Accessibility Review Of Harry Potter & The Cursed Child

March 18, 2024 / thevicritic / Leave a comment

Hi everyone! Back with the third review of the month, and this one is exciting! I have been a huge Harry Potter fan since I was a child! So when I heard this show was gonna be a thing. I’ve been trying to get tickets for this show for years. But now I finally managed to get tickets for an access performance of ‘Harry Potter And The Cursed Child’!

The show is set nineteen years after the original series and continues the story. It follows the adventures of the children of the main characters as they attend Hogwarts. Along the way, you’ll also see some familiar faces from the original series, as well as some new ones. While it’s not necessary to know the original story, it can certainly enhance your enjoyment of the show.

It’s important to note that the show we attended was split into two parts. Part One was performed during the afternoon or a matinee performance, while Part Two was performed in the evening. Both parts were shown on the same day, which meant we had to stay overnight in London. However, it was definitely worth it, and I’ll explain why in more detail.

For the access performance, a touch tour was organised in the afternoon before the first part. Upon arrival, we were required to have our bags checked by security. The theatre ushers greeted us warmly and guided us to the auditorium and then onto the stage. Since the show was quite popular, there was a large group of us participating, which made it a little difficult to get around and see everything. However, the cast and crew were very knowledgeable and more than happy to answer any questions we had.

The picture shows the front facade of the Palace Theatre, currently hosting the play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child". The theater has a classic Victorian red brick design with ornate stone carvings and arched windows. Above the entrance, there is a large, black sign with gold lettering that reads "Harry Potter" and beneath it, in smaller letters, "and the Cursed Child". Above the sign, there is a nest-like structure with a swirl that resembles the iconic 'snitch' from Harry Potter. Below the sign, there are two sets of double doors with a semi-circular glass canopy over the entrance. There are a few people around the entrance, and promotional banners for the play are visible on the railings in front of the theater.

After the touch tour, we checked into Premier Inn Leicester Square hotel, which was located just a five minute’s walk from the theatre. This made leaving and returning for each performance very easy. We watched Part One of the show and after it ended, we had an hour and a half break to find something to eat. However, we found this time to be insufficient and suggest bringing your own food. Unfortunately, eating inside the theatre is not allowed, but there are plenty of benches and seats nearby where you can enjoy your food.

After having dinner at the hotel we then went back in for Part Two. Same as above, bags got checked etc and we sat in the same seats as Part One, The theatre will put you in the same seats if you are seeing both parts the same day if possible.

I watched the show and both parts were amazing! As a Harry Potter enthusiast, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The lighting and colour usage was great, and the visual effects in both parts were astonishing! Some of the scenes left me puzzled as to how they pulled it off. The Dementors were my favourite, as they flew around the stage and the audience. The sound, atmosphere, and ambience were also used brilliantly, making me feel completely immersed in the show.

The picture shows a hand holding up a program for "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" in a theater. The program cover features a golden snitch with wings ablaze, set against a black background with a clock face. Below the snitch is the title in gold lettering. The background of the photo is blurred, but it suggests the interior of a theater with an ornate ceiling.

In terms of accessibility, with it has been Harry Potter this show is incredibly visual, so if you have Low Vision or Useful Vision then as long as you sit slow on the stage, Row D or closer you should have no real problem, but going to the touch tour beforehand is a very helpful attention.

If you are totally Blind or have No Useful Vision. Then I think it goes without saying that having an Audio Description during the show is a must! You struggle to hear the Audio Description due to the loud sounds and effects of the show in parts. But overall Vocal Eyes did a very good job. It is worth turning up thirty minutes early at least to collect your headset and to make sure it’s working correctly before the show starts, along with listening to the introduction if you wish to.

The picture shows an ornate interior with a gothic architectural style. There are a series of arches that ascend in size from the foreground to the background. The arches are made of metal with decorative elements and are illuminated by ambient lighting, which gives a dramatic and elegant effect. The walls are dark with patterns that resemble brickwork, and there are pointed arch windows with tracery. The overall atmosphere is grand and theatrical, possibly a setting for a performance or an event. There are some people seated at the bottom of the image, suggesting this is a public space.

