Access

This page contains information about accessible performances, our venues and our booking scheme the Access Pass.

We want to make sure you have a relaxed and enjoyable experience with us at the Edinburgh International Festival. If you have any questions or feedback for our team, don't hesitate to email us at [email protected].

Contact Us

You can download a pdf version of our Access Guide, or view below.

Access Pass

The Access Pass is a free membership scheme for D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people. It is designed to improve your booking process with us and means we can tailor an experience suited to your specific access requirements.

  • Share your access requirements with us once when you join the Access Pass, and they will be saved to your account, automatically flagging your access requirements to box office staff each time you book.
  • Book online for accessible seating options, free essential companion tickets, seats with clear sightlines of BSL interpreters and touch tours.
  • Request printed copies of our brochure and Access Guide, with options for braille, audio (digital or CD) and large print.

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Concessions

D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people are eligible for a 50% concession on full price tickets. We recognise that people can experience disabling barriers, regardless of whether they identify as disabled or not. See below for information about how we define who is eligible for this concession.

How we define “disabled people”

The Edinburgh International Festival uses the term "disabled people" to refer to anyone who self-identifies as disabled. This can include D/deaf and neurodivergent people if they identify as disabled, as well as others living with impairments (physical, sensory, learning, cognitive, long-term health conditions etc) that identify as disabled.

Some D/deaf, disabled or neurodivergent people may not identify as disabled but the Edinburgh International Festival is guided by the Social Model of Disability and recognises that people can experience disabling barriers, whether they identify as disabled or not.

Discover more about our venues

The International Festival this year is hosted at 11 venues across the city. To ensure your visit is as relaxed and enjoyable as possible we have included information about travelling to the venues and what to expect when you arrive. Venue staff will be on hand should you require assistance during your visit, but if you would like any specific information about a venue’s accessibility in advance, please use the contact details provided at the bottom of each page. All our venues have level access and assistance dogs are welcome. For accessibility reviews from disabled people and their friends and families, visit euansguide.com/edintfest

Accessible Performances

Audio-Described Performances

Audio described shows provide a live commentary of the visuals of a performance – for example explaining how a character may dance, stomp, or skip across a stage, as well as other important visual information, such as the discovery of a murder weapon or a character hiding in a location. This means that if you are blind or partially sighted then you won’t miss a beat of the action, or any gestures that are pivotal to understanding the plot.

Touch Tours

When you buy a ticket for an audio described show, you will be asked if you would also like free tickets for you and a companion for a touch tour. Touch tours usually take place on the stage, before the venue opens to the public, with the audio describer giving context about set, props and costumes. Audiences will be able to touch and feel the textures of these objects to help create a more vivid experience during the show.

BSL Interpreted Performances

In a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreted performance, the interpreter stands onstage, either at the side of stage or integrated into the performance and provides a linguistic and artistic interpretation for people who are Deaf or for whom BSL is their preferred language.

BSL users can book tickets using SignLive, an online BSL video interpretation service. You can also book the best seats for viewing the BSL interpreter online by signing up to our Access Pass.

Captioned Performances

Captions are displayed in large text on either side of the stage. Dialogue appears in real time as the words are spoken by the performers. Captions also provide information about who is speaking and any sound effects or music that may be important to understanding the performance.

As well as captions, we also have surtitles for other performances. Surtitles are displayed in large text above the stage. Dialogue or lyrics are transcribed or translated into English and displayed in real time as the words are sung or spoken by the performers.

Relaxed Performances

We offer relaxed performances for anyone who would benefit from a more informal setting. This may include autistic people, neurodivergent people, learning disabled people, or people with dementia, but can include anybody for whom a more formal environment is a barrier.

The details of how a performance is relaxed will vary with each production but some common aspects are; the house lights remain on low throughout the performance, the audience is permitted to make noise and to freely leave and return to the auditorium, lighting and sound levels in the performance are softened, a chill out space is provided near the auditorium, a visual guide to the performance is provided.

Accessible performances and provisions are supported by Claire and Mark Urquhart.

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