Accessibility
The organisers are prioritising gradual improvements to the accessibility of the international figuren.theater.festival. We would appreciate any suggestions as well as the communication of a specific additional need. To do so, please write to barrierefrei@figurentheaterfestival.de.
Information for audiences with limited mobility
Most of the venues of the 23rd international figuren.theater.festival are accessible at ground level or with lifts. Wheelchair-accessible toilets are available at a number of locations. Wheelchair users are requested to arrive at the venue at least 15 minutes prior to the event, so that preparations can be made if necessary. Many venues request pre-registration or arrival 30 minutes prior to the event.
Information for blind and visually impaired audiences
As a visual genre, puppet and object theatre represents a specific challenge for blind and visually impaired audiences. This year the international figuren.theater.festival offers a number of performances with accompanying live audio description, intended to make all visual proceedings and contents on stage more easily perceivable. The actual performance will be complemented by a preceding introductory session and a tour of the stage, to give visually impaired audiences the opportunity to get a feeling for décor, puppets and staging.
Special receiving units for the transmission of the live audio description are available on loan for a deposit. A contingent of seats has been reserved, and we kindly ask you to contact the festival at barrierefrei@figurentheaterfestival.de or by phone at 09131 86-1414. These tickets cannot be purchased online or in the advance ticket offices. We will respond to your request as soon as possible.
Information for deaf audiences
To enable deaf and hearing impaired audiences to participate at the international figuren.theater.festival, a selection of performances in Erlangen and Fürth will be presented with German sign language interpretation. A contingent of seats has been reserved to ensure good sightlines of both the performances and the interpreters. Tickets cannot be purchased online or at the advance ticket offices and we kindly ask you to contact the festival at barrierefrei@figurentheaterfestival.de or by fax to 09131 86-1411. We will respond to your request as soon as possible.
Puppet, object and image theatre functions essentially on a visual level, and many performances do entirely without, or with little spoken language and are thus inherently suitable for hearing impaired audiences. (This of course, does not apply to performances essentially depending on music and sounds.) Some of the companies present their performances in the original language with German and/or English surtitles – these pieces can generally be recommended to audiences with hearing impairment as well.
Information for audiences with hearing impairment
Permanent induction loops for hearing impaired audiences can be found in the Erlangen Markgrafentheater (stalls, rows 4 – 12) as well as in Stadttheater Fürth (in the stalls if the orchestra pit is not in use). Audiences with hearing impairment can use their own hearing aid (if suitable for audio induction) to take advantage of this offer.
For the duration of the festival, temporary induction devices will be installed in the following venues: Experimentiertheater, Glocken-Lichtspiele, Markgrafentheater, Oberes Foyer, Redoutensaal and Theater in der Garage. The Tafelhalle in Nuremberg also offers audio induction on a permanent basis. Audiences with hearing impairment can either use headphones or their own hearing aid (if suitable for audio induction) to take advantage of this offer. Receiving devices with mini induction loops can be borrowed for a deposit at the box offices. We kindly ask you to bring your own headphones if possible.
Information on language use
Contemporary puppet, object and visual theatre is a very inclusive genre, whose content can often be vividly experienced on a sensual, emotional and foremost visual level. Many of the productions of the 23rd international figuren.theater.festival do without, or with very little language and are hence suitable for audiences that have difficulties understanding and following (spoken) language.