

Before your visit 

• Check the theatre’s website to see if there is anything that could help to prepare your child for your visit, such as a visual story or photographs of the inside of the theatre. 
• Ask the theatre if they know about our guide to making theatres more autism friendly. You could email them the link ahead of the date of the show so they have time to make any changes. 
• If you would like to visit the building before you and your child go to the show, contact the theatre and ask to arrange a convenient time. 
• Ask if there is a quiet area at the theatre you can use if necessary. 
   

On the day 

• Remember to bring sensory aids such as ear defenders, or quiet fiddle toys if your child needs them. 
• If you have an autism awareness card, take it with you so you can quietly say to a neighbour why your child may be acting a little differently. 
• When you arrive, if you feel that your seats are not suitable, ask a member of staff (usher) if you can sit somewhere else, and explain why (if the show is full, this may not be possible so we would advise you to ask about seating when booking). 
• Talk to an usher about when the noisy and quiet parts of the show are. They can give advice about leaving or returning to the auditorium with minimal disruption to others. 
• If the person you are with needs to go to the toilet, try to leave just before the interval starts, as toilets get very busy during the interval. You may need to tell the usher you plan to do this before the show starts. They will be able to tell you when the interval will start and what stage in the performance would be a good time to leave the auditorium without disturbing other people. 
• Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) theatres offer a service to bring refreshments to you in your chairs. If you would like to use this service, let the usher know so they can collect your order. 
• At the end of the show, you may be shown out by a different route to the one you entered by. 
• It is very busy at the end of the show with people leaving. You will be able to sit in your seats until the majority of people have gone so it is quieter. 
   

Next steps 

• Sign up to our mailing list to find out about future relaxed performances
• Find out which theatres hold our Autism Friendly Award