Access & Inclusion
Committed to Inclusion
The festival has always been inclusive, from commissioning Total Ensemble Theatre Company in 2011 to our vast volunteer and placement programme that runs throughout the year.
Each festival Central Production works with working professionals as well as those with limited to no experience. The gift of this project is always seeing the high level of performance take place each year, both on stage and behind the scenes. We take what we do very seriously. But importantly, we do not take ourselves very seriously at all!
We maintain playfulness, forgiveness, and encouragement at all times. The festival prides itself in being authentic in its approach to all matters, creative and personal.
Access Events & Free Ticketed Events
We strive to make the Hostry Festival a culturally enriching festival for the entire community of Norwich and Norfolk. We offer reduced ticket prices (£15.00 to £10.00) for the first 2 nights of our Central Production in order to improve accessibility for those from marginalised backgrounds. Thanks to Norwich Freemens’ Charity for their guidance on this development.
As always, the 2021 Hostry Festival will include Free Ticketed Events, including outreach workshops with Total Ensemble Theatre Company and the African Choir of Norfolk. Access Events with reduced ticket prices for low-income families will be available throughout the festival as part of our commitment to being as accessible as possible.
Accessibility
The majority of festival events take place in the Hostry building, Norwich Cathedral, which offers excellent access for those with additional needs including a state-of-the-art lift to the Western Room, our performance space during the festival.
Toilets are located just two minutes across from the Hostry, through the Cathedral Cloisters. Our volunteers are always on hand to guide those with additional needs to these facilities, as well as seeing people with wheelchairs to their seat/space ahead of the audience.
Our seating plan is on a first come, first serve basis, unless you inform us of your needs ahead of an event. This can happen when purchasing your tickets online on our website or in person through our box office partners, Norwich Theatre Royal. You can also email ahead of an event to let us know of your requirements: info@hostryfestival.org
On the rare occasion that an event space doesn’t offer wheelchair access, this is stated in our festival brochure and flagged with a no wheelchair access logo.
We do not currently have a Loop System for the hard of hearing at events. We are aiming to include a signed performance of our Central Production, as of autumn 2021.
If you have any ideas or feedback on our inclusion programme, please feel free to get in touch: info@hostryfestival.org.