As a theatre festival, we have been committed to the inclusion of people with disabilities in cultural life for many years. In order to do justice to this holistically, we take appropriate measures at the level of employees, artists and audience members. We are aware that we are not yet able to offer programmes for all accessibility needs. We are constantly working on further training and development at all levels. This is done in close dialogue with people with disabilities.
Employees
From 2016 to 2019, auawirleben explicitly filled one internship position and/or one position in the production office with people with a hearing impairment. We also have a person with a neurodivergence in the core team. Since 2020, we have made the call out of our internships and regular positions more openly, stating that preference is given to applications from people with hearing impairments, visual impairments or neurodivergences in particular, as well as members of other disadvantaged groups in the labour market. Since then, we have been able to fill the internship positions with two people with refugee experiences, one person with visual impairments, two people with neurodivergences and five people with hearing impairments. In addition, people with hearing impairments have been an integral part of our team of helpers for many years. Since 2023, we have been working internally and within our venue partnerships with a so-called 'Disability Awareness Rider'. This rider is a leaflet with tips how to support access for people with disabilities.
Artists
For many years now, the programme at auawirleben has included productions in whose creation and/or performance people with disabilities have played a leading role or have been involved:
2023: Dan Daw Creative Projects: The Dan Daw Show
2023: movo: Tanzvermittlung in KörperBildSinnSprache
2022: Raquel Meseguer Zafe: A Crash Course in Cloudspotting
2021: Touretteshero: Daily Outbursts
2020/21: Rimini Protokoll (Berlin): Uncanny Valley
2019: Touretteshero (London): Stand up, sit down, roll over
2019: Nowy Teatr (Warschau): Jeden Gest
2018: Bilingue Slam - Poetry Slam in D und DSGS
2017: Theater HORA (Zürich): Gott
2016: Lies Pauwels (Antwerpen): Het Hamiltoncomplex
2015: Theater HORA & kraut_produktion (Zürich): Human Ressources
2015: Trickster-p (Novazzano): Sights
2014: Rimini Protokoll (Berlin): Qualitätskontrolle
2014: Theater HORA (Zürich) & Das Helmi (Berlin): Mars Attacks!
2012: Theater HORA (Zürich) & Jérôme Bel (Paris): Disabled Theater
Audience
With our accessibility measures, we have been designing the entire festival since 2016 in such a way that audience members with hearing, visual or mobility impairments, mental and cognitive disabilities and neurodivergences can also take part in the programme.
Sign language translation
Some performances at our festival are translated into sign language (e.g. Swiss German Sign Language DSGS and Langue des Signes Française LSF) for deaf people and people with hearing impairments.
Surtitles
Many of the performances at auawirleben are surtitled in German or English. This means that even those in which French is spoken, for example, can be understood by a wide audience. Thanks to the (partly descriptive) surtitles, they are also accessible for hard of hearing or deaf people.
For people with visual impairments
Some performances are made accessible to people with visual impairments by means of audio description. This involves listening to live descriptions of what is happening via headphones. Other events are also accessible for people with visual impairments per se or with other measures. We also offer touch tour for selected performances at our festival.
For people with mobility impairments
Our festival centre and most of our venues are accessible for people with mobility impairments and have an accessible toilet.
Relaxed Performances
Some performances at auawirleben take place as Relaxed Performances. It never gets completely dark in the auditorium and it is possible to leave and return at any time. Other things, such as noises and movements in the audience, are also not disruptive. We also provide alternative seating and beanbags wherever possible. A relaxed space outside the audience area with sensory tools is also set up where possible so that you can retreat at any time.
Free admission
Many of our events (e.g. concerts, talks) are free of charge. And money should not be an obstacle to going to the theatre. You can contact us at kontakt@auawirleben.ch if you need free admission for certain reasons. All performances are free of charge for people with N or F residence permits and those with S protection status and Sans-Papiers. Interested people can send their reservation request to kontakt@auawirleben.ch.
Special Check-In
At our festival there is the possibility of a Special Check-in. If for any reason you would like to avoid the crowded foyer, need a specific seat, require assistance due to a mobility restriction or would like to be picked up at the bus station, you can contact us in advance (checkin@auawirleben.ch). We will accompany and support you according to your needs.
Social stories
Social stories are used as a tool to prepare people for an event such as a theatre performance. In our social stories (example in German) on the website, there is a description for each performance of the situation to be expected at the venue and the customs that apply there.
Raising Awareness
auawirleben not only makes the festival accessible to people with disabilities and impairments, but also wants to specifically raise awareness with our audience without disabilities. In recent years, for example, people could learn how to order drinks at the bar in sign language by means of short videos. Or you could learn the basics of sign language in crash courses, which lowered the threshold of communication even further. We are constantly expanding these awareness-raising measures.