Access Measures
The Toronto Fringe is committed to creating an inclusive experience for all patrons, staff, artists, and volunteers, including those with disabilities. We work with our community to identify, prevent, and remove barriers so that a fulfilling experience can be enjoyed by all. For more information, please contact Suzanne Wilkie at admin@fringetoronto.com, or 416-966-1062 ext. 228.
Access at Next Stage
All Next Stage shows provide standard access measures.
Theatre Series, Ada Slaight Hall at Daniels Spectrum
- priority and accessible seating
- welcoming service dogs
- complimentary tickets for support workers
Click here for information about the venue and physical accessibility of Daniels Spectrum
Digital Series
- auto-transcribed captions or closed captions for all video
- basic transcripts for audio-only experiences
- complimentary tickets for support workers
Click here for information about the digital platforms used for Next Stage.
Many shows at Next Stage provide additional access measures at select performances including relaxed performances, closed audio description, ASL and Deaf interpretation. A full listing of shows with additional measures will be updated on this page. Please go to individual show pages for full details and check out the icons posted on the show schedules. General information about access measures can be found below.
Click here to visit show pages.
Additional Access Measures at Select Performances
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Relaxed Performances
Relaxed performances welcome patrons who may benefit from a less restrictive audience environment, including (but not limited to) patrons with sensory processing conditions, Autism, intellectual disability, or those with young children. Relaxed performances offer an introduction at the start of the show and have a relaxed attitude to noise and movement, including reducing extreme sound and lighting effects, leaving house lights on at a low level, and allowing patrons to come and go. All relaxed performances at Ada Slaight Hall offer a quiet area adjacent to the theatre space with a live feed. Patrons may use the quiet area at any time during a relaxed performance. Some shows at Next Stage offer a modified version of a relaxed performance. As each Next Stage show is unique, please see individual show listings for details.
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Audio Described Performances
Closed audio description improves access for blind and partially sighted patrons by providing a live verbal description of the visual elements of a performance (sets, costumes, and nonverbal onstage action) as well as pre-show notes. Audio Described performances at Ada Slaight Hall require an earphone and receiver that can be obtained from the Next Stage box office. Please identify yourself at the box office least 25 minutes prior to the performance start times to make use of this service. Support persons attend free however they must also be issued a ticket.
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American Sign Language (ASL) & Deaf Interpreted Performances
Some shows will offer ASL and/or Deaf interpretation at select performances. Audiences at Ada Slaight Hall using interpretation services are encouraged to make use of priority seating to ensure best sight lines. Information about best sight lines can be obtained at the Next Stage box office prior to the performance. Where possible, ASL fluent volunteers are available prior to show start. Audiences attending digital performances will be given clear instructions to be able to optimize a constant view of an interpreter.
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Tactile Body Immersion Chair
Toronto Fringe has an ImmersX Tactile Body Immersion (TBI) seat to offer our patrons. A TBI chair provides an immersive sensory experience that converts sound signal into tactile vibrations, mapped to ten points in the back and seat. Select productions are able to offer a sound signal to the device to support a full TBI experience. There is one TBI seat available, patrons should reserve a TBI seat in advance when purchasing your ticket. Patrons are asked to arrive at least 25 minutes before to ensure early access and to identify themselves to Patron Services at the Next Stage Box Office.
Standard Access Measures
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Personal Support Workers
We welcome people with disabilities who are accompanied by a personal support worker. Where a support worker is required, admission to all Next Stage performances and events is free for the accompanying person. Every attending patron and accompanying support person must have a valid ticket to that performance or event, and must be able to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination and a piece of government issued identification. Please advise the box office when you purchase your tickets.
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Service Animals
Service animals are welcome in all areas of our venues that are open to the public. Please advise the box office when you purchase your tickets.
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Priority Seating
Priority seating allows those patrons who have access requirements to enter the theatre in advance of the general audience. This includes but is not limited to those who need a little extra time to get to their seats, patrons who are using the ASL interpretation services, and those who require aisle seating. Patrons are asked to arrive at least 25 minutes before to ensure early access and to identify themselves to Patron Services at the Next Stage Box Office. Accessible seating cannot be guaranteed after general admission begins, however staff and volunteers will do their best to accommodate all patrons.
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Access Seating
Access seating for mobility devices is available for mobility device users. It may be reserved when purchasing tickets or by presenting to Patron Services at the Next Stage Box Office at least 25 minutes before the performance start time. Mobility device users may transfer to standard seating (assistance is not available).
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Device Storage
Patrons may request to check wheelchairs, strollers or other items required for accessibility with Patron Services Staff. They must identify themselves for Priority Seating.
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Screen-readers
All published PDFs will adhere to best practices for accessibility. We endeavour to make them screen-reader compatible.
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Transcripts
All audio pieces will be accompanied by PDF transcript documents that are screen-reader friendly.
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Captions
All pre-recorded videos will be accompanied by Closed Captions in English. Livestreamed performances will have auto-transcribed captions available. See below for specific instructions to access captions on the different digital platforms in Next Stage.
Gather Accessibility Information
- Captions are available through your Chrome browser. Gather works best on Google Chrome. Click here to view instructions to download Google Chrome.
- On your computer, open Chrome.
- At the top right, click More (three vertical dots icon), then select Settings.
- At the bottom of the Settings page, click Advanced.
- Under “Accessibility,” turn on Live Caption.
You can customize your captions to make them easier to read by clicking on Caption Preferences from the Accessibility menu.
- Collapse and expand captions with the arrow on the caption box.
- Select the captions to move them to your preferred place on your browser.
- Change your caption font, size, color, and opacity.
- Change the background color and opacity.
Zoom Webinar Accessibility Information
Zoom features automatic captioning. Once they have been enabled by the host, click Closed Caption (the “CC” icon) to start viewing closed captioning.
To adjust the caption size:
- Next to Start Video / Stop Video, click the up arrow.
- Select Video Settings, then click Accessibility.
- Under Closed Captions, move the slider to adjust the caption size.