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Accessible SIRF

 

We're committed to ensuring that SIRF is as accessible as possible for everyone. SIRF provides:

  • SIRF Access Champions
  • easy access wristbands
  • accessible sites for wheelchair users and buggies
  • BSL interpreted shows, audio described shows and more!

BSL shows

This year we have a number of shows which will have BSL (British Sign Language) interpreters present or feature integrated BSL within performances. These include:

Not all shows are BSL interpreted. For a schedule of BSL interpreted show times see below.
For non-Integrated shows, SIRF BSL Interpreters can be easily identified in ‘BSL’ t-shirts.

BSL show schedule

Friday 1 August

Saturday 2 August

  • 1.15pm to 2pm - The Fabularium, Pan and the Eternal Wreck (Parish Gardens)
  • 2.45pm to 3.30pm – Pirates of the Carabina, Pirate Taxi (High Street – North Bus Loop)
  • 5pm to 5.45pm - Lizzie Klotz and Luca Rutherford, The Fabric of Us (High Street)
  • 7.15pm to 8.15pm - Zest Theatre, Sound Board (High Street – North Bus Loop)*

Sunday 3 August

*Zest Theatre, Sound Board is a ticketed show. Please refer to the ticketing section of this page for further information.

Captioned Shows and Transcripts

This year audience members who require captioning are invited to use The Difference Engine app via their smartphones to access captions for all performances of Stopgap Dance Company’s RO-TES រទេ.

Transcripts for the following performances can also be accessed online:

  • Highly Sprung, CastAway: for all pre-show sound with the rest of the show being non-verbal
  • Nandita Shankardass, Roots to Rise: for all of the show’s lyrics and poetry

How to Access Captions with the Difference Engine

1. Download the Free App

  • iOS (iPhone/iPad): Download from the App Store
  • Android: Download from the Google Play Store

2. Connect to the Network

  • Switch your device to Airplane Mode to avoid interruptions
  • Re-enable WiFi and connect to the Difference Engine network
  • This network becomes available 20 minutes before the event begins
  • If you don’t see it, please speak to a member of staff
  • WiFi Password: engine123 (If this changes, check the App Guide)

3. Open the App and Select “Captions”

Using an Older Device or Different System?

  • Connect to the Difference Engine WiFi network as above
  • Open your browser and type: 192.168.0.105 in the address bar
  • Press Enter and select Captions

As a top tip, lower your screen brightness to save battery life during the event.

Visit the Talking Birds website for more information about the Difference Engine.

Audio Description

Shows at SIRF this year which contain live audio description within their performances are:

Some SIRF shows that contain a high percentage of spoken English have audio description introductions:

There are also a variety of music acts to catch across the festival including:

Touch tours

A number of companies at SIRF this year are offering Touch Tours. Unless stated below, Touch Tours are both walk-up or can be booked in advance via SIRF Central:

  • Artizani, Hydropunk – Touch Tours can be accessed throughout all performances by meeting performers at the access point entrance to the installation on Friday 1 August and Saturday 2 August from 1.15pm and 4pm
  • The Fabularium, Pan and the Eternal Wreck – 30 minutes before each performance lasting 10 minutes on Friday 1 August and Saturday 2 August at 12.45pm and 3.30pm
  • Levantes Dance Theatre, HUG – Friday 1 August and Saturday 2 August at 1.25pm lasting 10 minutes
  • Stopgap Dance Company, RO- TES រទេ - 15 minutes before shows on Friday 1 August at 3.15pm and Saturday 2 August at 4.30pm. Available as a walk-up. Audiences will be able to receive captions on their mobile devices via the Difference Engine app.
  • Nandita Shankardass, Roots to Rise – Saturday 2 August at 4.25pm lasting 15 minutes
  • Company DHW, Go Grandad, Go! – 30 minutes before each performance lasting 15 minutes on Sunday 3 August at 12.45pm, 3pm and 5pm. Please contact SIRF Central to book your space or walk-up on the day.
  • Head Over Wheels, Anchored in Air – 20 minutes before each performance on Sunday 3 August at 3.40pm and 6.10pm
  • Theatre-Rites, Eshu at the Crossroads – Sunday 3 August at 5.10pm

Relaxed performances

All performances of Head Over Wheels, Anchored in Air are relaxed.

Additional access

  • Head Over Wheels, Anchored in Air and Highly Sprung, CastAway and Accelerate have Easy Reads available
  • Head Over Wheels, Anchored in Air has an Audio Programme available
  • Theatre-Rites, Eshu at the Crossroads has a Visual Story available
  • Nandita Shankardass, Roots to Rise also contains some moments of Visual Vernacular throughout the performance
  • For audience members with photosensitive epilepsy, please note that Les Commandos Percu, Origin contains bright lights and fireworks and Múcab Dans, Correllums contains the use of lasers
  • Please note Múcab Dans, Correllums is a promenade show and requires the audience to move approximately 0.3 miles in distance
  • SIRF has a wide range of Non-Verbal shows, please contact SIRF Central for a full list of shows
  • A limited amount of Ear Defenders can be loaned throughout the festival, please contact SIRF Central for more information
  • SIRF is a Guide Dog friendly festival

Accessible SIRF Champions

Accessible SIRF Champions from our Visitor Experience Ambassador Team will be positioned at all viewing areas for the festival.

