Tonje Wik Olaussen, the curating producer and project leader for the Relaxed Venue initiative, shares insights into the theatre's approach and progress.

How is Rosendal Theatre working to become a Relaxed Venue?
Our initial focus is on identifying and removing barriers that prevent some people from attending the theatre. These can be physical, such as a lack of wheelchair access, or involve insufficient accommodations for people with visual or hearing impairments during performances. However, it also includes addressing attitudes and assumptions about what others can or cannot do. By recognising these barriers, we can implement measures to make the theatre more open and inclusive for everyone.

How is the work structured?

We integrate this work across all aspects of the theatre’s operations to ensure accessibility for people with different needs. To achieve a comprehensive transformation, we focus on six key areas:

1. Building and space access: Ensuring all physical areas are accessible.
2. Programme selection: Evaluating who we invite, who curates, and whose stories are told.
3. Organisational structure and operations: Building a team that reflects inclusive values.
4. Digital platforms: Adapting websites and social media to be accessible to all.
5. Relationships with audiences, staff, and volunteers: Fostering an open, inclusive, and supportive environment.
6. Engagement with the local community: Listening to and collaborating with the community to prioritise social inclusion.

Why is this work important?

Art and culture should be accessible to everyone, but many people face barriers—both physical and psychological—that exclude them. Our relaxed approach aims to make the theatre a place where as many people as possible can experience art, regardless of ability. We hope this fosters a more inclusive and diverse theatre experience for all.

What are the biggest challenges?

The greatest challenge is the time it takes—a project like this demands long-term commitment and resources. We wish we could dedicate full-time staff to follow up on the work. While people are generally positive about the initiative, integrating these ideas into everyday practices takes time. For example, not everyone is familiar with what a visual description entails, so there’s a learning curve for us, our audience, and collaborators alike.

How can other theatres adopt the Relaxed Venue approach?

The best advice is simply to start! We launched a pilot during the Bastard Festival in 2023 and learned a lot by experimenting with different measures. You don’t need to formally adopt the Relaxed Venue label if that feels daunting, but the framework of the six key areas is a great starting point. We’re still learning ourselves, reaching out to other experienced organisations, and trying to learn from their best practices.

We also host free online gatherings called Relaxed Conversations with support from Balansekunst. These sessions feature experienced artists and organisations sharing their insights, and anyone can join to learn alongside us.

What is the vision for Relaxed Venues going forward?

Our vision is for theatre companies, collaborators, and artists, both locally and nationally, to embrace this work. The goal is to create an ecosystem—artists, partners, staff, and audiences—working together to make theatre open and accessible for everyone. We believe collective effort is key to making this work in practice.

Currently, we’re collaborating with four companies who are developing accessibility measures in their performances and festivals at Rosendal this spring. Keep an eye out for the exciting work by LiLi Re, Armin Hokmi, Yaniv Cohen, and nyMusikk Trondheim. This is made possible with support from Balansekunst.

Click here to read more about Rosendal Theatre's Relaxed Venue initiative.

Photo: Hallvar Bugge Johnsen