Rotate Theatre

Access

Please feel free to contact us directly with any questions, ideas, or requests regarding access or accommodations: rotatetheatre@gmail.com, 608-515-8912

Recent Access Charts:

Stage Test 2024 Audience Access Chart

Stage Test 2024 Performer Access Chart

We are always revising the way we create and use Access Charts and even a perfect version would have limitations, so please feel free to contact us directly with any questions, ideas, or requests regarding access or accommodations: rotatetheatre@gmail.com, 608-515-8912

What is an Access Chart?

An Access Chart is a tool to help increase accessibility by providing context-specific information in advance of events and experiences, as well as to invite accommodation requests. Organizers may use access charts to communicate with collaborators, colleagues, and/or the general public. Access Charts are living documents that are updated as context changes. Ideally, access charts are easy to navigate, skim, and interact with in a piecemeal fashion.

Do I have to read the Access Chart?

Nope! This is for folks who would like a little more info about the production in advance (Is there an accessible gender-neutral restroom with frag-free soap? Is there childcare? Does the production involve stage combat? etc). We hope the practice of providing various types of info in chart form will serve performers, other collaborators, and audience members by helping to make productions more accessible and transparent.

How do I read an Access Chart?

Feel free to jump around in an Access Chart, reading only the items that are important to you at the time. Since accessibility does not neatly break down into sections and categories, if you don't find the info you are seeking in one section, you may find it by scrolling to another (or you are welcome to contact us to ask about anything!).

Developing Access Charts

For us, Access Charts are project specific and are living documents that change over time as context changes. We greatly appreciate any insights, suggestions, feedback, strategies, ideas, hacks, or sources you are willing to share as we continually learn more about how to increase accessibility in our practices.

Our first Access Chart was developed by one of our ensemble members while doing intensive research asking questions about accessibility and sustainability in theatre practices. At the time, they were unable to find anyone else using Access Charts so we didn't have a template, but we did find many, many other resources being developed and used by Disability Justice activists that made our Access Chart possible (and it's likely Access Charts were being used in other circles even though we didn't find them!). If you are thinking about creating an Access Chart for the first time, we recommend hiring an access coordinator and attending events organized by Disability Justice activists.

If you use an Access Chart, we would love to hear about it! What project are you trying it on, what's working for you, what's not? Please tell us about it!

Sample Access Charts

Below are some earlier examples of Access Charts. Each has their own limitations and making them easy to navigate is always a challenge. Regardless, they include different types of information that may be interesting or useful to think about. There are many other ways to communicate access info, as well (for instance, we find images are helpful on our "Shared Access Short-List" document we use during rehearsals).

In these examples, the Access Chart is a Google site with four sections and individual topics that open when clicked:

(Almost) Making Let's Eat Mary Encore Streaming Access Chart (page opens in new tab)

(Almost) Making Let's Eat Mary Premiere Event Access Chart (page opens in new tab)

In this example, the Access Chart is a spreadsheet, there are six sections, and within each section the topics are listed alphabetically. Please scroll inside the chart to see more topics: