This season, as part of our dedication to offering arts experiences for all, we are thrilled to offer a Sensory Friendly performance of Earth to Kenzie on Sunday, June 5 at 11:00 AM.
What is a Sensory Friendly performance?
A Sensory Friendly performance is designed to help address the differing needs of all of our patrons. The purpose of the performance is to allow all members of our community to have a wonderful, inclusive opera experience. A Sensory Friendly performance can be enjoyed by all patrons, however we also include extra supports in place for our patrons with neurodiverse needs. This is a safe space where we encourage patrons to let their guards down and know that whatever reactions they or members of their group have are perfectly fine.
Parts of a Sensory Friendly Performance:
A social storybook with pictures is provided on our website to help patrons prepare for the experience of visiting the Seattle Opera ahead of the performance.
View our social storybook
A sensory guide is created specifically for each Sensory Friendly opera. The guide lists moments of emotional intensity, suspense, heightened visual or sound effects and other moments that patrons might like to be aware of before coming. You and your family can read the guide together to better understand the show before arriving.
View our sensory guide
An area of our theatre and of our lobby is designated as a relaxation space with sensory supports for patrons who might like a break either before or during the performance.
In the theatre space, the house lights are left on a dim setting, and special areas of seating are designated for patrons who would like extra room to move during the performance or who would like to use devices like tablets and phones (with headphones) during the performance. There is also reduced seating capacity to allow more space between patrons. Patrons are welcome to bring fidget toys, drinks in water bottles, and special seating devices as needed. Also, Opera can be louder than some people are used to and we encourage patrons to bring headphones which dampen the sound if they experience auditory sensitivities.
Additional trained staff are on hand to provide patrons with assistance if needed.