Changing Perspectives.
4
4
Date of visit: September 2021
I have experience of challenges around: moving around
Overall Rating
Good
This performance was part of the Findhorn Bay Arts Source to Sea programme. This performance by Oceanallover entitled 'Ecdysis (in vivo) featured dance, amazing costumes, singing and rap; it was set outdoors in woods. The performance itself was brilliant and I really enjoyed it; I loved the way that it portrayed the sense of renewal and emergence all very relevant to our world today. I loved the fusion of electronic, rap and brass music and the costumes and dancer were incredibly beautiful; the singing ethereal and haunting. The only disappointment was that when I tried to book this event initially, the website stated that it was ' not suitable for wheels of any kind' (see below).
Disabled Access In and Around
Poor
The Foundation car park itself and the park are accessible but this event was held in their woods. Initially, the website stated that it was ' not suitable for wheels of any kind'. I made the point to Findhorn Bay Arts that it should not have been held in an inaccessible location in the first place, particularly ironic as the performance wished to be inclusive and diverse. Sadly, I'd had a similar experience in a previous Findhorn Bay Arts Event and I didn't think that this would come up again in 2021. After some discussion, to be fair to them, they assessed the location to see how I could get there and amended their access statement but they were unable to move the location at that point. My wheelchair coped with the woods but this performance could have been more accessible and just as enjoyable in other areas nearer disabled parking in my opinion. When I did get there, I had a great view and it was a really good experience.
Parking & Transport
Poor
There are disabled parking spaces available in the Findhorn Foundation Car park but it is quite a trek from there to where this event was held up forestry tracks. Findhorn Bay Arts did get permission for us to take our car nearer to the location but there was still a fairly bumpy forestry track to negotiate slowly. There are buses and trains to Forres from Inverness and a local bus goes past Findhorn Foundation.
Accessible Toilets
Average
The accessible toilet wasn't near the performance but there was one available in another area of the park although this is back in the centre of the Foundation park at Universal Hall. There was a one-way system to the toilet, hand sanitisers were available and it was clean and basic inside with grab rails, a red cord and a ramp outside.
Staff
Good
I've given 4 stars as FBA did make an effort to get me there in the end. I was welcomed to the event by a steward and given directions to the parking. The FBA director also met me and accompanied me along the forestry track to make sure I got there ok. She has assured me that they will bear access in mind next time and I look forward to this.
Additional Information
This event was outdoors, everyone was spaced out and I felt safe. Thank you Oceanallover for this immersive and thought-provoking performance.