I think after reading this whole review. It goes without saying, that this show is definitely a must-see! Whether you like Harry Potter or not. It truly is a brilliant show and really takes you on an emotional journey.

‘Harry Potter & The Cursed Child’ is currently running at The Palace Theatre in London. To go ahead and purchase tickets, to find out more information about access performances or to find out more information about the show you can find all that by clicking the link here.

Until Next Time,

The VI Critic

Trailer For The Show:

Self Raising! – Starring Jenny Sealey

March 8, 2024March 8, 2024 / thevicritic / Leave a comment

Hi everyone, back again with another review! This month is very much a month of theatre so there’s at least one more to come!

If you haven’t already read my recent review ‘The Importance Of Earnest’ then I will leave a link for you here.

Moving on to the review, I recently had the opportunity to watch ‘Self-Raising’, which starred Jenny Sealey. I must say that this is one of the best plays I’ve seen in terms of accessibility, and that’s saying something considering the amount of theatre reviews I’ve done over time.

The story is a summary of Jenny’s life and family. She talks about the history of her family and her childhood. The story has some happy and sad moments and takes you on a full journey and rollercoaster.

The accessibility measures provided at the performance were the best I’ve ever seen. They had everything covered, including live audio descriptions, personal and live descriptions, live captioning, sign language interpretation, and photo descriptions through audio played through speakers for the entire audience. Additionally, a free large print booklet was provided, which detailed different elements of the show and included content warnings.

The image shows a theatrical performance with a single actress on stage. She is sitting on the floor, wearing a light blue hospital gown, with her hair up in a messy bun. Her expression is animated, and she appears to be in the middle of delivering a dialogue or monologue. In front of her, there is an open cardboard box with scattered photographs all around it on the stage floor. The audience is visible in the background, sitting in darkness, attentively watching the performance. The setting seems intimate, with the audience close to the performer.

Before the show fully started both Jenny and her interpreter described themselves in full! What they were wearing, and how they looked. They then went on to describe the very simple set. Jenny then goes on to tell her story. To explain her story, she shows the audience different family pictures. After each picture is shown, the picture is shown on the screen in a much bigger format and then described to the whole audience in great detail. Even though I don’t often use Audio Description, as I have some useful vision I found this extremely useful which was a lovely surprise.

The story was very enjoyable, and at times I could not help but feel for Jenny when she would describe situations that she found herself in. Having everything described only added to the story.

I must say that this show is a must-see! Jenny and her team have taken into consideration all forms of disability and have made sure to accommodate as many disabilities as possible. I was highly impressed with the amount of accessibility that was available to everyone. Additionally, there was a table outside after the show that had copies of all the photos, some props, and Jenny’s costume used in the performance. They couldn’t have done anything more to make this show accessible to everyone!

You really must go and see this show! It is running at The Mercury Theatre in Colchester from Friday 8th – Saturday 9th March, but is on a national tour of the UK! Trust me when I say, get tickets for this show! Tickets for The Mercury Theatre can be found by clicking here. If you would like more information on the national tour, however, then you find out information by clicking the link here!

Be sure not to miss out!

Until Next Time

The VI Critic

The image shows a middle-aged woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression. She has light skin and is wearing dark lipstick. Her attire includes a dark grey shirt with a large, twisted silver necklace. The background is dark grey, and there is a dynamic effect of white powder that looks like it's being thrown over her head, creating a contrast with the dark background. The powder is also lightly dusting her hair and shoulders.

Trailer Starring Jenny Sealey

Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Importance Of Being Earnest’

March 7, 2024 / thevicritic / 1 Comment

Hello everyone, and welcome to the first theatre review of the year 2024! It’s great to see another year of theatre performances starting. To kick things off, I recently watched ‘The Importance Of Being Earnest’ at The Mercury Theatre in Colchester.

