Elle Chante: Accessible Dreamscapes
Exceptional. Accessible. An enchanting immersive experience.
Accessible Dreamscapes is a project by the artist Elle Chante, commissioned by Unlimited and The Glasshouse International Centre for Music. It is focussed on creating a holistically accessible and immersive music performance, developing dreamscape environments that integrate sensory experiences and arts technologies to meet a range of audience access needs and interests.
The show combines learnings from access focus groups with disabled artistic expression, creating a deep dive into Elle’s surreal and enchanting musical world. The performance will take audiences on a tender, vulnerable journey of lived experience of complex physical and mental health conditions – culminating with the first showing of her new EP ‘Penumbra’ out on Friday 7 June.
With the poetic honesty of her lyrics, ethereal vocals, and a dynamic approach to dance, Elle will captivate audiences. Performance will be auditory, visual and include immersive elements. This will be a truly unique and innovative piece exploring performance and presentation from a disabled perspective.
Companion Tickets
Access customers are welcome to attend with a companion or personal assistant. PA tickets are free and can be booked by selecting the “£0 PA Ticket” option along with booking your own ticket at the amount you wish to pay.
Need to know
Price: Pay what you decide.
Age: 16+
Doors will open to the general public at 7.00pm, the show will start at 7.30pm prompt.
Stage Times:
7pm: Doors to Sage Two
7.30 – 8.10pm: Set one
8.10 – 8.30pm: Interval
8.30 – 9.20pm: Set two
9.20pm: Performance ends
Timings are subject to change
What to expect
Content Warning: This show includes swearing, mentions of cancer, adoption, child abuse, disability, complex mental health and ableism. There will be a pre-show on stage announcement with the BSL interpreter providing further details regarding any content warnings in the show.
Lighting and sound
The piece has been devised specifically to avoid flashing or strobe lights.
There are LED pulsing and running lights across the stage which will be used during the performance.
The performance contains live and pre-recorded music. Some songs are more intense than others, with deeper electronic sounds and significant bass. Other tracks are more gentle and ethereal. You are welcome to use ear defenders.
Show Guide
We know that having as much information as possible is essential for helping audiences to plan their visit. We will provide a written What To Expect Guide and a Video Guide that further details what your experience of the venue and the performance might be. This will be emailed to all ticket holders a week ahead of the performance. We will also have printed versions including Large Print versions available at the venue on the day of the performance.
About Elle Chante
Elle Chante is a musical self expressionist based in Wolverhampton, UK. Turning to music as a form of therapy, her siren-like sound developed through her experiences of Complex PTSD, EDS, POTS and Thyroid cancer.
Threading together airy vocals with cinematic and experimental production, Elle sings of the winding human experience, creating work that is both hauntingly vulnerable and powerfully fragile.
Elle is particularly inspired by authenticity and genre breaking art. Existing outside the norms of society for her entire life, she felt encouraged by eclectic artists such as James Blake, Son Lux and Sleep Token. Paradoxically Elle intends to share the experience of being an outsider by making art that celebrates the eccentric, validates the difficulties of living and helps us all to feel a little less alone.
Breaking Boundaries: The Journey of Accessible Dreamscapes with Elle Chante
Elle Chante’s Accessible Dreamscapes project is not just about creating music – it’s about creating an experience. Accessible Dreamscapes is all about making music accessible to everyone. In this conversation with us, Elle shares how her dream of putting on a fully accessible performance is becoming a reality. She also tells us about the journey she’s on to pave the way for a more inclusive future in the arts.
Watch and listen
Access Information
If you’d like to learn more about the space ahead of the performance, or what to expect on the day, get in touch with our Box Office team and we can arrange a drop-in session / familiarisation tour on another day.
You can email us on: boxoffice@theglasshouseicm.org or give us a ring on 0191 443 4661 to arrange.
Pre show touch tour
A pre-show Touch Tour is available to anyone who would benefit or would be interested in experiencing a sensory preview of the show. This will include the chance to feel some of the costumes of the performers, and to hear in advance the instruments played individually. More details of the Touch Tour will be released in advance on the What to Expect Guide.
The Touch Tour will take place at 6.30pm, 30 minutes prior to the house opening to all customers, and will be facilitated by the Accessible Dreamscapes team with support from our Front of House team. This Touch Tour is free and open to all ticket holders.
British Sign Language Interpretation
This performance is British Sign Language Interpreted by Caroline Ryan.
Caroline will be positioned on the left of the stage as you look at it. We recommend that BSL users book seats in rows BB26-30 and CC32-37 in the West End of the venue. There are also wheelchair and step free spaces below these rows with good sight lines to the BSL interpreter. BSL users can book by emailing us on boxoffice@theglasshouseicm.org or give us a ring on 0191 443 4661. Our Box Office is open from 12-8pm, Wednesday-Saturday and 12-5pm on Sundays.
Captioning and Audio Description
We’re developing captioning for Accessible Dreamscapes. More details will be released soon – thanks for your patience as we work on this provision in line with the show developing.
We’re also developing integrated audio description for the show. More details will be released soon – thanks for your patience as we work on this provision in line with the show developing.
Here are a few pictures of the space:
Accessibility Box
There will be a range of items in our accessibility box which will be available before the performance in a dedicated Front of House area. More information about this will be available closer to the performance.
Audiences are also welcome to bring their own access provisions to the performance including;
- ear defenders
- ear plugs
- face masks
- sunglasses
- blankets or cushions
- fidget toys
- Anything else that would help you have the best experience
Inclusive Environment & Separate Calm Space
We have an inclusive approach to noise and movement coming from the audience. People are welcome to wriggle, move, stim, or respond in any way that is natural for them. You are free to come in and out, to use the toilet or decompress.
Throughout the performance the venue lighting will stay on low. The low lighting will be pink and red. Doorways will be lit and there will be a member of staff by each door. This is so you can come and go safely and freely at any point during the performance if you need to take a break.
There will be a pre-show on stage announcement that will be BSL interpreted, providing details about the relaxed environment and any content warnings in the show.
There will be a separate Calm Space available for ticket holders. It is located on Level 1 in Northern Rock Foundation Hall. There will be a member of staff outside the door to greet you. You are free to come and go. Inside the Calm Space there will be bean bags, chairs and fidget toys. There will be no music playing.
In partnership with Unlimited
Unlimited is an arts commissioning body that supports, funds and promotes new work by disabled artists for UK and international audiences. Our mission is to commission extraordinary work from disabled artists that will change and challenge the world.
Unlimited is funded by Arts Council England, Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Wales, Paul Hamlyn Foundation and British Council. Since 2013, Unlimited has supported over 505 artists with over £5.8 million, reaching audiences of over 5.5 million, making it the largest supporter of disabled artists world-wide.
Plan your visit
Here is information to help you plan your visit and check out our accessibility information. For dedicated parking information please visit our parking page.
