‘Love You, Drink Water’ is a show that combines music with dance and video. It has been made to promote the new album of one of the artists, Awir Leon.
Accessible for everyone
‘Love You, Drink Water’ uses a program called ‘Relax’. It’s an Organisation that wants to make going to the cinema, a concert, theater and more accessible for everyone. It’s for visible disabilities and invisible disabilities. They want to make it a warm environment where everyone, with or without a disability, is welcomed and respected. They already start helping at the start by giving people time to make their way into the building. For example a wheelchair ramp or maybe a quiet room to calm down when it gets too much. Part of the goal of Relax is that the performance you look at is identical to what you would see without a disability. Rather than a normal show, where standing up in the middle of the show is seen as disrespectful, they want to make it that the attention is not on someone who acts different. For example when someone laughs very loud or shouts for no obvious reason.
Less loud, less flashy
In the show ‘Love You, Drink Water’ there could have been less loud music and less flashy lights. The venue where the show took place was an accessible venue because there was a ramp for wheelchairs, there were also places to sit if you have a wheelchair.
The organization
‘Relax’ is an organization that started out in 2005 making cinema more accessible. Later they expanded into theater and more. The main focus of the organization is allowing everybody to have an ordinary experience with friends and family. Now they provide enjoyable shows in 70 cities in France. Of course it’s important that the performers agree with making it accessible and that they don’t find it disrespectful when you leave because it’s getting too hard for you. The locations also have to be accessible for everybody, so they don’t face difficulties entering the venue. This way people with disabilities can come to shows without feeling excluded.
Big difference
The conclusion is that there needs to be more attention to make things accessible. ‘Relax’ is something that will make a difference for a lot of people. Of course this is only possible if venues and performers are willing to change.
Lena David, Timmy Malfait
