A show built around glowing dragons, circus skills and dance is heading to Hartlepool this autumn, with its creators making a point of welcoming sensory-friendly audiences.
Azra Glow will be performed at Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre on Saturday 10 October, with shows at 11am and 2.30pm. Doors open 30 minutes before each performance.
The production follows Azra as she discovers a dragon’s egg and tries to awaken it through light, movement and the bond between dragons and their keepers. The staging uses glowing baby-dragon puppets, LED hoop performance, UV flags, bubbles and music rather than relying on a conventional straight-play format.
Culture Hartlepool says the show, directed by Penella Bee and inspired by books by Risaria Langley, has been created for adults, families and sensory-friendly audiences. After the performance, audience members can stay to meet the dragons and dancers.
A listing for the same touring production at Queen’s Hall Arts Centre gives an approximate running time of 55 minutes, followed by the meet-and-greet, and recommends it for ages three and over. Hartlepool’s venue lists tickets at £12 for adults and £10 for children, with booking fees applying.
For families who sometimes find busy or rigid theatre experiences difficult, that explicit invitation to sensory-friendly audiences is worth noticing. It gives people clearer information before they book, rather than leaving accessibility as an afterthought.
Full Hartlepool performance and ticket information is available from Culture Hartlepool. Details of the touring production were also checked against Queen’s Hall Arts Centre.