If you have a specific question about Accessibility that isn’t answered on this page, please feel free to reach out to us at info@skirtsafire.com!
ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCES
Details and scheduling for Accessible Performances
Pay-What-You-Will Performance: Tuesday, March 11th @ 7:30 PM
Relaxed Performance: Wednesday, March 12th @ 7:30 PM
Find our Visual Story created by Accessibility Consultant, Carly Neis, here:
Visual Story – Dance Nation
ASL Interpreted Performance: Thursday, March 13th @ 7:30 PM
There will be a limited number of Sensory Kits available for borrowing. Click here to find out more about the show and purchase tickets.
ASL Interpreted Performance: Wednesday, March 12th @ 7:30 PM
There will be a limited number of Sensory Kits available for borrowing.
** Due to unforeseen circumstances, there will no longer be ASL Interpretation for the performance of Ocêpihkowan on March 12 at 7:30pm. We apologize for any inconvenience and will be reaching out to patrons that have purchased tickets to this event directly. There is one other ASL Interpreted performance left in the festival, Dance Nation by Clare Barron on March 13 at 7:30pm. Find out more here.
ASL Interpreted Performance: Sunday, March 9th @ 1:30 PM
There will be a limited number of Sensory Kits available for borrowing.
VENUES – TRANSPORTATION
Guides for reaching and parking at the festival’s venues
A discounted parking rate is available at the Farmer’s Market parking lot! Simply scan the QR code posted in the front foyer of Gateway Theatre, enter your license plate and the discount code, and pay just $3.00 for six hours of parking.
Bus Routes: Most public transit stops on Whyte Avenue on 102nd Street. From there, the theatre is located three blocks North down Gateway Blvd.
If you are taking the LRT, you would get off at University Transit Station and then take one of the many buses down Whyte Avenue stopping at 102nd street. Then proceed North down Gateway Blvd for approximately 3 blocks until you arrive at the theatre.
Bus Routes: ETS Bus Routes 4, 7, 52, 57, 94, and 327 stop along Whyte Avenue close to the Walterdale Theatre.
Bus Routes: ETS Bus Routes 004, 401, 404, 501 have stops close to La Cité Francophone.
Bus Routes: ETS Bus Routes 4, 7, 54, 94, 318 have stops close to Chianti Cafe.
Bus Routes: ETS Bus Routes 4, 8, 637, 523 have stops close to Holy Trinity Church.
VENUES – ACCESSIBLE FEATURES
Accessibility information for each of the Festival’s venues
Outside, there is a gravel parking lot and surface parking, and there is an uneven step with approximately 1 inch on one side. The step is lowest on the left side so the best way to enter is from the left, not the front.
Once in the building, there is a relatively steep downward decline ramp that is dimly lit. The lobby is well lit, with a bar for drinks and quiet snacks at the east end, opposite of the of the entrance.
There is a slight lipped incline into the theatre space with tiny ramps to cover the lip and hi-vis orange paint strips marking the lip. People with mobility aids wheel up to the first row and sit where they can.
The front row of chairs have cushioning, can move and do not have arms. They are wider than average. There will be a few chairs with arms available. The rest of the seating are hard folding chairs.
In the bathrooms, there is a larger stall in each gender-neutral bathroom that is larger and has grab bars. One of the toilet doors opens into the space (accessible only to smaller mobility aids), the other opens outwards.
Find more info and photos of the space on Workshop West Playwrights’ Theatre’s website here.
Walterdale Theatre has a permanent installation of the T-Coil hearing loop. Patrons with hearing loss may borrow one of our head sets, or use their Loop-compatible hearing aid.
Main floor washroom with a urinal is wheelchair accessible, with separate stalls. See photos below.
Find more info on the venue’s website here.
The car park on the lower level has reserved spots for people with disabilities.
The public washrooms are wheelchair accessible.
Street view of the ramp located on 91 Street, between the parkade and main building.
View of the ramp’s incline, photographed from the bottom.
Building entrance located at the base of the ramp, which is also accessible from the bottom level of the parkade.
The door to enter is narrow and met with a double door. The host will help you to a table upon arrival. Please let them know you are there for SkirtsAfire.
The public washrooms are wheelchair accessible.
The elevator is button operated with operation instructions on the door. The weight limit is 800lbs, and dimensions are about 5 ½ feet by 4 ½ feet.
Washrooms are on the smaller side with low to no turning radius.
*Please note that washrooms may not be accessible for some wheelchairs and larger mobility aids. Further information with regard to venue accessibility will be available soon.
ACCESS FAQs
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Accessibility
We are pleased to offer 12-14 PWYW tickets available for each performance of every event at the festival. There is also a full PWYW performance of Dance Nation by Clare Barron on March 11.
Thank you to the Citadel Theatre for generously providing SkirtsAfire with these Sensory Kits.
The items found in a Citadel Theatre Sensory kit are displayed. These items include a set of soft earplugs, a fidget item, adjustable ear muffling headphones, and sunglasses.
ASL stands for American Sign Language.
American Sign Language Interpreted Performances are performances where ASL interpreters translate the dialogue and songs onstage for patrons who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing into American Sign Language.
During the performance, ASL Interpreters are located near the stage. They are lit so their faces, hands, and upper bodies are clear to the audience.
Patrons who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing are seated in an area of the theatre that gives them the best sight lines to follow the interpretation and the action on stage.
ASL Interpreted Performances at the 2025 SkirtsAfire Festival:
The Shoe Project: Sunday, March 9th @ 1:30 PM
Ocêpihkowan: It Has Roots: Wednesday, March 12th @ 7:30 PM**
Dance Nation by Clare Barron: Thursday, March 13th @ 7:30 PM
*In the event of a sold out show and a waitlist at the door (patrons that show up hoping to purchase a ticket), we do release “no show tickets” after the show has been scheduled to begin.
** Due to unforeseen circumstances, there will no longer be ASL Interpretation for the performance of Ocêpihkowan on March 12 at 7:30pm. We apologize for any inconvenience and will be reaching out to patrons that have purchased tickets to this event directly. There is one other ASL Interpreted performance left in the festival, Dance Nation by Clare Barron on March 13 at 7:30pm. Find out more here.
Dance Nation will have a Relaxed performance on Wednesday, March 12th @ 7:30pm.
Find our Visual Story created by Accessibility Consultant, Carly Neis, here:
Visual Story – Dance Nation
The washrooms at Walterdale Theatre and Holy Trinity Church may not be accessible for some wheelchairs and larger mobility aids.
Further information with regard to venue accessibility will be available soon.
The Gateway Theatre, Walterdale Theatre and Holy Trinity Church will have gender-neutral washrooms.
You can find a full list of content warnings for each event at skirtsafire.com/content-warnings
Content warnings can also be found on each individual event page.
More questions? Keep them coming! Email info@skirtsafire.com any time. We’d love to hear from you!