I was excited to see this play as it is based on a popular book with a worldwide reputation. The plot revolves around two men, one of whom lives a double life under a different identity. This leads to a complicated love triangle between the characters.

I first need to say that the cast in this show was amazing and had a real passion for the material. It was also really clear from the show that the direction and style of the show wanted to stay very true to the original text, which I preferred.

The use of simple settings and staging, along with effective contrast, helped to make it very clear to distinguish between each character. They all had a unique sense of fashion and style that added to their individuality. The great use of colour was visually pleasing and added to the overall experience. Each character had a distinct way of speaking, making it easy to understand who was talking to whom and who was on stage at any given time.

The image depicts a whimsical, theatrical scene. There is a woman standing on the left, dressed in a floral dress with her hair up, looking upwards. She is next to a small round table with a pink cloth and two red chairs. In the center, there is a large, ornate fireplace with a pile of red and white roses spilling out from it. Above the fireplace hangs a large, round, dark mirror with a pink frame. On the right, a man in a pink suit with a blue bow tie leans on a high counter, looking towards the woman. The backdrop is a lush wall of greenery and flowers, and there are three birds suspended in the air as if in mid-flight. The floor has a checkered pattern in light blue and white.

The lighting used in the show was simple yet effective in illuminating the entire performance. I appreciated this as there was not a single moment where I had difficulty seeing what was happening on stage. The only instances of darkness were at the beginning and end of each act, which did not cause any significant problems.

I have always struggled with the different types of language used in some plays for example Shakespeare’s plays, and there was a few elements in this play too. However, the comedy throughout the whole show fully made up for this.

The image shows a man standing in a room with a playful and confident expression. He is holding a red book in his left hand and resting his right hand on the back of a white, ornate sofa. He is dressed in a colorful outfit: a teal robe with a floral pattern, a maroon sweater, pink pants, and a brown belt. Behind him is a bookshelf filled with neatly arranged books in various bright colors. The room has a light blue wall and a grayish-blue floor.

The story itself I had never done at school so was not aware of this play or book before seeing this show. I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this production from start to finish. The story was engaging and compelling, and the cast did nothing but add to this. It had everything you could want. A love triangle, death, comedy, betrayal, secrets. It has it all. It was great to see a predominantly female cast apart from the two male leads which I don’t see very often it was great to see and something which should happen more.

I think in terms of accessibility then, if you have some useful version. You will love the great use of lighting, scenery and colour. Along with amazing costumes. If you would like an up-close look at this, then I would recommend sitting in the centre of row D which is pictured below. If you limited to no vision. You will still get a great deal out of this show. There are of course some visual elements you will miss but there is an audio-described performance available along with a Touch Tour, to get even more up close and personal with the cast and set of this outstanding show.

The image shows a stage set designed to look like an elegant room. The room has a pastel color scheme with light blue and white checkered flooring. The walls are adorned with white paneling and decorative moldings, and the backdrop features a painted sky with fluffy clouds.

On the left side of the stage, there is a white bookshelf filled with colorful books. In the center of the room, there is a classic white sofa with ornate detailing.

To the right, there is a small round table covered with a pink cloth, upon which rests a lamp with a fringed shade, and a single chair that matches the sofa's design.

Above the table, on the wall, is an oval-shaped mirror with a pink frame. There are two wall sconces emitting a warm light on either side of the mirror.

The overall atmosphere of the set is whimsical and charming, reminiscent of a fairytale interior.

You really would not go far wrong in getting a ticket for this outstanding show. This has been put together brilliantly in the only way The Mercury Theatre can. If it can go on tour I really think it should. Let the rest of the country get to see how good this first-class show is!

‘The Importance Of Earnest’ is running at The Mercury Theatre in Colchester from 7th – 16th March 2024. Go and get your tickets by clicking the link here!

Until Next Time,

The VI Critic