A limited number of Accessible SIRF Champions will also be available across the festival to support you to access performances and workshops. To book please contact SIRF Central.

Please note; spaces are limited and are available on a first come, first serve basis.

Easy access wristbands

Easy Access Wristbands are a prompt to our staff that you may want support on site with finding a viewing area or with any other access queries. Wristbands are available before and during the festival from SIRF Central – however if in any doubt, just ask our SIRF Visitor Experience Ambassadors.

Viewing areas

Accessible SIRF Champions from our Visitor Experience Ambassador Team will be positioned at all viewing areas for the festival. Viewing areas will contain seats as well as space for mobility scooters and pushchairs during performances.

Viewing areas will be signposted by ‘Accessible’ flags for up to 15 minutes prior to performance start times, or until capacity is reached. An Accessible SIRF Champion will remain present for the duration of all shows with viewing areas.

Please collect an easy access wristband from SIRF Central to best signpost this to our staff on site.

Quiet space

This year accessible SIRF is working with ARC Stockton Arts Centre to provide a quiet space to audience members from 1pm to 7pm daily.

Ticketing

A limited amount of tickets will be released from SIRF Central three hours before ticketed shows and activities for audience members with access requirements before being released to the general public an hour later.

Tickets can be booked in person or over the phone for audience members with access requirements.

Tickets are free and available to collect from SIRF Central. Please be aware that as tickets are limited, they are served on a first come, first served basis.

Ticketed shows and workshops for SIRF25:

*Please note, this workshop is physically strenuous and involves tightrope walking.

Programme formats

The SIRF programme is available in large print from SIRF Central, subject to availability.

Getting to SIRF

Our Your SIRF Visit page has travel information to help you to best plan your journey.

Physical access

All SIRF performance areas on the High Street are on flat concreted ground. Wheelchair access into Parish Gardens is flat from the High Street and a ramp is located next to the stairs off Church Road. Trinity Green is a greenfield site and whilst there are hard pathways through the area, close access to performance locations may require travelling over grass and undulating ground.

Please be aware that most shows are not seated and some may involve the audience moving around. Strong lights, strobe and smoke effects may feature in some of the shows.

There will be a limited number of seats available at SIRF viewing areas along with spaces for wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and pushchairs. Please visit SIRF Central to collect an Easy Access Wristband to gain entry to these areas on site.

SIRF Green has benches on site for wheelchair users and bench seat heights are 450mm (18”) high. SIRF Green cabin hatches range from 1.1m to 1.5m in height due to the sloped nature of the site. SIRF Green traders with their own units are happy to leave them to take orders where required.

Physical distances between SIRF Central and all SIRF performance sites are approximately as follows: Parish Gardens (0.1 miles), High Street – North Bus Loop (110 yards/320 feet), High Street – North Car Park (0.1 miles), SIRF Green (0.1 miles), High Street – Plinth Stage (15 yards/50 feet), Town Hall and Fountain Area (130 yards/404 feet), Green Dragon Yard (0.1 miles), Shambles (0.1 miles) and Trinity Green (0.4 miles).

Accessible toilets

Accessible toilets, including a Changing Places toilet, are located in the centre of the High Street in the Shambles and can be accessed by a Radar Key as well as ARC Stockton Arts Centre on Dovecot Street. Accessible toilets are also available in Wellington Square Shopping Centre during normal trading hours. You will also find accessible portable toilets in SIRF Green.

Places of Worship

Stockton Parish Church can be found on site at Parish Gardens (0.1 miles from SIRF Central) and will be open Sunday 3 August for a 10.30am service.

The following Mosques can be found a short distance from Stockton High Street:

  • Jamia Masjid Ali Al-Murtadha Islamic Centre, 37 Hartington Road Stockton-on-Tees. TS18 1HD UK. What Three Words: period.adopters.scrambles (0.3 miles from SIRF Central)
  • Jamia Al-Bilal Mosque, 30-32 Yarm Rd Stockton-on-Tees. TS18 3NG UK. What Three Words: snowballs.huddle.completed (0.5 miles from SIRF Central)
  • Farooq E Azam Mosque & Islamic Centre, Bowesfield Lane Stockton-on-Tee.s TS18 3EB UK. What Three Words: giraffes.ourselves.card (0.7 miles from SIRF Central)

There are no Sikh temples within walking distance of Stockton High Street. The closest temple is the Shri Guru Nanak Gurdwara and Sikh Community Centre in Thornaby-on-Tees.

Useful information

Stockton Shopmobility Centre (15 Wellington Street) is open Friday and Saturday from 10am to 3pm throughout SIRF for hire of mobility equipment to help you get around the festival.

Feedback

We are really keen to hear from you about your accessible SIRF experience. We will again be asking visitors to take our online festival survey (coming soon), which includes questions about access at SIRF, or visit SIRF Central to tell us your views.

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