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:

2025: Theater Thikwa & hannsjana (Berlin) Bauchgefühl; Laura Murphy (Bristol) A spectacle of herself; Yaniv Cohen (Oslo): I work with a potential that I might be a DOG
2024: Chisato Minamimura: Scored in Silence
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

The following accessibility measures for the audience are planned.

Sign Language and Subtitles
For each festival edition, we newly assess which theatre productions and accompanying events can be translated into sign language for hard-hearing or deaf people. For some productions, we engage a team of hearing interpreters and deaf interpreters. This requires that the productions are artistically suitable and that the theatre companies agree. At least two suitable theatre productions in each festival edition will be presented with clearly legible German-language subtitles for people with and without hearing impairments.

Audio Description and Tactile Tours
Since 2019, we have been offering approximately two performances per edition with audio description. Since 2022, we have also offered tactile tours of the stage, usually before the performance. We work closely with the artists for these and, wherever possible, integrate them into the tours.

Relaxed Performances
Some performances are held as Relaxed Performances. A Relaxed Performance aims to create a more welcoming and inclusive atmosphere than what we are usually used to in theatre. To this end, certain conditions of the event are adjusted, and the audience is encouraged to experience the performances in a way that is comfortable for them.

Things that are typically considered disruptive in theatre, such as speaking, are allowed. Alternative seating options such as wedge cushions or bean bags are also available. This relaxed setting benefits everyone who does not feel comfortable with conventional, and often rigid, theatre norms (people with neurodivergences, people with anxiety disorders, people who cannot sit still for long, and many more).

Special Check-In
People who, for whatever reason, want to avoid the crowded foyer, have difficulty entering the auditorium with the crowd or need a specific seat, can register in advance for the Special Check-In. A member of the aua-Team will then accompany them according to their individual needs.

Relaxed Space
A designated quiet area will be set up in the festival centre. This serves as a retreat in case of sensory overload. In addition to comfortable seating, ear protection and various fidget toys will be available.

Content Notes
Since everyone brings their own personal and ever-changing history, experiences are perceived individually and anew each time. With the Content Notes, we aim to ensure that you feel well-prepared and comfortable for the performances. We provide content-related information about the productions without giving away the plot.

We are aware that what may be a trigger for one person may not be for another. The topics addressed in the productions can be disturbing or triggering and may evoke negative emotions. Our goal is to provide content notes that enable you to choose the productions that best suit your personal history.
Auawirleben wants to create a supportive and more inclusive space where you can either fully engage with or consciously opt out of our performances based on this information, in whichever way is right for you. We publish Content Notes in the Accessibility section of each production.

Sensory Triggers
Some productions include sensory elements that may be intense or overwhelming for certain audience members. Sensory information helps you prepare for a performance by highlighting elements that may impact your well-being or experience. We provide sensory information in the Accessibility section of each production.

Website/Communication
On our website, theatre productions can be filtered by accessibility features, so that everyone can easily get an overview. The Accessibility sections provide detailed information about the measures for each piece.
We continue to offer our “easy read” sections, which describe the program points in simple and concise language, as well as videos in sign language.

Social Stories
Since 2022, we have provided a so-called Social Story for all events on our website. This clear and concise document describes the course of the theatre evening and the local conditions before the visit. Social Stories are helpful for anyone who feels uncertain in unfamiliar or new situations. They can offer reassurance not only to neurodivergent individuals but also to a broader audience by reducing anxiety about the unknown.

Access Friend / Access Trolley
Since 2024, there has been an Access Friend available in the foyers of the venues before, during, and after the performances. This person is easily recognizable by a purple vest. Audience members can approach them with any accessibility-related questions or needs (e.g., using stair lifts, early entry to the theatre, reserving seats with a good view of the sign language interpreter). In 2025, we introduced an Access Trolley at each venue. In addition to more information (e.g., sensory triggers, content notes), it offers ear protection, various fidget toys, content notes and sensory trigger info for each production.

Raising Awareness
We also specifically raise awareness among non-disabled audience members for people with different needs. In recent years, for example, there has been the opportunity to learn, via tablets at the festival centre bar, how to order drinks in sign language. This not only made communication with the Deaf volunteers working behind the bar easier but also sparked many interesting encounters and conversations. We have also offered sign language crash courses at the festival centre twice, latest in 2025, which were very well attended and helped to further break down communication barriers. These sensitization efforts are developed each year in response to current conditions.

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.