00:02For artist Michelle Sonteeves, theatre keeps her inner child alive.
00:07Theatre gave me that sense of there's a place for someone like me.
00:11But since she had a brain injury, going to live performances can be taxing.
00:16It is that demanding on me in terms of my cognitive processing and my sensory processing.
00:23The State Theatre Company is introducing sensory-friendly sessions where light and sound are adjusted
00:29and audience members allowed to leave mid-show if it gets too overwhelming.
00:34To be amongst people who don't care if you wiggle and chiggle in your chair, that you have stim toys
00:39at you,
00:40this is my fidget ring, that play with fidget rings.
00:43It's about us being a State Theatre Company for all South Australians
00:46and so we need to be working really hard to make sure that that is happening.
00:50It's another step the State Theatre is taking to create a more welcoming environment,
00:54including more hands-on experience backstage for people who are blind, have low vision or use mobility aids.
01:01To actually know the costumes, what they're wearing, some of the props that they'll be using,
01:08just having that context helps us to make sense of what's to come during the show.
01:14Theatre brings people together but when you miss part of that visual aspect or all of the visual aspects,
01:20you lose part of that whole experience.
01:22Making theatre more enjoyable for everyone.
01:25Josephine Lim, ABC News.
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